100 greatest players in NHL history

Despite this list not being in any order, there is no arguing that the list should start the man dubbed as "Mr. Hockey." Howe's career spanned across decades — yes, decades — and different leagues, becoming the face of not only the NHL, but hockey everywhere.

"The Great One" holds or shares 61 NHL records, including the seemingly untouchable league record of 2,857 points.

The highly decorated former Pittsburgh Penguin — or perhaps current Penguin, since he owns the team now — won three Hart Trophies, six Art Ross Trophies, four Lester B. Pearson Awards and the Conn Smythe Trophy in consecutive Stanley Cup Finals.

The most recognizable and arguably the best defenseman to ever play in the NHL, Orr is the only defenseman to win the Art Ross Trophy and score nine hat tricks, and the only player to win the Art Ross, Norris, Hart and Conn Smythe Trophies in the same season.

Beliveau was the first Stanley Cup Final MVP, snagging the honors after the Montreal Canadiens defeated the Chicago Blackhawks in 1965.

The netminder won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1966, becoming the first to win the playoff MVP award for a losing team.

The great center for the Toronto Maple Leafs, Keon won Stanley Cup Final MVP in 1967.

Goalie for the St. Louis Blues, Hall won the Stanley Cup Final MVP in 1968 despite the Blues losing the series to the Montreal Canadiens.

Savard was part of the great Montreal teams, winning Stanley Cup Final MVP in the Montreal Canadiens' fourth championship in five years.

Before going on to become a politician and book author, Dryden was the Montreal goaltender and 1971 Stanley Cup Final MVP.

The Montreal Canadiens winger and 1971 Stanley Cup Final MVP was nicknamed "The Roadrunner."

The goaltender won Stanley Cup Final MVP back-to-back years for the Philadelphia Flyers as the last line of defense for the Broad Street Bullies.

The former Montreal Canadien was the first player in the league to reach 100 points in a season.

The former defenseman and Hall Famer's name appears on the Stanley Cup nine times as a player, scout and coach.

Gainey was the Stanley Cup Final MVP in 1979, which also marked the end of the Montreal Canadiens' long stretch of trips to the Final.

The former center holds the league record for points in a single period at six, when he scored four goals and tallied two assists against the New York Rangers during a tilt in 1978.

Goring won four Stanley Cups with the New York Islanders, winning Final MVP in 1981.

The New York Islander is the only player in NHL history to score the Stanley Cup-winning goals in two consecutive Finals and the only player in league history to score four game-winning goals in a single series.

In addition to winning four Stanley Cups with the Islanders, Smith is the first goaltender in league history to be credited with scoring a goal.

In addition to being second on the all-time career list for regular-season points (1,887) and playoff points (295), Messier is also the only player to captain two different championship teams (the Oilers and the Rangers).

The former goaltender won four Stanley Cups — two with the Canadiens, two with the Avalanche — and is the only player in NHL history to win the Conn Smythe three times.

During his 18-year career, Leetch won the Calder Trophy, two Norris Trophies and was the first American-born player to win the Conn Smythe (following the New York Rangers' Stanley Cup win in 1994).

In addition to holding numerous Philadelphia Flyers team records, Hextall won the Conn Smythe Trophy despite the Flyers losing the Stanley Cup Final to the Oilers, making him one of five players in league history to win MVP honors while on the losing team.

The 13-time All-Star won the Norris Trophy in 1999 and was playoffs MVP in 1989 when he led the Calgary Flames to a Stanley Cup victory.

Lemieux is one of just 10 players to have ever played in the NHL to win the Stanley Cup with three different teams: the Montreal Canadiens, New Jersey Devils and Colorado Avalanche.

In playing the entirety of his career with the Avalanche franchise and serving as the captain, Sakic is one of six players to participate in both of Colorado's Stanley Cup wins.

In addition to winning numerous awards as a player during his career with the Red Wings and leading Detroit to three Stanley Cup victories, the Hall of Famer won the NHL General Manager of the Year Award in 2015 for his work as the Tampa Bay Lightning's GM.

During his 18-year tenure in the league, Richard became the first player in NHL history to record 50 goals in a season (1944-1945) and the first to reach 500 career goals.

Stevens captained the New Jersey Devils to three Stanley Cup championships in four appearances, winning MVP honors in 2000.

The Swede was the first European-born and trained captain to win a Stanley Cup and was the first European-born player to win the Conn Smythe when he led the Detroit Red Wings to victory in 2001.

Few foreign players have had a better career than Sergie Fedorov, who scored 400 goals and added 554 assists. The six-time All-Star also won the Selke twice along with taking home the 1993-94 Hart Trophy with the Detroit Red Wings.

During his Conn Smythe-winning playoff run with the Tampa Bay Lightning, Richards set the NHL record for most game-winning goals in the playoffs at seven.

