Top ten greatest Hockey Players

1. Wayne Gretzky: The Great One

Wayne Gretzky, often hailed as "The Great One," is a hockey legend whose impact on the sport is unparalleled. He was born on 26th January 1961, in Brantford, Ontario, Gretzky's career spanned from 1979 to 1999.

Three Records:

• Most Career Points: Gretzky holds the record for the most career points in NHL history with a staggering 2,857 points.
• Most Goals in a Single Season: He scored an incredible 92 goals in the 1981-82 season, a record that still stands today.
• Most Assists in a Single Season: Gretzky's playmaking ability is evident in his record of 163 assists
  during the 1985-86 season. 

2. Bobby Orr: Revolutionizing Defense

Bobby Orr, born on March 20, 1948, in Parry Sound, Ontario, is known as the strongest defenseman in hockey history. He played from 1966 to 1978, which saw him redefine the role of a defenseman.

Three Records:

• Most Points in a Single Season by a Defenseman: Orr set a record with 139 points during the 1970-71 season.
• Most Consecutive Norris Trophies: He won eight consecutive Norris Trophies as the NHL's best defenseman from 1968 to 1975.
• Only Player to Win Four Major Awards in a Single Season
  
  

3. Mario Lemieux: The Magnificent One

Mario Lemieux, born on October 5, 1965, in Montreal, Quebec, is known for his extraordinary skill
and finesse on the ice. His career, spanning from 1984 to 2006, featured multiple comebacks and remarkable achievements.

Three Records:

• Most Goals in a Game: Lemieux scored five goals in a single game on three occasions, a record he shares with only one other player.
• Consecutive Playoff Games with a Point: He holds the record for recording at least one point in 16 consecutive playoff games.
• Fastest Five Goals by an Individual: In 1988, Lemieux scored five goals in just five minutes during a game against the St. Louis Blues.

4. Gordie Howe: Mr. Hockey

Gordie Howe, often referred to as "Mr. Hockey,". He was born on 31st March 1928, in Saskatchewan, Canada.
His illustrious career spanned five decades, from 1946 to 1980.

Three Records:

• Most NHL Games Played: Howe played in an astonishing 1,767 NHL games, a record that stood until
  it was surpassed in recent years.
• Oldest Player to Play in the NHL: Howe played his final NHL game at the age of 52, making him the oldest player to ever compete in the league.
• Most Consecutive 20-Goal Seasons: He recorded 22 consecutive seasons with at least 20 goals, showcasing his scoring consistency.
  
  

5. Maurice Richard: The Rocket

Maurice Richard, known as "The Rocket," was born on August 4, 1921, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. His career with the Montreal Canadiens spanned from 1942 to 1960.

Three Records:

• First Player to Score 50 Goals in 50 Games: Richard achieved this milestone during the 1944-45 season, setting a benchmark for goal scoring.
• Most Goals in a Single Playoff Year: He scored 12 goals in 9 games during the 1944 playoffs, a record that still stands.
• First Player to Score 500 Goals: Richard was the first player in NHL history to reach the 500-goal mark, solidifying his status as a prolific goal scorer.
  
  

6. Sidney Crosby: The Modern Maestro

Sidney Crosby, born on August 7, 1987, in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, is considered one of the greatest players of his generation. His career with the Pittsburgh Penguins began in 2005, and he continues to be a dominant force
in the NHL.

Three Records:

• Youngest Captain to Win the Stanley Cup: Crosby captained the Penguins to victory in 2009. Has was the only player in
  history who led the team in the Stanley Cup at the age of 21, the youngest of anyone else.
• Consecutive Olympic Gold Medals: He won gold with Team Canada in 2010 and 2014, showcasing his international success.
• Art Ross Trophy for Most Points: Crosby has won the Art Ross Trophy twice as the NHL's leading point-scorer (2007, 2014).

7. Jaromir Jagr: The Czech Dynamo

Jaromir Jagr, born on February 15, 1972, in Kladno, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), is one of the greatest forwards in the history of hockey. His illustrious career spanned from 1990 to 2018, and he played for several NHL teams.

Three Records:

• Most Points by a European Player: Jagr holds the record for the most points scored by a European player in NHL history, showcasing his offensive prowess.
• Second All-Time in Career Points: With over 1,900 points, Jagr ranks second in all-time career points in the NHL.
• Oldest Player to Score a Hat Trick: In 2015, at the age of 43, Jagr became the oldest player in NHL history to score a hat trick.
  
  

8. Bobby Hull: The Golden Jet

Bobby Hull, born on January 3, 1939, in Pointe Anne, Ontario, Canada, is a legendary forward who played a
pivotal role in shaping the history of the NHL. He played in duration between 1957 to 1980

Three Records:

• First Player to Score More Than 50 Goals in a Season: Hull achieved this milestone in the 1965-66 season, setting a new standard for goal scoring.
• Most Valuable Player Awards: He won the Hart Trophy twice (1965, 1966) as the league's most valuable player.
• First to Sign a Million-Dollar Contract: Hull made history by becoming the first player to sign a million-dollar contract in professional hockey.
  
  

9. Jean Beliveau: The Gentle Giant

Jean Beliveau, born on August 31, 1931, in Trois-Rivières, Quebec, Canada, was a legendary center who played for the Montreal Canadiens from 1950 to 1971.

Three Records:

• Most Points in a Single Playoff Season: Beliveau set a record with 30 points in the 1955 playoffs, showcasing his clutch performance in crucial moments.
• Most Stanley Cups as a Player: He won 10 Stanley Cups with the Canadiens, establishing a record for the most championships by a single player.
• First Conn Smythe Trophy Winner: Beliveau was the inaugural winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy in 1965, regarded as the most precious player in the playoffs.                

10. Dominik Hasek: The Dominator

Dominik Hasek, born on January 29, 1965, in Pardubice, Czechoslovakia (now the Czech Republic), is widely known as one of the greatest goaltenders in the history of hockey. His career spanned from 1980 to 2011, and he played for several NHL teams.

Three Records:

• Most Vezina Trophies: Hasek won the Vezina Trophy as the NHL's best goaltender six times
  (1994, 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001), showcasing his dominance between the pipes.
• Most Career Shutouts by a European Goaltender:
• Two Hart Trophies as League MVP: In 1997 and 1998, Hasek became the first goaltender since Jacques Plante to win the Hart Trophy as the league's most valuable player.