The NHL Top 50

Updated August 28, 2020 | Infoplease Staff

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, The Hockey News presented its list of the “Top 50 NHL Players of All-Time” on January 9, 1998. The list was determined by a panel of 50 hockey experts representing past and present NHL players, coaches, executives and journalists. Voting was conducted before the 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs. Players active during the 2001-02 season are in bold type.

No.PlayerPos
1Wayne Gretzky, 1979-99C
2Bobby Orr, 1966-79D
3Gordie Howe, 1946-71, 79-80RW
4Mario Lemieux, 1984-97, 2000-C
5Maurice Richard, 1942-60RW
6Doug Harvey, 1947-69D
7Jean Beliveau, 1950-71C
8Bobby Hull, 1957-72, 79-80LW
9Terry Sawchuk, 1949-70G
10Eddie Shore, 1926-40D
11Guy Lafleur, 1971-85, 88-91RW
12Mark Messier, 1979-C
13Jacques Plante, 1952-65, 67-73G
14Ray Bourque, 1979-2001D
15Howie Morenz, 1923-37C
16Glenn Hall, 1952-71G
17Stan Mikita, 1958-80C
18Phil Esposito, 1963-81C
19Denis Potvin, 1973-88D
20Mike Bossy, 1977-87RW
21Ted Lindsay, 1944-60, 64-65LW
22Red Kelly, 1947-67D
23Bobby Clarke, 1969-84C
24Larry Robinson, 1972-92D
25Ken Dryden, 1970-79G
26Frank Mahovlich, 1956-74LW
27Milt Schmidt, 1936-42, 45-55C
28Paul Coffey, 1980-2001D
29Henri Richard, 1955-75C
30Bryan Trottier, 1975-92, 93-94C
31Dickie Moore, 1951-65, 67-68LW
32Newsy Lalonde, 1917-21, 25-27C
33Syl Apps, 1936-48C
34Bill Durnan, 1943-50G
35Patrick Roy, 1984-G
36Charlie Conacher, 1929-41RW
37Jaromir Jagr, 1990-RW
38Marcel Dionne, 1971-89C
39Joe Malone, 1917-24C
40Chris Chelios, 1983-D
41Dit Clapper, 1927-47D
42Bernie Geoffrion, 1950-64, 66-68RW
43Tim Horton, 1949-50, 51-74D
44Bill Cook, 1926-37RW
45Johnny Bucyk, 1955-78LW
46George Hainsworth, 1926-37G
47Gilbert Perreault, 1970-87C
48Max Bentley, 1940-43, 45-54C
49Brad Park, 1968-85D
50Jari Kurri, 1980-98RW

The Great One: For The RecordThrough The YearsAnnual Awards
Hockey Through The Years
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