these legends didn’t just play the game
they changed it welcome to watchmojo.com
and today we’re counting down our picks
for the top ten greatest hockey players
of all time
before we begin we publish new videos
every day
so be sure to subscribe for more great
content for this list we’re looking at
the best of the best
based on their career statistics and
dominance in the NHL as well as their
legacy and lasting impact on the league
we’re looking at players at every
position on the ice including wingers
Center’s defenseman and goalies number
10 Phil Esposito Esposito became the
first player in NHL history to score
over 100 points in a single season and
set a record with 76 goals during the
1970-71 season that held until a guy by
the name of Wayne Gretzky finally broke
it a decade later over the course of his
career
Esposito earned 5 Art Ross Trophy s for
most points at the end of the regular
season each time scoring well over 100
points and won two heart trophies in
1969 and 1974 as League MVP everything
fell into place for me the timing was
right my teammates were right he bagged
two Stanley Cups with the Bruins in 70
and 72 cementing his legendary status as
one of the icons of his era
number 9 Mark Messier from very early
age I have a program to win the Moose
played alongside some of the greatest
players in history but always found a
way to distinguish himself he was a
behemoth on the ice both in physical
size and psychological presence
he was a composed leader helping the
Edmonton Oilers to 5 Stanley Cups in the
80s and also earning one with the
Rangers Messier was one of the most
versatile players to ever hit the ice
balancing an intimidating tough style
with that of a creative playmaker he had
a unique scoring touch and finished his
career with 1887 points earning the
number 3 spot on the all-time
leaderboard
[Applause]
number 8 Jaromir Jagr it doesn’t get any
better
aptly named the ageless wonder Jaromir
Jagr was drafted from his native
Czechoslovakia all the way back in 1990
but was somehow still plying his trade
with style almost 30 years later
currently second all-time behind only
Wayne Gretzky and career points with
over 1900 and third all time behind
Gretzky and Howe and career goals
Yaeger has cemented himself as one of
the great offensive players in NHL
history and one of the best european
players to play on NHL ice yaga was
showing no signs of slowing down
even in his mid-40s proving that age is
just a number maybe one day you’re gonna
wake up set you know I don’t feel it
anymore but if not they didn’t never
come here number 7 Sidney Crosby while
Alex Ovechkin has certainly staked his
claim it’s hard to argue against Sidney
Crosby as the greatest player of the
modern NHL era since entering the league
as the first overall pick in 2005 he’s
earned every major trophy out there
Olympic gold check world championship
check Stanley Cup check that twice in
terms of individual awards he’s earned
the Art Ross rocket Rashard Ted Lindsey
heart the list goes on Crosby has
eclipsed over 100 points in five seasons
and is a natural leader one of the most
exciting players to ever grace NHL ice
there’s no doubt that Sid the Kid is a
future hall-of-famer
you try that at home I’m telling you
folks
that’s near impossible number six
Patrick would wha
Patrick revoir was entertaining
completely audacious and more than
anything damn good between the pipes
statistically speaking
he’s a marvel having won four Stanley
Cups earning three Conn Smythe Trophy
zazz playoff MVP in the process he also
holds the record for most playoff wins
by a goalie his legend however goes
beyond his impeccable statistics he’s
commonly credited with popularizing the
butterfly style which completely
revolutionized the goaltender position
in the league you see all the butterfly
goalies no thanks Patrick
but waz most distinguishing quality was
his confidence as he backed up his
swagger with his consistent ability to
completely disrupt the opposing team’s
game plan by stopping nearly every puck
that came near him I can’t really heard
what Germany says because I got like two
Stanley Cup rings plug in my ear number
five
Maurice Rashard
while we were tempted to put other
Canadians legends like Jean Beliveau and
guy LeFleur on this list for their
incredible achievements ultimately we
can’t deny the rocket and his
game-changing ability to put the puck in
the net
not only did Rashard wind up winning
eight cups in Montreal
he also ushered in a new era of hockey
and became an iconic personality that
transcended the game a wartime player
who grew up on the tough streets of
Montreal zbor Joe neighborhood Rashard
revolutionized goal scoring becoming the
first player to score 50 goals in 50
games for the people that saw watch it
Rashard especially for the
french-canadian he was their hero
number four Mario Lemieux you know I’d
seen that size before but never combined
with that Talent Super Mario established
himself as an all-time great in an era
when Wayne Gretzky was shattering
records but even for Gretzky it’s hard
to overshadow a guy who’s six foot four
Lemieux size and skill made him a
nightmare for the league’s top
defenseman and he currently sits second
all-time and points per game average
with 1.8 racing it all along his most
