The Five All Time Greats Who Still Own the Record Books

Ranking all time players will always start arguments, but the names on this list are backed by records, trophies, and championships that still define the sport. The five players below are the same names most all time debates circle back to for a reason, they each changed what the NHL looked like in their era, and most of them still sit near the top of the league record book decades later.

1. Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky remains the standard for career production, even after Alex Ovechkin passed his regular season goals mark in April 2025. Gretzky still owns the NHL career records for assists (1,963) and points (2,857), and he finished his career with four Stanley Cups with the Edmonton Oilers in 1984, 1985, 1987, and 1988. Ovechkin’s 895th goal officially moved him past Gretzky’s 894, but Gretzky’s overall offensive totals remain untouched.

Gretzky’s trophy case is part of the reason he stays at the top of nearly every list. The Hockey Hall of Fame’s Art Ross Trophy page lists Gretzky as the leading winner of the award with 10 scoring titles, the most in league history. That scoring dominance was not a short run either, and it came across multiple teams and eras.

Here’s What They’re Not Telling You About Your Retirement

In playoff terms, Gretzky was not just a stat machine in the regular season. He led the Oilers through the franchise’s dynasty years and helped turn Edmonton into the defining NHL team of the 1980s. His combination of championships, point production, and league records keeps him in the first spot even after the goals record changed hands.

2. Bobby Orr

Bobby Orr’s case starts with the fact that he changed what a defenseman could be. NHL records and NHL historical material still identify him as the first defenseman to hit 100 points in a season, and he remains the only defenseman to win the Art Ross Trophy as the league scoring leader. He did it twice.

Orr’s career totals were 657 games, 270 goals, 645 assists, and 915 points, according to NHL historical player coverage. For a defenseman, those numbers are still staggering, especially given how injuries shortened his career. His peak years in Boston were enough to produce two Stanley Cups and three straight Hart Trophies as league MVP, which is one of the strongest peaks any player has posted at any position.

He also owns one of the most famous championship moments in hockey history with the 1970 Cup clinching overtime goal for Boston. The combination of elite scoring, MVP awards, and playoff impact is why Orr is routinely ranked right behind Gretzky despite playing far fewer games.

3. Gordie Howe

This Could Be the Most Important Video Gun Owners Watch All Year

Gordie Howe’s place on this list comes from longevity and production that were almost impossible for his era. NHL historical summaries list his career totals at 1,767 NHL games, 801 goals, 1,049 assists, and 1,850 points, and he retired as the league’s all time leader in all four categories before Gretzky arrived. He also played 26 NHL seasons, which is why “Mr. Hockey” remains one of the most fitting nicknames in sports.

Howe won four Stanley Cups with the Detroit Red Wings, and his scoring dominance is still reflected in the Art Ross Trophy history. The Hockey Hall of Fame lists Howe with six Art Ross wins, tied for second most all time with Mario Lemieux and behind only Gretzky.

Another measure of Howe’s consistency is where he played and how long he stayed productive. NHL historical coverage notes he finished in the top five in league scoring for 20 straight seasons from 1949-50 through 1968-69. That kind of year after year production is one reason Howe remains central in any all time ranking, even as modern players continue to climb the all time lists.

4. Mario Lemieux

Mario Lemieux’s career is one of the strongest examples of elite production interrupted by injuries and illness, then restarted at a Hall of Fame level. NHL and team historical sources credit him with six Art Ross Trophies, three Hart Trophies, and two Conn Smythe Trophies, along with two Stanley Cups in 1991 and 1992 with Pittsburgh.

He is without question among the most productive forwards ever. He produced 10 seasons with at least 100 points. Even with fewer games than many players around him on the career list, Lemieux’s point production and playoff value kept him in the top tier of all time discussions.

Lemieux also remains one of the biggest postseason performers in Penguins history, and his role in the franchise extended beyond playing. His hockey career and team legacy remain tied to Pittsburgh’s rise in the early 1990s and the organization’s survival later on. For pure talent and peak production, he stays in the all time top five conversation without much debate.

5. Maurice Richard

Maurice Richard’s production came in an earlier NHL era, but several of his milestones still make him a permanent part of any all time list. Richard was the first player to score 50 goals in the first 50 games from the start of a season, doing it in 1944-45. He also became the first player in league history to reach 500 career goals.

Richard finished his career with 544 goals, 421 assists, and 965 points in 978 games, according to NHL historical player coverage. Those raw numbers matter, but his place in history is also tied to how far ahead of the league he was as a goal scorer during his prime. He helped power Montreal’s dynasty years and won eight Stanley Cups with the Canadiens, which remains one of the strongest championship totals for a star forward.

He is also one of the most important figures in the league’s long term history beyond the stat line. The NHL later named its annual goal scoring award the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy, a direct reflection of how much his scoring legacy still shapes the sport.

This list will always invite debate over order, but the five names themselves hold up under any fact check. Gretzky still owns the points mountain, Orr redefined defense, Howe set the longevity model, Lemieux delivered a historic peak through setbacks, and Richard established the original standard for pure goal scoring. That is why the same five names keep showing up whenever hockey’s all time list gets written again.

Warning: Account balances and purchasing power no longer tell the same story. Know in 2 minutes if your retirement is working for you.

The opinions expressed by contributors and/or content partners are their own and do not necessarily reflect the views of LifeZette. Contact us for guidelines on submitting your own commentary.