Who are considered to be the best 10 hockey players of all time?

1. Wayne Gretzky — “The Great One” and statistical outlier

Wayne Gretzky tops nearly every modern list because he owns the NHL records for goals, assists and points and accumulated four Stanley Cups, 10 Art Ross Trophies and nine Hart Trophies during his career, a statistical supremacy cited repeatedly as the core case for his status ^{[1] [4]}.

2. Mario Lemieux — transcendent talent with dominance and longevity

Mario Lemieux is singled out as a “super scorer” who won multiple Stanley Cups and Conn Smythe Trophies and produced ten 100-point seasons, a combination of peak dominance and impact that places him in the sport’s uppermost rank ^{[3] [2]}.

3. Bobby Orr — the defenseman who rewrote the position

Bobby Orr revolutionized what a defenseman could do offensively, winning eight Norris Trophies and multiple MVP awards while delivering signature moments—achievements that lead historians to treat him as one of hockey’s most transformative players ^{[7] [8]}.

4. Gordie Howe — “Mr. Hockey” and the benchmark for longevity and toughness

Gordie Howe earned the nickname “Mr. Hockey” for a career that included decades of top-level production, multiple MVPs and a reputation for physical, all-around play; some projects exclude him for post-1967 criteria but most historical rankings place him among the greats ^{[4] [5]}.

5. Maurice “Rocket” Richard — the original game-changer in goal scoring

Maurice Richard rewrote scoring expectations—becoming the first player to score 500 goals and the first to net 50 in a season—achievements that spawned the Rocket Richard Trophy and cemented his place on all-time lists that value pioneering scoring feats ^{[1] [2]}.

6. Jean Béliveau — championship pedigree and leadership

Jean Béliveau’s 20 seasons with the Canadiens and his role in a dynasty that produced 10 Stanley Cups as a player make him a recurrent pick for all-time lists that weigh championship impact and leadership alongside statistics ^{[9] [2]}.

7. Bobby Hull — elite scoring and era-defining speed

Bobby Hull’s multiple MVP-level seasons and status as one of the 20th century’s most fearsome goal scorers keep him in the top tier, with analysts pointing to his scoring titles and consistent elite production as the core of his case ^{[1] [10]}.

8. Guy Lafleur — the quintessential offensive winger of the 1970s

Guy Lafleur’s streak of six consecutive 100-point seasons and his role as a dominant right wing for Montreal in the 1970s earn him repeated mention in top-10 discussions focused on peak offensive output ^[1].

9. Jaromír Jágr — longevity plus elite production across eras

Jaromír Jágr’s five scoring titles, awards and remarkably long productive career—still producing into his 40s—make him a compelling inclusion where voters weigh sustained excellence and adaptability across changing eras ^{[4] [10]}.

10. Patrick Roy — the goalie who changed his position’s narrative

Patrick Roy is the most-cited goaltender in many modern “greatest” lists for his four Stanley Cups, Conn Smythe-level playoff performances and influence on goaltending technique, giving representation to elite netminding in all-time conversations ^{[9] [3]}.

Context, controversy and selection bias

Any top-10 is subjective: methodology matters—statistical records favor high-scoring eras, while championship-focused lists elevate Canadiens-era stars; some projects exclude players by era or league (for example, post‑1967 criteria that drop Howe) and AI- or fan-driven rankings introduce different biases, so alternative lists can legitimately substitute Sidney Crosby, Alex Ovechkin, Mike Bossy or other candidates depending on chosen metrics ^{[5] [6] [9]}.