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The Greatest NHL Players of All Time
Era-adjusted peak-season rankings · every team, position & decade
Updated 2026-07-09
The greatest NHL players of all time — ranked by their single finest season, adjusted for the era they played in, so a legend from the Original Six and a modern superstar are measured on the same scale. Best forwards, defensemen and goaltenders below, then every franchise, position and decade.
Top forwards
- Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers
- Phil Esposito Boston Bruins
- Guy Lafleur Montréal Canadiens
- Jaromir Jagr Pittsburgh Penguins
- Jari Kurri Edmonton Oilers
- Jean Ratelle New York Rangers
- Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh Penguins
- Bryan Trottier New York Islanders
- Peter Forsberg Colorado Avalanche
- Bobby Clarke Philadelphia Flyers
- Joe Sakic Colorado Avalanche
- Charlie Simmer Los Angeles Kings
- Bernie Nicholls Los Angeles Kings
- Brett Hull St. Louis Blues
- Steve Shutt Montréal Canadiens
- Adam Oates St. Louis Blues
- Teemu Selanne Anaheim Ducks
- Sergei Fedorov Detroit Red Wings
- Connor McDavid Edmonton Oilers
- Johnny Gaudreau Calgary Flames
On defense
- Larry Robinson Montréal Canadiens
- Paul Coffey Edmonton Oilers
- Bobby Orr Boston Bruins
- Denis Potvin New York Islanders
- Mark Howe Philadelphia Flyers
- Brad Park Boston Bruins
- Guy Lapointe Montréal Canadiens
- Al MacInnis Calgary Flames
- Chris Pronger St. Louis Blues
- Brad McCrimmon Philadelphia Flyers
- Ray Bourque Boston Bruins
- Gary Suter Calgary Flames
In goal
- Rogie Vachon Los Angeles Kings
- Ed Belfour Chicago Blackhawks
- Bernie Parent Philadelphia Flyers
- Curtis Joseph St. Louis Blues
- Jacques Plante Toronto Maple Leafs
- Patrick Roy Montréal Canadiens
- Linus Ullmark Boston Bruins
- Pete Peeters Boston Bruins
Every franchise’s all-time greats
Pittsburgh PenguinsNew York RangersToronto Maple LeafsBoston BruinsDetroit Red WingsChicago BlackhawksSt. Louis BluesLos Angeles KingsPhiladelphia FlyersVancouver CanucksMontréal CanadiensBuffalo SabresNew York IslandersWashington CapitalsEdmonton OilersCalgary FlamesNew Jersey DevilsSan Jose SharksTampa Bay LightningAnaheim DucksFlorida PanthersOttawa SenatorsColorado AvalancheDallas StarsCarolina HurricanesColumbus Blue JacketsNashville PredatorsMinnesota North StarsMinnesota WildPhoenix CoyotesHartford WhalersQuebec NordiquesWinnipeg Jets (1979)Atlanta ThrashersWinnipeg JetsArizona Coyotes
Best by position
Best by decade
Methodology: every player’s best season is scored on era-adjusted offense, defense and goaltending, mapped to a 0–100 Peak Rating and weighted by franchise tenure — the same engine behind the All-Time Hockey daily draft game.
Frequently asked questions
Who is the greatest NHL player of all time?
By All-Time Hockey's era-adjusted peak-season model, Wayne Gretzky ranks first, ahead of Phil Esposito and Guy Lafleur. The model scores each player's finest season against the league around him.
How is 'greatest of all time' measured here?
Every player's best season is scored on era-adjusted offense, defense and goaltending, mapped to a 0-100 Peak Rating and weighted by franchise tenure — the same engine behind the All-Time Hockey draft game.
Does this ranking include players from before 1960?
No — rankings cover the 1960s to today, the era with available era-adjustment data, so pre-1960 stars are out of range.
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