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Who is the greatest NHL hockey player of all time? That debate has raged over the decades and has, of course, evolved as new legends emerged to throw their hat in the ring for the coveted title. Once upon a time diehard fans of the Montreal Canadiens and Detroit Red Wings argued over which of Maurice Richard or Gordie Howe was the greatest ever. Heck, I'm sure some of them still do. Fans that are relatively new to the sport might argue that Sidney Crosby or Alexander Ovechkin deserve recognition for the title. Hmmmm, don't think so. Keep building those resumes boys. And let's not forget Mario Lemieux, who in his prime looked like a man playing against boys. Surely he deserves more than a little consideration as the best hockey player to ever grace an NHL rink?

All of the names I've mentioned above are superstars and among the biggest legends the sport of hockey has ever seen, but when it comes to the greatest of all time in most people's minds the debate is really a two horse race involving Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr.

It has been over a dozen years since Gretzky last played an NHL game, and more than three decades since Orr last suited up, yet the Gretzky vs. Orr debate continues to rage as hot as ever around water coolers and on online sports forums. Of course, fans of the Boston Bruins and the Edmonton Oilers champion their own "hometown" boy, and the bulk of Bobby Orr proponents tend to be older (ie: actually saw Orr play live) than Gretzky's supporters.

So which one of these two legends deserves the title? Let's take a closer look at their respective careers:

Bobby Orr

From an early age it was readily apparent that Robert Gordon Orr was going to be a special player. The Toronto Maple Leafs, Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks all expressed interest in Orr, but it was the Bruins that nabbed the coveted rights to Orr, who committed to the team at the tender age of 14. Orr went on to join the Bruins for the 1966-67 season, potting 41 points in 61 games and earning the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year. He would have put up even better numbers had he not missed nine games with a knee injury, a harbinger of things to come.

Over the next few seasons, despite the fact that Orr's knee problems multiplied, the young defenseman swiftly established himself as the premiere player in the NHL. In his sophomore season he earned his first Norris Trophy of an NHL record eight straight. As great as he was in his first three seasons in the NHL he obliterated everyone's expectations in the 1969-70 season.

That year he absolutely obliterated his previous single-season offensive totals, scoring a mind-boggling 33 goals and 120 points and becoming the first NHL defenseman to ever win the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer, and adding the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP for good measure. Orr would continue his remarkable year in the playoffs, tallying 20 points in 14 games, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy and netting the Stanley Cup winning goal en route to helping the Bruins win their first championship in decades.

Amazingly, Orr actually improved upon his offensive totals the following season, scoring 37 goals and 102 assists for 139 points. All three totals were NHL records for a defenseman at the time, and the single season marks for assists and points still stand to this day. Orr was denied a second consecutive Art Ross Trophy by Bruins' teammate Phil Esposito who set NHL records of his own, scoring 76 goals and 152 points that year. Orr did earn his second straight Hart Trophy, however. Not a bad consolation prize.

Over the next several seasons Orr continued to dominate the game like no other player before him. He could skate like the wind, and that speed, combined with his incredible stickhandling ability, made him all but untouchable as he rushed the puck up the ice. Despite his increasingly damaged knees Orr continued to pile up the points, eclipsing the 100 point barrier in six straight seasons. He continued to add hardware to his trophy case as well, earning another Stanley Cup ring, a Conn Smythe, a third Hart Trophy and one Norris Trophy after another. He scored a career high 46 goals and tallied 135 points in 1974-75, but sadly that would be his last great season in the NHL.

The damage to Orr's chronically bad knees were finally two much for the superstar blueliner to overcome and over the next four years he appeared in just 36 NHL regular season games, though he still averaged well over a point a game in that span. His career ended with a whimper as he played in just six games with the Chicago Blackhawks in 1978-79 before calling it a career.

In all, Orr appeared in just 657 regular season games. However, his 915 points over that span represent a 1.39 points per game average, one of the highest of all time at any position, and by far the highest by a d-man. He remains the only defenseman to ever lead the league in scoring, having accomplished the feat twice, and if he had had the benefit of a long, healthy career on two good knees there is no question he would hold the career marks for goals, assists and points by a defenseman.

