The 10 greatest players in NHL history
Many outstanding skaters have played in the league, but who is the greatest NHL player of all time?
Greatest NHL player of all time
For a sport that requires quick movements on the ice, it may be surprising that there have been a handful of great players in the NHL who have excelled.
Although the ten greatest players in NHL history are not considered the greatest players of all time, some were able to influence the game for many years.
10. Andrei Sustr – 6’7”
Andrej Sustr went undrafted in the 2013 NHL Draft before signing a professional contract with Tampa Bay Lighting. Sustr has spent parts of eight seasons in the NHL, most of them with the Lightning. He scored 69 points in 361 games played.
Sustr did not play in an NHL game during the 2022-23 season and was recently traded to the San Jose Sharks in the offseason. It is unclear whether the 32-year-old defender will remain in North America or head to Europe to finish his career.
9. Ben Bishop – 6’7”
Ben Bishop, the greatest goaltender to ever play in the league, played in over 400 games in the NHL during his 11-year career.
Bishop had three seasons in which he recorded at least 35 wins, all of which came during his time with the Tampa Bay Lighting. One of his best seasons was the 2018-19 regular season, where he led the league in save percentage as a member of the Dallas Stars.
8. Jamie Oleksiak – 1.80m
Jamie Oleksiak, a 30-year-old defenseman from Toronto, Ontario, is one of the NHL’s greatest active players. He had his best season last year with 25 points in 75 games for the Seattle Kraken.
Before being selected by the Kraken in the 2021 Expansion Draft, Oleksiak played for the Dallas Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins. The 14thTh The overall pick in the 2011 draft has played over 500 games in his NHL career.
7. Hal Gill – 6’7”
Hal Gill had one of the longest NHL careers for someone of his size, playing 1,108 games over 16 seasons. He spent the majority of his career with the Boston Bruins, but also played for the Canadiens, Maple Leafs, Penguins, Predators and Flyers.
Gill played in over 100 postseason games and won the Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009. He was also on the United States team that won the bronze medal at the 2004 Ice Hockey World Championships. Gill finished his NHL career with 36 goals and 184 points.
6. Vladimir Mihalik – 6’8”
Vladimir Mihalik has played the fewest NHL games of anyone on this list, appearing in just 15 games. Mihalik was drafted in ’30Th overall in the 2005 NHL Draft, but didn’t make his NHL debut until 2008.
In the 2008/09 season he only played 11 games and finished the season with three assists. He played four more games the following season before his NHL career came to an end. Mihalik is currently playing in the top ice hockey league in Slovakia at the age of 36.
5. Joe Finley – 6’8″
Joe Finley was another player who spent a short time in the NHL. Despite the call-up on the 27thTh In total, Finley only played 21 games with the Washington Capitals in 2007. He played his first five games as a member of the Sabres, while the last 16 came with the Islanders.
Finley spent the majority of his hockey career playing in the AHL for various teams. After his final AHL season in 2015-16, Finley went to Finland to finish his career and retired three seasons later.
4. Elmer Soderblom – 6’8”
Elmer Soderblom is a 1.88 meter tall winger who currently plays for the Detroit Red Wings. The 22-year-old was drafted by the Red Wings in the sixth round in 2019.
Soderblom made his NHL debut at the start of the 2022-23 season and scored five goals in 21 games. He spent the season splitting time between Detroit and the team’s AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins.
3. John Scott – 6’8″
John Scott made big headlines in 2016 when he was voted into the All-Star Game by fans. Scott ended up scoring two goals, helping his Pacific Division team win the championship and being named the event’s Most Valuable Player.
Although he didn’t have tremendous speed or outstanding skill, Scott’s strength and physicality kept him in the league for eight seasons. He finished his career with 11 points in 286 games.
2. Tyler Myers – 6’8″
Tyler Myers has played over 900 games in the NHL so far. He began his career with the Buffalo Sabers, where he was coached by Lindy Ruff, one of the greatest hockey coaches of all time.
Myers currently plays for the Vancouver Canucks and is entering the final year of a five-year, $30 million contract he signed with the team in 2019.
1. Zdeno Chara – 6’9”
At 1.80 m, Zdeno Chara is the tallest NHL player of all time. Not only is Chara great, he was a great player in the league for many years. He captained the Boston Bruins for 14 seasons and went on to have a 24-year career in the NHL.
Chara won the James Norris Memorial Trophy, awarded to the league’s top defenseman, in 2009 and helped the Bruins win the Stanley Cup in 2011. Chara also received the Mark Messier NHL Leadership Award for the 2010-11 season. He played 1,680 games over the course of his career before retiring in 2022 at the age of 44.