prolific year was the 1988-89 season
when Lemieux notched an incredible 199
points in just 76 games he also won
back-to-back Stanley Cups for the
Pittsburgh Penguins and he would go on
to become part owner of the franchise he
helped establish as a hockey powerhouse
no single athlete has had a greater
impact on the portions of a sports town
than Mariano Lemieux has on Pittsburgh
number three Gordie Howe you can see why
Courtney how is said to be the greatest
player in the history of a national
hockey league mr. hockey may be the most
complete player to ever step on the ice
as brutal as he was graceful and as
offensively dominant as he was
defensively solid his name is synonymous
with the game and for good reason the
right place at the right time the board
how one four Stanley Cups in his
historic career all with the Detroit Red
Wings and was a twenty three time
all-star house reputation as a gentle
giant a formidable physical presence on
the ice and a gentleman off it made him
the perfect ambassador for the sport and
to this day nobody’s played in more NHL
games over the line to his father
[Applause]
number two Bobby Orr Bobby Orr invented
the offensive defenseman commonly
regarded as the creator of the demon
rush or struck himself in the thick of
the attack and reaped the rewards he’s
the only defenseman ever to win the art
Ross and for six straight years he
earned over 100 points which was unheard
of for defenseman when or entered the
league few teams could contend with
Orr’s combination of size and speed and
his passing ability made him one of the
greatest playmakers in the league a
revolutionary figure in NHL history or
has influenced countless players that
followed his example before we unveil
our number one pick here are some
honorable mentions
of this same early on by Rozier forty
year old still have some
ability number one Wayne Gretzky was
there ever a question who was gonna take
our number one spot nicknamed the great
one for a reason Gretzky tops pretty
much every major NHL records chart he’s
the all-time points leader with nearly a
thousand points and he’s the NHL’s top
goal scorer with 894 career goals he’s
also a four-time Stanley Cup winner and
is the only player to have his number 99
retired league wide the face of hockey
Gretzky was the top dog throughout the
entirety of his 20-year career stunning
the world when he was dealt from the
Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings
in what is commonly referred to as the
trade promise mess I wouldn’t do this do
you agree with our picks check out these
other great clips from WatchMojo and
subscribe for new videos every day
they changed it welcome to watchmojo.com
and today we’re counting down our picks
for the top ten greatest hockey players
of all time
before we begin we publish new videos
every day
so be sure to subscribe for more great
content for this list we’re looking at
the best of the best
based on their career statistics and
dominance in the NHL as well as their
legacy and lasting impact on the league
we’re looking at players at every
position on the ice including wingers
Center’s defenseman and goalies number
10 Phil Esposito Esposito became the
first player in NHL history to score
over 100 points in a single season and
set a record with 76 goals during the
1970-71 season that held until a guy by
the name of Wayne Gretzky finally broke
it a decade later over the course of his
career
Esposito earned 5 Art Ross Trophy s for
most points at the end of the regular
season each time scoring well over 100
points and won two heart trophies in
1969 and 1974 as League MVP everything
fell into place for me the timing was
right my teammates were right he bagged
two Stanley Cups with the Bruins in 70
and 72 cementing his legendary status as
one of the icons of his era
number 9 Mark Messier from very early
age I have a program to win the Moose
played alongside some of the greatest
players in history but always found a
way to distinguish himself he was a
behemoth on the ice both in physical
size and psychological presence
he was a composed leader helping the
Edmonton Oilers to 5 Stanley Cups in the
80s and also earning one with the
Rangers Messier was one of the most
versatile players to ever hit the ice
balancing an intimidating tough style
with that of a creative playmaker he had
a unique scoring touch and finished his
career with 1887 points earning the
number 3 spot on the all-time
leaderboard
[Applause]
number 8 Jaromir Jagr it doesn’t get any
better
aptly named the ageless wonder Jaromir
Jagr was drafted from his native
Czechoslovakia all the way back in 1990
but was somehow still plying his trade
with style almost 30 years later
currently second all-time behind only
Wayne Gretzky and career points with
over 1900 and third all time behind
Gretzky and Howe and career goals
Yaeger has cemented himself as one of
the great offensive players in NHL
history and one of the best european
players to play on NHL ice yaga was
showing no signs of slowing down
even in his mid-40s proving that age is
just a number maybe one day you’re gonna
wake up set you know I don’t feel it
anymore but if not they didn’t never
come here number 7 Sidney Crosby while
Alex Ovechkin has certainly staked his
claim it’s hard to argue against Sidney