Wayne Gretzky

At the age of ten, Wayne Gretzky scored an eye-popping 378 goals in a single season in the Brantford Atom League. Though he was obviously still very young, that incredible offensive explosion offered a sneak peek into Gretzky's enormous potential. Gretzky's progress up through the ranks, much like Orr's years before, was carefully scrutinized by professional scouts. However, Gretzky never gave an NHL team the chance to draft him, opting instead to sign a personal services contract with Nelson Skalbania and the Indianapolis Racers of the NHL's rival league, the World Hockey Association. Gretzky only wound up playing eight games for the Racers before Gretzky was sold to Peter Pocklington's Edmonton Oilers.

As it turned out Gretzky's arrival in the NHL took place in the same year he would have been draft eligible anyways. When the WHA folded the Oilers were one of four franchises chosen to merge into the NHL. Gretzky easily made the leap to the National Hockey League, putting up the highest points total in history for a first year NHL player. His 51 goals and 137 points tied him with Marcel Dionne for the highest total in the league as well, but Dionne's higher goal total was the tie-breaker and the Los Angeles Kings' star earned the Art Ross Trophy. Gretzky did nab the Hart, but was denied the Calder Trophy as Rookie of the Year, since he was deemed ineligible as a result of already having played in a professional league.

In a decade with the Edmonton Oilers Gretzky would go on to absolutely shred the NHL record book. Some of the individual highlights during his tenure with the club included eight straight Hart Trophies, seven Art Ross Trophies, and two Conn Smythe Trophies. He set single season NHL records in goals (92), assists (163) and points (215), enjoyed an NHL record with a 51 game point scoring streak, and obliterated the 50 goals in 50 games mark, by accomplishing the feat in a mere 39 contests. He also led the Oilers to four Stanley Cup titles in five years as captain of the club.

The Trade

Despite all he accomplished with the Oilers, Gretzky was not, in fact, an untouchable asset, and the hockey world was stunned on August 9th, 1988 Gretzky was shipped to the Los Angeles Kings.

Gretzky picked up right where he left off with the Oilers, scoring 54 goals and amassing 168 points in his first season with his new team. Over the next several seasons Gretzky would continue to be a prolific scorer, notching a total of 918 points in just 539 games in a Kings' uniform. During that span he became the NHL's all time leader in both goals and points, eclipsing the long time career marks of his idol Gordie Howe in the process. He also added to his trophy haul, nabbing another Hart and three more Art Ross's over his seven and a half seasons with the team.

The highlight of Gretzky's time with the Kings came in the spring of 1993. The Great One put the Kings on his back during a magical playoff run that saw them make it to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first and only time in the franchise's long history. Though they would ultimately bow out to the Montreal Canadiens in the finals Gretzky certainly couldn't be faulted for falling short. He finished the run with 15 goals and 40 points, and would surely have won another Conn Smythe Trophy had his team prevailed.

After a short stint with the St. Louis Blues, Gretzky finished his Hall of Fame career with the New York Rangers, reuniting with his old buddy Mark Messier for his last three seasons in an effort to rekindle some of the magic they'd shared in the glory years of the Oilers. Alas, the dream of one last Stanley Cup together was never realized. Despite that, Gretzky acquitted himself well in a Rangers uniform. Though he played past forty and his three seasons in New York took place during the dreaded "dead puck era" Gretzky still averaged well over a point a game playing for the Blue Shirts.

The man who wore number 99 on his back during his NHL career aptly called it a career in '99. His final career numbers were absolutely staggering: 894 goals, 1,963 assists, and 2,857 points. Though the goal total might be within reach, one has to believe that, barring a significant change in the rules of the game, Gretzky's career marks for assists and points will stand as long as the game itself.

So, back to the original question. Gretzky vs. Orr - which of these two legends is the greatest of all time? It is a photo finish, but in the end I have to give Gretzky the nod. His incredible list of records speak for themselves, and many will stand for all time. No other player in the history of the game made his teammates better, and that is probably his greatest achievement as a player.

That being said, I do believe that if Bobby Orr had the benefit of a long, healthy career he would have come out on top of this particular debate. Nobody owned the ice like Orr did, and in his prime Bobby Orr was so far above his peers in talent it was laughable. Alas, such factors as durability and longevity carry weight in these considerations and Gretzky's elusive style of play allowed him to stay relatively healthy until the twilight of his career, giving him the chance to amass the mind-boggling numbers he did.