Hull, nicknamed "The Golden Jet," was a multiyear winner of the Art Ross Trophy and Hart Memorial Trophy in addition to winning the Lady Byng and Lester Patrick Trophies. He is a member of multiple Hall of Fames outside of the NHL as well.

Hull and his dad, Bobby, are the only father-son duo to have each tallied 1,000 career points in the NHL and became the first father-son pair in the Hockey Hall of Fame after Brett's induction in 2009.

Shanahan's physical play earned him 2,489 penalty minutes in his hockey career, 22nd most overall — however he is the only player on the top 50 most penalized players list to score over 1,100 career points (656 goals and 698 assists for 1,354 points).

The Hall of Famer was a 14-time All-Star who also won four Stanley Cups and three Norris Trophies.

Bourque holds the record as the Boston Bruins' longest-serving captain, in addition to also holding the record for most goals, assists and points by a defenseman (410 goals and 1,579 total points).

Modano holds the NHL record for most goals (561) and most points (1,374) by a U.S.-born player.

The former Chicago Blackhawks center won a number of awards over his career and is the only player in the history of the league to win the Art Ross, Hart and Lady Byng Trophies in the same season, which he did twice.

The Hall of Famer racked up a number of honors in the 1970s, in addition to becoming the first player in the history of the NHL to score 1,000 in the span of a decade.

Even before Selanne established himself as the hightest-scoring Finn in the history of the NHL, he set the record for most goals scored by a rookie (1992-1993 season) at 76.

The former Chicago Blackhawk holds the record for the fastest hat trick scored in NHL history, beating New York Rangers netminder Lorne Anderson three times in a 21-second span.

Dionne ranks third in NHL history for most 100-plus point seasons (eight) behind only Mario Lemieux (10) and Wayne Gretzky (14).

As part of the Boston Bruins' 1970 championship team, the Ukrainian-Canadian had the honor of first hoisting the Stanley Cup and skating around the Boston Garden ice.

Robitaille holds the NHL record for most points scored by a left winger, which he achieved playing for four different teams. However, he is best known for the time he spent with the L.A. Kings and still holds many of the team's franchise records.

It took time for an NHL team to give Gilmour a chance, but "Killer" made his mark on league history by scoring 1,414 points in 1,474 games.

The original "Finnish Flash" is best remembered for the time he was paired with Wayne Gretzky on the Edmonton Oilers.

The 1982 Calder Trophy winner holds the record for youngest player to reach 1,000 career games (30 years, 306 days old).

Oates was a top-scoring playmaker in the heyday of his NHL career, with the fifth highest career assists total (1,079) at the time of his retirement in 2004.

Francis holds the record for second-most NHL career assists with 1,249, second only to Gretzky, who has 1,963.

The Czech wonder is the only active player on the list of NHL all-time points leaders and at third place (1,868 points) could potentially pass Mark Messier (1,887) this season.

The hulking Sharks forward hasn't slowed or shown age as he continues to move his way up the NHL's list of all-time assists leaders. He is currently tied for 13th with Doug Gilmour.

Brodeur is both the winningest goalie in NHL history (691) and possesses the staggering record for most career shutouts (125).

Of his many scoring moments, Recchi's best remembered might be the one he scored in Game 2 of the 2011 Stanley Cup Final, making the then-Bruin the oldest player to ever score a goal in a Stanley Cup Final series.

The Swede average just over a point per game (1,349 points in 1,346 games) in his NHL career and holds the Toronto Maple Leafs' franchise records for points, goals at both even strength and on the power play, and game-winning goals.

One of only seven NHL players to score 700 career goals, Gartner holds the record for most 30-goal seasons (17).

The Ukrainian-Canadian holds the NHL all-time record for most power-play goals.

Winner of both the Calder and Vezina Trophies during his rookie season, the former goaltender also shares the league record for most wins in a postseason (16 wins in 1999).

The retired defenseman holds the league record for most playoff season (24) and is tied with Gordie Howe for most overall seasons played (26).

Considered one of the pioneers of hockey, particularly for being the first goalie to wear a mask on a regular basis and try out different styles, Plante also won more Vezina Trophies (7) than any other netminder in NHL history.

Jarvis retired in 1988, but his iron man status is still untouched. He holds the record for most consecutive games played with 964, having never missed a regular-season tilt.

During his 20-year NHL career, Richard won 11 Stanley Cups and holds the record for most playoff games played.

Boucher holds the record for winning the most Lady Byng Trophies — seven, all won within the eight years he played for the New York Rangers.

Anyone with the slightest present-day hockey knowledge knows who the Washington Capitals' captain is. He cemented his place in NHL history this past January when he scored his 500th career regular-season goal, becoming the only Russian-born player to join the elite group.

Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby gets the bulk of the attention, but you can't dismiss teammate Malkin, who is one of the best puck-handlers in the modern-day NHL.

The résumé speaks for itself. The highly skilled forward won two Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings in addition to winning the Selke Trophy three times and the Lady Byng Trophy four times, in four consecutive years.

McDonald tallied over 1,000 points in his career and registered his 500th goal just four days before the end of his NHL career.

Despite being widely recognized for controversy, the winger is also a member of the 500-goal club and ranks 18th all time in NHL goals with 608.

Clarke spent his entire career with the Philadelphia Flyers, winning two cups with them in 1974 and in 1975, and is regarded as being one of the best captains in NHL history.

The Detroit Red Wings captain has won a number of awards in the franchise and the whole NHL, including the league record for most shots on goals in a postseason (116 shots during the 2007-2008 playoffs).

Mullen was the first U.S.-born player to score 500 goals and reach 1,000 points, and he won Lester Patrick Trophy in 1995 for his contributions to hockey in the States.

Housely played on eight different teams and was a seven-time NHL All-Star. He currently ranks 20th on the list of NHL all-time assist leaders.

The 2000 Hall of Fame inductee won his only Stanley Cup with the Montreal Canadiens before going on to coach the Blackhawks. He now serves as an ambassador for the Chicago organization.

The goaltender's career spanned way back from 1926-1937, but he still holds the league's single-season shutout record (22) and the single-season goals-against average record (0.92), both achieved in the 1928-1929 season.

Connell set the original "longest shutout streak" during the 1928 season when he strung together six shutouts for 461:29 minutes and is the all-time goals-against average leader (1.91).

While considered a dirty player by many, defenseman Chris Pronger is also considered one of the greatest leaders ever. He won the Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks and prior to that took home both the Hart and Norris Trophies in the 1999-2000 season.

The Red Wings' goaltender from the 1930s holds the NHL record for most saves in a single game, a debilitating 92, in the NHL's longest game in history, which featured six overtimes.

Shore has second most Hart Trophies in NHL history, being named the league's most valuable player four times.

Harvey is regarded as one of the best defensemen to ever play in the league and has seven Norris Trophy wins to prove it.

Morenz is considered one of the first superstars of the league, placing in the top 10 for leading scorers in the league 10 out of the 14 seasons that he played in the NHL.

The Czech netminder won six Vezina Trophies and was the first goaltender to win the Hart Trophy multiple times (twice).

Through his Stanley Cup championships (four) and other accolades, the former winger is also known for helping create the NHL Players' Association in the 1950s.

Although the Swede's career ended in 2011, he is still ranked fourth on the NHL all-time assists per game list and eighth on the league's all-time points per game list.

The 1958 Calder Trophy winner played in 15 NHL All-Star games and was on six Stanley Cup-winning teams.

The league's first "Rookie of the Year," Apps played for the Toronto Maple Leafs from 1936-1948 but not before competing as a pole vaulter in the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

The winger's career spanned just over three decades in which he had success at both the NHL and international levels.

The goaltender accomplished a lot in his brief six-year career, including two Stanley Cups and six Vezina Trophies.

Before being synonymous with coffee and donuts, Horton was a four-time Stanley Cup champion. He was inducted posthumously into the Hall of Fame in 1977.

A member of the Toronto Maple Leafs for the duration of his career, Kennedy was the first NHL player to win five Stanley Cups.

The former Boston Bruin is the last living NHL player to have had a career during the 1930s, during which he won the Stanley Cup twice.

Kelly was unique in that he played both center and defense, although it was his skill on the blue line that won him the first-ever Norris Trophy.

The center played in six All-Star games and won the 1981 Calder Trophy during his two-decade career.

Moore won multiple Stanley Cups and Art Ross Trophies and briefly held the NHL record for most points in a season when he tallied 96 in 1959. (Bobby Hull broke the record in 1966 with 97, and Wayne Gretzky snagged it by registering 215 points in 1986.)

The defenseman is revered as a pioneer for European players coming over to the NHL and became the first Swedish skater to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1996.

The compact goaltender reportedly suffered from poor eyesight, but that didn't stop him from winning two Vezina Trophies and being part of four Stanley Cup-winning teams.

Abel was part of a star-studded Detroit Red Wings line with Ted Lindsay and Gordie Howe.

Bentley made history in 1943 when he appeared on the first "all-family line" with his brothers Max and Reg.

The former Montreal Canadiens winger played on the first NHL All-Star team and is credited for scoring the league's first empty-net goal.

Broda was between the pipes for the Toronto Maple Leafs when they came back from a three-game deficit in the 1942 Stanley Cup Final to win the Cup.

The Pittsburgh Penguins' captain is one of the most prolific faces of modern NHL hockey. Being that he was the first overall draft pick in just 2005, it is anyone's guess what he eventually can achieve in his high-profile career.