The Best NHL Players of the 1970s

By position · peak seasons of the decade

The best NHL players of the 1970s — the forwards, blueliners and goaltenders who ruled the decade, ranked by peak season and adjusted for its scoring environment.

Top forwards

1. Phil Esposito Boston Bruins

   2 seasons sampled · peak 1970 · 80G 80A 160P · +73 · 78 GP
   100Peak
2. Jean Ratelle New York Rangers

   2 seasons sampled · peak 1971 · 60G 82A 142P · +79 · 63 GP
   100Peak
3. Bryan Trottier New York Islanders

   1 season sampled · peak 1978 · 51G 94A 145P · +82 · 76 GP
   100Peak
4. Guy Lafleur Montréal Canadiens

   1 season sampled · peak 1976 · 57G 82A 139P · +91 · 80 GP
   100Peak
5. Bobby Clarke Philadelphia Flyers

   1 season sampled · peak 1975 · 32G 96A 128P · +90 · 76 GP
   96Peak
6. Steve Shutt Montréal Canadiens

   1 season sampled · peak 1976 · 61G 46A 108P · +91 · 80 GP
   92Peak
7. Charlie Simmer Los Angeles Kings

   2 seasons sampled · peak 1979 · 72G 58A 129P · +60 · 64 GP
   88Peak
8. Vic Hadfield New York Rangers

   2 seasons sampled · peak 1971 · 53G 59A 111P · +63 · 78 GP
   87Peak
9. Mike Bossy New York Islanders

   1 season sampled · peak 1978 · 71G 58A 129P · +65 · 80 GP
   90Peak
10. Bill Barber Philadelphia Flyers

    1 season sampled · peak 1975 · 51G 64A 115P · +76 · 80 GP
    87Peak
11. Reggie Leach Philadelphia Flyers

    3 seasons sampled · peak 1975 · 63G 31A 93P · +74 · 80 GP
    78Peak
12. Marcel Dionne Los Angeles Kings

    2 seasons sampled · peak 1979 · 54G 86A 140P · +35 · 80 GP
    80Peak

On defense

1. Bobby Orr Boston Bruins

   1 season sampled · peak 1970 · 39G 107A 146P · +130 · 78 GP
   100Peak
2. Larry Robinson Montréal Canadiens

   1 season sampled · peak 1976 · 20G 70A 91P · +128 · 77 GP
   94Peak
3. Denis Potvin New York Islanders

   1 season sampled · peak 1978 · 35G 79A 113P · +80 · 73 GP
   85Peak
4. Brad Park Boston Bruins

   2 seasons sampled · peak 1977 · 23G 58A 81P · +71 · 80 GP
   68Peak
5. Guy Lapointe Montréal Canadiens

   1 season sampled · peak 1976 · 27G 54A 81P · +75 · 77 GP
   70Peak
6. Dallas Smith Boston Bruins

   1 season sampled · peak 1970 · 8G 43A 51P · +110 · 73 GP
   69Peak
7. Borje Salming Toronto Maple Leafs

   1 season sampled · peak 1976 · 13G 71A 84P · +49 · 76 GP
   59Peak
8. Serge Savard Montréal Canadiens

   1 season sampled · peak 1974 · 20G 41A 61P · +74 · 80 GP
   59Peak

In goal

1. Bernie Parent Philadelphia Flyers

   2 seasons sampled · peak 1973 · 47W · 1.89 GAA · .932 SV% · 12 SO
   82Peak
2. Rogie Vachon Los Angeles Kings

   3 seasons sampled · peak 1974 · 27W · 2.24 GAA · .927 SV% · 6 SO
   83Peak
3. Jacques Plante Toronto Maple Leafs

   1 season sampled · peak 1970 · 24W · 1.89 GAA · .944 SV% · 4 SO
   87Peak
4. Glenn Resch New York Islanders

   1 season sampled · peak 1975 · 23W · 2.08 GAA · .928 SV% · 7 SO
   84Peak
5. Ken Dryden Montréal Canadiens

   1 season sampled · peak 1971 · 39W · 2.24 GAA · .930 SV% · 8 SO
   74Peak

Other eras

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