The 100 Greatest Players of the NHL's First 100 Years
As part of NHL's Centennial celebration in 2017, the 100 Greatest Players of the league's first century were unveiled.
The first 33, who played predominantly from 1917-1966, were named on January 1st at the Centennial Classic in Toronto. The rest, who played from 1967-2017, were announced at a magical event at the Microsoft Theatre during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles, where the legends themselves couldn't believe the company they were keeping.
The NHL also commissioned original portraits of each member, painted by renowned Canadian artist Tony Harris and revealed throughout the season.
Explore NHL.com's coverage of this special year, and go deep with long reads on every player. Binge video vignettes featuring rare footage & photos, many culled from the Hockey Hall of Fame archives. And marvel at the incredible skill, leadership and achievements of the NHL's 100 Greatest Players.
307 Stanley Cups. 91,215 Regular Season Points. 345 Awards & Trophies.
100 Hockey Legends.
Dive deeper on every player
Sid Abel
Centered Gordie Howe, Ted Lindsay on famed 'Production Line'
Syl Apps
Legendary Maple Leafs center idolized for character, athleticism
Andy Bathgate
Tough, clean player was matinee idol for Rangers in 1950s, '60s
Jean Beliveau
One of game's greatest ambassadors won Stanley Cup 17 times as player, executive with Canadiens
Max Bentley
Electric performer won back-to-back scoring titles for Black Hawks, Stanley Cup three times with Maple Leafs
Toe Blake
Left wing on Canadiens' famed 'Punch Line' was embodiment of 'old-time hockey'
Mike Bossy
Prolific scorer for Islanders dynasty, only man with nine straight 50-goal seasons
Ray Bourque
Hall of Fame defenseman won Norris Trophy five times with Bruins, Stanley Cup with Avalanche in 2001
Johnny Bower
Playing into his 40s, goalie won four Stanley Cup championships with Maple Leafs
Turk Broda
Goalie thrived in playoffs, led Maple Leafs to five Stanley Cup titles, including three in row
Martin Brodeur
All-time leader in wins, saves, shutouts, games played led Devils to Stanley Cup three times
Johnny Bucyk
Led Big Bad Bruins to two Stanley Cup championships; played 21 seasons in Boston
Pavel Bure
'Russian Rocket' led Canucks to Stanley Cup Final, won back-to-back goal-scoring titles with Panthers
Chris Chelios
Played most games among League defensemen, won two Stanley Cup titles with Red Wings, one with Canadiens
King Clancy
Was highest-scoring defenseman in NHL history when he retired in 1936
Bobby Clarke
Talented, feisty center with incredible work ethic was face of Flyers championship teams
Paul Coffey
Set single-season NHL record for goals by defenseman, helped Oilers to first three Stanley Cup titles
Charlie Conacher
Nicknamed 'The Big Bomber' for powerful shot, was second captain of Maple Leafs
Yvan Cournoyer
'Roadrunner' used blazing speed to help Canadiens win 10 Stanley Cup titles
Sidney Crosby
'Sid the Kid' has won Stanley Cup twice with Penguins, two Olympic gold medals, World Cup with Canada
Pavel Datsyuk
Two-way player with highlight-reel moves won Stanley Cup twice, Selke Trophy three times with Red Wings
Alex Delvecchio
Captained Red Wings for 12 seasons, centered two versions of 'Production Line' with Gordie Howe
Marcel Dionne
Undersized 'offensive genius' fifth-leading goal-scorer in League history
Ken Dryden
Canadiens goalie won Stanley Cup six times, Vezina Trophy five times, captured Conn Smythe Trophy year before being named top rookie
Bill Durnan
Canadiens goalie began career at age 27, won Vezina Trophy six times in seven seasons
Phil Esposito
Premier goal-scorer in early '70s helped Bruins win Stanley Cup twice
Tony Esposito
