The greatest players in the history of the National Hockey League have revolutionized the game. From Bobby Orr to Wayne Gretzky, they have each made an immense impact on the sport. Who’s the greatest player of them all though? While some say that can be hard to pin, there are a few that easily make the list. Read on to learn a little about some of the best NHL players to ever live.

Maurice Richard

Maurice Richard is regarded as one of the league’s greatest goal scorers after he became the first player to reach 50 goals during the regular season.

He achieved this feat during the 1944-45 season. During his time with the Montreal Canadiens, he won eight championships and became the first player to reach 500 goals.

When he retired, Richard’s 544 career goals were regarded as an all-time record. He went on to become a Hall of Fame member in 1961.

Bobby Orr

During the 1970 Stanley Cup Final, Bobby became the first player to leap over the glass after scoring a goal. He went on to become the league’s leading scorer in 1969 and 1974.

Aside from his impressive offensive skills, he was also regarded as one of the league’s best defensive players. Due to various injuries, his career was shortened, but he still managed to record 270 goals and 645 assists.

Mario Lemieux

One of the most prolific goal-scorers in league history, Lemieux was able to produce four of the league’s highest single-season outputs. He started his career with the Pittsburgh Penguins and peaked at 199 points during the 1990-91 season. Despite a bout with cancer, he would go on to record four more 100-point seasons.

After retiring in 1997, Lemieux became the majority owner of the team. Mario ended up returning to the game in 2000, playing for five more seasons and becoming one of the league’s most successful players, finishing with 1,723 points.

Gordie Howe

After playing for the Detroit Red Wings for 32 years, Howe decided to retire in 1980. During his time with the team, he was able to win multiple awards and multiple Stanley Cup titles. He also created the Hat Trick, which involved combining a goal, an assist, and a fight in one game.

Howe ended his career with the Hartford Whalers, where he scored 41 goals. He finished with 1,850 points in the league, which is more than any other player in history. His 22 consecutive 20-goal seasons are also noteworthy.

Wayne Gretzky

The Great One is regarded as the best goal-scorer in history. He was able to record 1,963 assists during his career, which is more than any other player in the history of the game.

He is the only player in the history of the league to reach the 160-point mark four times. He was able to do it nine times, and he currently holds numerous records. Aside from being the best goal-scorer, he also holds numerous other records.