Crosby as the greatest player of the
modern NHL era since entering the league
as the first overall pick in 2005 he’s
earned every major trophy out there
Olympic gold check world championship
check Stanley Cup check that twice in
terms of individual awards he’s earned
the Art Ross rocket Rashard Ted Lindsey
heart the list goes on Crosby has
eclipsed over 100 points in five seasons
and is a natural leader one of the most
exciting players to ever grace NHL ice
there’s no doubt that Sid the Kid is a
future hall-of-famer
you try that at home I’m telling you
folks
that’s near impossible number six
Patrick would wha
Patrick revoir was entertaining
completely audacious and more than
anything damn good between the pipes
statistically speaking
he’s a marvel having won four Stanley
Cups earning three Conn Smythe Trophy
zazz playoff MVP in the process he also
holds the record for most playoff wins
by a goalie his legend however goes
beyond his impeccable statistics he’s
commonly credited with popularizing the
butterfly style which completely
revolutionized the goaltender position
in the league you see all the butterfly
goalies no thanks Patrick
but waz most distinguishing quality was
his confidence as he backed up his
swagger with his consistent ability to
completely disrupt the opposing team’s
game plan by stopping nearly every puck
that came near him I can’t really heard
what Germany says because I got like two
Stanley Cup rings plug in my ear number
five
Maurice Rashard
while we were tempted to put other
Canadians legends like Jean Beliveau and
guy LeFleur on this list for their
incredible achievements ultimately we
can’t deny the rocket and his
game-changing ability to put the puck in
the net
not only did Rashard wind up winning
eight cups in Montreal
he also ushered in a new era of hockey
and became an iconic personality that
transcended the game a wartime player
who grew up on the tough streets of
Montreal zbor Joe neighborhood Rashard
revolutionized goal scoring becoming the
first player to score 50 goals in 50
games for the people that saw watch it
Rashard especially for the
french-canadian he was their hero
number four Mario Lemieux you know I’d
seen that size before but never combined
with that Talent Super Mario established
himself as an all-time great in an era
when Wayne Gretzky was shattering
records but even for Gretzky it’s hard
to overshadow a guy who’s six foot four
Lemieux size and skill made him a
nightmare for the league’s top
defenseman and he currently sits second
all-time and points per game average
with 1.8 racing it all along his most
prolific year was the 1988-89 season
when Lemieux notched an incredible 199
points in just 76 games he also won
back-to-back Stanley Cups for the
Pittsburgh Penguins and he would go on
to become part owner of the franchise he
helped establish as a hockey powerhouse
no single athlete has had a greater
impact on the portions of a sports town
than Mariano Lemieux has on Pittsburgh
number three Gordie Howe you can see why
Courtney how is said to be the greatest
player in the history of a national
hockey league mr. hockey may be the most
complete player to ever step on the ice
as brutal as he was graceful and as
offensively dominant as he was
defensively solid his name is synonymous
with the game and for good reason the
right place at the right time the board
how one four Stanley Cups in his
historic career all with the Detroit Red
Wings and was a twenty three time
all-star house reputation as a gentle
giant a formidable physical presence on
the ice and a gentleman off it made him
the perfect ambassador for the sport and
to this day nobody’s played in more NHL
games over the line to his father
[Applause]
number two Bobby Orr Bobby Orr invented
the offensive defenseman commonly
regarded as the creator of the demon
rush or struck himself in the thick of
the attack and reaped the rewards he’s
the only defenseman ever to win the art
Ross and for six straight years he
earned over 100 points which was unheard
of for defenseman when or entered the
league few teams could contend with
Orr’s combination of size and speed and
his passing ability made him one of the
greatest playmakers in the league a
revolutionary figure in NHL history or
has influenced countless players that
followed his example before we unveil
our number one pick here are some
honorable mentions
of this same early on by Rozier forty
year old still have some
ability number one Wayne Gretzky was
there ever a question who was gonna take
our number one spot nicknamed the great
one for a reason Gretzky tops pretty
much every major NHL records chart he’s
the all-time points leader with nearly a
thousand points and he’s the NHL’s top
goal scorer with 894 career goals he’s
also a four-time Stanley Cup winner and
is the only player to have his number 99
retired league wide the face of hockey
Gretzky was the top dog throughout the
entirety of his 20-year career stunning
the world when he was dealt from the
Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings
in what is commonly referred to as the
trade promise mess I wouldn’t do this do
you agree with our picks check out these
other great clips from WatchMojo and
subscribe for new videos every day
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