Three-time Vezina Trophy winner holds Blackhawks records for shutouts, victories
Sergei Fedorov
Two-way forward won three Stanley Cup titles with Red Wings, leads all Russians in assists, points
Peter Forsberg
Skilled, physical center was two-time Stanley Cup winner with Avalanche
Ron Francis
'Captain Class' won Stanley Cup twice with Pittsburgh, has second-most assists in League history
Grant Fuhr
Goalie helped Oilers win five Stanley Cup championships, was first black player inducted into Hockey Hall of Fame
Bob Gainey
Defensive forward big part of Canadiens dynasty in late 1970s, only man to win Selke Trophy four times
Mike Gartner
Dazzling shooter, blazing skater had 17 30-goal seasons
Bernie Geoffrion
Legendary forward popularized slap shot, won Stanley Cup six times with Canadiens
Wayne Gretzky
'The Great One' all-time leader in goals, assists, points, holds 61 League records, won four Stanley Cup titles with Oilers
Glenn Hall
Goalie helped Chicago end Stanley Cup drought in 1961, had NHL-record streak of 502 straight starts
Doug Harvey
Six-time Stanley Cup champion keyed Canadiens' unstoppable power play
Dominik Hasek
'The Dominator' won Vezina Trophy six times, only goalie to capture Hart Trophy twice
Tim Horton
Anchored Maple Leafs defense, was 'strongest player in hockey'
Gordie Howe
Mr. Hockey dominated foes on ice, inspired fans off it during historic five-decade career
Bobby Hull
Blessed with blistering slap shot, won Stanley Cup, three Art Ross trophies with Black Hawks
Brett Hull
Fourth-leading goal scorer in League history won Stanley Cup title with Stars, Red Wings
Jaromir Jagr
Workhorse wing won two Stanley Cup titles in Pittsburgh, second on NHL points list
Patrick Kane
Prolific scorer won Stanley Cup three times with Blackhawks, was first United States-born player to win Art Ross Trophy
Duncan Keith
Workhorse defenseman has won Stanley Cup three times, Norris Trophy twice, Conn Smythe Trophy with Blackhawks
Red Kelly
Won Stanley Cup eight times, four as defenseman with Red Wings, four as center with Maple Leafs
Ted Kennedy
Youngest to ever suit up for Maple Leafs, first to win Stanley Cup five times
Dave Keon
Led Maple Leafs to three straight Stanley Cup championships, four overall in 15 seasons with Toronto
Jari Kurri
Understated end-to-end player was Wayne Gretzky's wingman during Oilers dynasty
Elmer Lach
Was rugged center on Canadiens' famed 'Punch Line' with Maurice Richard, Toe Blake
Guy Lafleur
'The Flower' won Stanley Cup five times with Canadiens, was first to score at least 50 goals, 100 points in six straight seasons
Pat LaFontaine
Classy, hard-working forward ranks fifth in goals among United States-born players
Brian Leetch
Understated Rangers defenseman first American to win Conn Smythe Trophy, last at his position to score 100 points in a season
Jacques Lemaire
Two-way center won Stanley Cup eight times with Canadiens, scored two championship-winning goals
Mario Lemieux
Super scorer won Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe Trophy twice with Penguins, had 10 seasons of 100 points or more
Nicklas Lidstrom
Stellar Swedish defenseman won four Stanley Cup championships, Norris Trophy seven times with Red Wings
Eric Lindros
Dominant center formed Flyers' 'Legion of Doom' line with John LeClair, Mikael Renberg
Ted Lindsay
Left wing on Red Wings' famed 'Production Line' was fierce competitor for 17 seasons
Al MacInnis
Rode devastating slap shot to Hall of Fame; won Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe Trophy with Flames
Frank Mahovlich
Won Stanley Cup four times with Maple Leafs, twice with Canadiens, played on 'Production Line II' in Detroit
Mark Messier
Intense, emotional leader captained Oilers, Rangers to Stanley Cup
Stan Mikita
