Most Skilled Hockey Players of All Time
Now remember it's not top ten best point getters, it's most skilled. I was around when Bobby Hull started tearing up the NHL I have seen a lot.
Mario Lemieux is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and the former owner of the Pittsburgh Penguins. He played parts of 17 National Hockey League seasons with the team from 1984 to 2006. He assumed ownership of the Penguins in 1999 and maintained a leadership role in the organization until... read more His 1.883 points per game is second only to Gretzky's 1.921. But Gretzky had most of his most successful years in the early 1980s where there was much more scoring, while Lemieux wasn't in the league at this time. Lemieux also had to overcome many injuries and cancer throughout his career. If he didn't miss so many games, Lemieux would have multiple 200 point seasons. Lemieux was also forced to play with a bad back, yet he still absolutely dominated. Lemieux had everything. Speed, skill, size, vision and strength. At his peak, he was simply unstoppable. The most talented player ever.
Robert Gordon Orr is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played as a defenceman and is widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Orr revolutionized the position with his offensive skills and won numerous awards, including two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins... read more Bobby orr in my opinion is the most skilled hockey player of all time. He missed his prime because of knee injuries and is still the only defenceman to ever win the art ross, twice
Bobby orr is probably the most underrated player besides jean ratelle (rangers) and guy lafleur. he was an amazing player. he lead the league in scoring as a defensemen and is the best penalty killer of all time. not only is he the greatest skilled player of all time but the best player of all time
Ahead of his time. Unbelievable skater and did it all making it look easy. Definitely in the top 3 for sure.
Wayne Douglas Gretzky CC is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League for four teams from 1979 to 1999 and is widely considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time. Gretzky also served as head coach of the Phoenix... read more The guy below me pointed it out well, he was an average skater, average shooter, he was also below average in physical strength and couldn't throw a body check. He didn't do what he did because of his skill but rather because of his hockey sense. Pure skill, a few in NHL history would have to be ranked ahead of Gretzky.
Gretzky was not the most skilled player. He was an average skater, had an average shot, wasn't the kind of player that could turn you inside our like Mario or Kovalev. He was the most intelligent player and the purist scoring machine the game has ever seen. We will never see another one like him.
Robert Marvin Hull, OC (January 3, 1939 - January 30, 2023), was a Canadian professional ice hockey player widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time. Known as The Golden Jet, Hull was celebrated for his speed, powerful slap shot, and offensive skill... read more One of the most complete players ever. He could skate, shoot, pass and body check with the best of them. He regularly helped kill penalties with the Black Hawks as well as manning their power play. He could stick handle with either hand. His great speed and tremendous shooting power allowed him to do things most players could not. Best goal scorer ever and could fight with the best of them when he was abused by the hatchet men--which was often.
The most exciting player ever. Not only one of the fastest skaters in ever in professional hockey, but his slap shot and wrist shots were the fastest ever recorded. Many times Hull would score goals on spectacular end to end rushes through the other team that had the fans in every arena on their feet screaming "Hull, Hull!
The other way Bobby Hull scored many goals was with his slap shot which was timed close to 120 mph. Routinely he would blast goals in from the blue line--60 feet away with it. Many times the puck would be over the goalies shoulder or under his pads before he could move..
Hull was so strong that even when opposing players were hanging all over his back grabbing both his arms he would still get a wrist shot off.
This unmatched speed and power made him not only the most exciting player ever but the most dangerous goal scorer of all time.
Pavel Valeryevich Datsyuk (born 20 July 1978) is a Russian former professional ice hockey player. He was nicknamed the "Magic Man," a tribute to his exceptional stickhandling skills and creativity with the puck... read more ,Behind Lemieux and Gretzky, Pavel Datsyuk is the most skilled player EVER in the nHL you see this guy play and you're just at awe in the way in which he is able to score goals and the way in which he makes them look so effortless. Bobby Orr eat your heart out. Datsyuk Destroys you.
Most skilled player with his stick, the best at picking away the puck, his style makes players look like amateurs
Pave and Bobby Orr are tied # 1. I meant paved and he could do the impossible.
Only player ever to win the Hart trophy, Art Ross and Lady Byng in the same year. And he did this two years in a row! In 66-67 and 67-68 seasons. People forget how good this guy was. He also won the Ross trophy as scoring champion four times. The best center of the 1960's without question. If he hadn't gotten a crippling back injury from a dirty play by two Montreal players in 1969(he was cross checked from behind) he would much higher on the list of the greatest players ever. Mikita was leading the league in scoring again when the cross check happened.
Patrick Timothy Kane II, born November 19, 1988, is an American professional ice hockey right winger. He currently plays for the Chicago Blackhawks in the National Hockey League (NHL). Kane has won three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks and is considered one of the most skilled American players in NHL... read more Patrick Kane will for ever be the mots skilled hockey player!
What The Heck Kane Should Be IN The Top 4
Perreault was so naturally gifted that I actually think that worked against him. He could float and still get 100 points in a season. It it too bad that his effort never matched his prodigious skills. Just think what he could have accomplished if he gave the same effort as Guy Lafleur did. Perreault had as many points as Lafleur did in his career but Lafleur never took a night off. How scary great could Perreault have been?