Hockey Hermit's Verdict: Gretzy vs. Orr - Winner: Wayne Gretzky

Have a different opinion? Make your voice heard in the comments below:

With the second round of the 2011 NHL playoffs nearing completion I thought it was time to start speculating on which of the players left in this spring’s tournament has the best chance of taking home the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP.

Most players who win the Conn Smythe downplay the accolade, claiming it is no more than a nice bonus to go along with their Stanley Cup victory. Or, on the flip side, those rare Conn Smythe winners while playing on a losing team claim it is no consolation for not winning the Cup. While it seems to get snubbed by those who win it, the Conn Smythe is probably the greatest measure of individual performance in the game of hockey. Sure, winning any of the Hart, Vezina, Norris or Art Ross trophies is a very impressive achievement, but those are regular season awards. In order to capture a Conn Smythe a player has to come up huge for his team at the biggest time of year. It measures clutch performance under pressure and the ability to elevate one’s game while playing under immense pressure. Those who win it join NHL legends like Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Jean Beliveau, Patrick Roy and Ken Dryden, all of whom have earned the award at least once in their respective Hall of Fame careers.

Jonathan Toews was the most recent player to claim the accolade, but his exit in the first round of this year’s playoffs ensures that we will have a new winner this year. So which players are making the most compelling argument as playoff MVP in this year’s playoffs so far? Let’s take a look at the leading candidates:

Ryan Kesler

Though in past years the Conn Smythe Trophy winner and the playoff scoring leader are often one in the same person, the criteria for determining a winner extends far beyond mere statistics. True, Ryan Kesler has the stats – he is currently tied for the playoff lead in scoring with 13 points – but those points are just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how valuable Kesler has been to the Canucks during their playoff run to date.

Kesler has been Mr. Everything for his team. He’s been their emotional leader, and whenever the team has needed a lift it has been Kesler, not captain Henrik Sedin, who has lit a fire and got the team going in the right direction. He has played huge minutes and has been on the ice in every crucial situation, whether on the powerplay, penalty kill, or late in the game to take a huge faceoff with his team up or down a goal. If he continues playing the way he is and Vancouver can finally hoist the Stanley Cup for the first time in their history it is hard to imagine any scenario in which Ryan Kesler will not capture the Conn Smythe.

Pavel Datsyuk

Though his team is currently on the brink of elimination, down 3-2 in their second round series against the San Jose Sharks, Pavel Datsyuk is in no way responsible for that situation. The slick Russian forward has been at his crafty best throughout the first month of the playoffs. Like Kesler, he is tied for the league lead in scoring with 13 points, despite the fact that he has played three fewer games than the Vancouver star.

Datsyuk has not been getting those points quietly either. He has been on the highlight reel in nearly every game, electrifying fans and confounding opponents with his jaw-dropping stick-handling ability. Despite battling an apparent injury Datsyuk was again magnificent in game 5 against the Sharks, notching three assists and helping keep the Detroit Red Wings alive in a must win game in the unfriendly confines of the Shark tank.

As usual, the three time defending Selke Trophy winner has also been a beast on the defensive side of the puck, and his almost wizardly ability to steal pucks from opponents has been giving the opposition fits. If the Wings can do the miraculous, and come back to beat the Sharks after digging themselves into a 3-0 hole it will be in large part to the efforts of Pavel Datsyuk.

Vincent Lecavalier

Some readers might raise an eyebrow at this pick. In reaching the semi-finals for the first time since their Stanley Cup victory in 2004 the Tampa Bay Lightning have had no shortage of key contributors. Martin St. Louis is tied for the league lead in points with 13, Steve Downie has chipped in with 12 points while playing a third line role. Even more surprisingly, grinder Sean Bergenheim has chipped in with 7 goals. And let’s not forget the stellar play of 41 year old goaltender Dwayne Roloson who continues to defy Father Time and currently leads the post-season in save percentage (.941) and goals against average (2.01).

Yes, the Lightning are certainly getting no shortage of great performances during their Cup drive, but in my opinion it is the contribution of their captain that has been the biggest key to date. Lecavalier, after a subpar regular season that saw him score only 54 points, currently sits second in team playoff scoring with 12 points. However, it isn’t just the points he is producing at this crucial time of year, but when he is scoring them. Vinny currently leads the NHL with 3 game winning goals and is playing some of his most inspired hockey since the 2004 cup run.