Black Hawks center, one of greatest in League history, only man to win Hart, Art Ross, Lady Byng trophies in same season
Mike Modano
Superman on ice won Stanley Cup with Stars, became highest-scoring United States-born player in League history
Dickie Moore
Six-time Stanley Cup winner with Canadiens was intense on ice, gentleman off it
Howie Morenz
Thrilled Canadiens fans with one-man rushes, won Stanley Cup three times with Montreal
Scott Niedermayer
Smooth-skating defenseman won Stanley Cup three times with Devils, once with Ducks
Joe Nieuwendyk
Hall of Fame center won Stanley Cup with three franchises
Adam Oates
Consummate playmaker has fourth-most assists among centers, made magic with Brett Hull on Blues
Bobby Orr
Bruins legend revolutionized defenseman position, won Stanley Cup twice, Norris Trophy eight times
Alex Ovechkin
Big, strong, fast Capitals wing is 1,000-point scorer, three-time Hart Trophy winner
Bernie Parent
In back-to-back seasons, Flyers goalie won Stanley Cup, Conn Smythe and Vezina trophies
Brad Park
Puck-moving, physical defenseman retired as all-time assist leader at his position, went to Cup Final with Rangers, twice with Bruins
Gilbert Perreault
Elusive skater centered Sabres' famed 'French Connection' line
Jacques Plante
First NHL goalie to regularly wear mask won Stanley Cup six times with Canadiens
Denis Potvin
Prolific defenseman anchored Islanders dynasty in 1980s
Chris Pronger
Physically dominant defenseman won Stanley Cup with Ducks, two Olympic gold medals for Canada
Jean Ratelle
Graceful skater centered Vic Hadfield, Rod Gilbert on Rangers' famed 'GAG Line'
Henri Richard
Magician on ice, 'Pocket Rocket' member of record 11 Stanley Cup championship teams
Maurice Richard
Cultural icon in Montreal, 'Rocket' won Stanley Cup eight times, including five in a row with Canadiens
Larry Robinson
Bruising Canadiens defenseman won six Stanley Cup titles, Norris Trophy two times
Luc Robitaille
Ninth-round draft pick became highest-scoring left wing in League history
Patrick Roy
Clutch goaltender won two Stanley Cup titles with Canadiens, two with Avalanche, Vezina Trophy three times
Joe Sakic
Captained Avalanche to two Stanley Cup titles, had decorated career with Canada
Borje Salming
Pioneering Maple Leafs defenseman first European star in League
Denis Savard
Gifted center sparked Blackhawks revival in 1980s
Serge Savard
Stay-at-home defenseman formed Canadiens' 'Big Three' with Larry Robinson, Guy Lapointe, won Stanley Cup eight times with Montreal
Terry Sawchuk
Four-time Vezina Trophy winner helped Red Wings win Stanley Cup three times in four seasons
Milt Schmidt
Bruins legend centered 'Kraut Line,' won Stanley Cup twice as player, two more times as executive
Teemu Selanne
'Finnish Flash' scored 76 goals as rookie, won Stanley Cup with Ducks in 2007
Brendan Shanahan
Gritty wing won Stanley Cup three times with Red Wings
Eddie Shore
First great Bruins defenseman was 'Babe Ruth and Ty Cobb of hockey'
Darryl Sittler
Popular, hard-working Maple Leafs captain scored record 10 points in game
Billy Smith
'Battlin'' goalie racked up Stanley Cup titles, penalty minutes during Islanders dynasty
Peter Stastny
Defected with brother from Czechoslovakia to Nordiques, first rookie to score 100 points
Scott Stevens
Hard-hitting defenseman captained Devils to three Stanley Cup titles
Mats Sundin
Longtime Maple Leafs captain only Swedish-born player with 500 NHL goals
Jonathan Toews
Captained Blackhawks to three Stanley Cup titles, won Conn Smythe Trophy in 2010
Bryan Trottier
'Natural born center' won four Stanley Cup championships with Islanders, two with Penguins
Georges Vezina
Ironman for Canadiens had goaltending trophy named after him
Steve Yzerman
'Ultimate captain' helped lead Red Wings to three Stanley Cup titles