No one could skate and stick handle like him. He was electrifying and one of those rare players that regularity brought fans to their feet Had he played for a team like Montreal he would not be underrated like he is now. He was like a faster Mario Lemieux.
He was good defensive player as well, killed penalties.
I f he had the right line mates his score would have been a lot higher
The most spectacular hockey player of all time. No one was more thrilling than Pavel Bure.
Joseph Henri Maurice "Rocket" Richard was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. He played 18 seasons in the National Hockey League, all with the Montreal Canadiens. Richard was the first player in NHL history to score 50 goals in a single season and won eight Stanley Cups with the team. Amazing better then everyone in the NHL today
The Newcomers
Most underrated player in today's NHL, combines his quick hands and speed to no other player
Sidney Patrick Crosby ONS (born August 7, 1987) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player who currently serves as captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League. He was drafted first overall by the Penguins in the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Crosby has won multiple Stanley Cups and is... read more Crosby, Lemieux, Ovechkin, Riley and Bure would be a killer line.
This is where nikita kucherov should be or austin mathews maybe conner mcdavid
Gordon "Gordie" Howe OC (March 31, 1928 - June 10, 2016) was a Canadian professional ice hockey player. From 1946 to 1980, he played twenty-six seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). Known as "Mr. Hockey," he was one of the sport's greatest players and a key figure in the NHL's history. We as spectators want our superstars to lift you out of your seat with tremendous feats of skill. That was not Gordie's game. You had to watch him over a period to time to realize he was simply better than anyone else. He was a fabulous skater -best stickhandler /passer/ playmaker in a poll taken by the players in the early 60's. He didn't have to fight especially after the Lou Fountinato heavyweight bout. Gordie could play the game anyway you wanted even as he got into his late thirties.Best all-around player the NHl has seen.
Jaromír Jágr is a Czech professional ice hockey right winger and currently plays for Rytíři Kladno in the Czech Extraliga. He was born on February 15, 1972, and has had one of the longest and most successful careers in professional hockey history. As of the 2024-25 season, he continues to play,... read more Few players display more tools then the Czech born superstar. His super human strength, powerful shot, elite playmaking and exceptional puck control simply places Jagr as one of the most skilled players of all time. Boom.
According to Gretzky... The most skilled player he ever played with.
He was just really good at hiding the skill
Considering the players Gretzky played with, incl on the Canada Cup team, stating Kent is the most skilled player he ever played with mean something.
Hitting the crossbar from center ice on live T.V. is another amazing story.
The inventor of the Peter Forsberg 1994 Olympic final penalty, Kent did this back in 1989 against the US in World Cup (not on a penalty though, so no time to plan this).
Teemu is the Finnish Flash a god
Alexander Mikhailovich "Alex" Ovechkin is a Russian professional ice hockey winger and the captain of the Washington Capitals of the National Hockey League. He is considered one of the greatest goal scorers in NHL history. Ovechkin has won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy nine times and led the Capitals... read more That guy is pretty big and hers really skilled
Best hockey player in the NHL today.
Best goal scorer in the modern NHL!
Zdeno Chára (born 18 March 1977) is a Slovak professional ice hockey defenseman who serves as captain of the Boston Bruins of the National Hockey League (NHL). He won the James Norris Memorial Trophy while playing for the Bruins in the 2008–09 season. Standing at 6 feet 9 inches (2.06 m) tall, Chára... read more Shouldn't be here in my opinion, he's just an alien 6'9 guy who's super slow
If you combine defensive, offensive, puck handling, physicality, mental focus, and vision. Forsberg will end up scoring the highest. Being active in the nasties era of hockey took it's toll and wore him down.
Most Complete Player Ever. Stellar level of skill in every aspect of the game, most notably his awareness and playmaking ability.
Most skilled player on this planet. Period.
Connor McDavid (born January 13, 1997) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain for the Edmonton Oilers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Widely regarded as one of the best players in the sport, McDavid has won multiple Hart Memorial Trophies as league MVP. He was selected first overall... read more Number 1 for me. He is the fastest skater ever, and the best stickhandler ever. Most skilled player ever.
His speed and stick handling is the best there ever was and will be
I had to add him! Seriously? This guy has got to be top 3!
You have to remember this he had the most points for one season before people started getting unreal amount of points.
If based purely on skill, no player, not even Gretzky, Datsyuk, Lemieux, etc. Could out stickhandle or beat AK27 one-on-one. He may not have put up huge numbers in his career, but nobody could get around defenders more effortlessly than Kovalev.
Who else was able to pick up his lost glove while smoking defenseman behind goal? Also super strong and maybe best wrist shot ever seen.
John Michael Gaudreau, born on August 13, 1993, was an American professional ice hockey winger who played 11 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was known for his impressive career with teams like the Calgary Flames and the Columbus Blue Jackets. Tragically, Gaudreau and his brother Matthew... read more
Ronald Jeffrey Hextall (born May 3, 1964) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey goaltender and executive. He was most recently the general manager of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the National Hockey League (NHL)... read more