For the Lightning to capture their second Stanley Cup in less than a decade they need guys like Roloson, St. Louis, Bergenheim and Downie to continue to shine, but it is their captain and their emotional leader that will ultimately tip the balance in their favor.

Pekka Rinne

One of the finalists for the Vezina Trophy this season, Pekka Rinne’s stellar play against the Vancouver Canucks should come as a surprise to no one. Perhaps more surprising was the fact that he was pretty average in the first round against the Anaheim Ducks. Despite that his Nashville Predators found a way to win that series for their goalie, and he is paying them back – with interest – in the second round against the Canucks.

Yes, the Predators currently trail the Vancouver Canucks 3-2 in the series, but you have to remember that the Canucks were the best team in the NHL this year, and also enjoyed the league’s most potent offense. Rinne has stymied that lethal attack through five games so far, making one brilliant save after another and keeping Nashville in each and every game, despite the fact that they’ve been badly outplayed for long stretches during each of those games.

The odds of the Predators coming back and beating the Canucks are long, to be sure, but with the way Rinne has played so far, it is certainly not an inconceivable scenario. If they can manage it Rinne would likely surge to the top of the list among Conn Smythe Trophy candidates.

The Verdict: Ryan Kesler

Kesler gets the nod by a narrow margin, with Pavel Datsyuk coming in just behind. He has been the straw stirring the drink all playoffs long for the Canucks and his point production has been especially crucial considering Henrik and Daniel Sedin have been all but silent in the Nashville series.

Honorable Mention:

Martin St. Louis - Tampa’s diminutive star has continued to shine brightly in the post-season, following up his Hart Trophy nominated regular season in spectacular fashion. With 13 points and inspirational play he is a big reason why Tampa came back against the Penguins and rolled to victory over the Capitals.

Tim Thomas

The favorite to win the Vezina this year, Tim Thomas was not quite at that level in the Bruins’ first round series against the Montreal Canadiens, but he really rediscovered his game in the team’s second round match-up against the Philadelphia Flyers. Thomas was incredibly stingy as the team swept the Flyers out of the playoffs, erasing demons of last year’s monumental collapse against the same club. Thomas currently sits second behind Dwayne Roloson in both save percentage and GAA.

Dwayne Roloson

Speaking of the playoff save percentage and GAA leader it would be a crime not to give Roloson an honorable mention on this list of Conn Smythe Trophy favorites. He has been everything that Lightning GM Steve Yzerman could have hoped for when he acquired the veteran late in the regular season. If Roloson can keep up his stellar play he and the Lightning will certainly give the big, bad Bruins all they can handle in the Eastern Conference finals.

Ryan Clowe

Though most of the hype in San Jose centers around superstars like Joe Thornton, Patrick Marleau, Dany Heatley and to a lesser extent, Joe Pavelski and Logan Couture, it has been hulking winger Ryan Clowe that has arguably been the team’s best player so far this spring. Clowe is currently tied for the lead in points with 13 and has been a physical force throughout the playoffs.

Joel Ward

Undoubtedly the most unlikely name on this list, Joel Ward is nonetheless deserving of an honorable mention. No, he hasn’t been as important as Pekka Rinne so far, but he’s close. Great goaltending is one thing, but you need to score goals to win games and Ward’s got seven of them so far. That total ties him for the playoff lead and is only three shy of the ten he notched during the regular season.

If one is asked the question, “Who is the greatest goal scorer of all time?” the easy answer is to simply look at the stats and see which player has the most career goals. Wayne Gretzky had 894 goals, 93 more than his next closest competitor (Gordie Howe) so he must be the best sniper in NHL history. Well, while anyone arguing on Gretzky’s behalf would certainly have a strong argument, career stats don’t tell the whole story.

One key factor to consider is the era a player played in. Gretzky piled up the bulk of those goals in the 1980s, the most free-wheeling, wide open decade in hockey history. It is hard to imagine he would have scored that many if he’d been in the prime of his career between 1994 and 2004 for instance. As I look back at the greatest goal scorers in NHL history I will try and take this into account and judge accordingly.

So who are the men on the short list for title of the NHL’s all time greatest goal scorer? Read on as I introduce the candidates:

Wayne Gretzky

Gretzky is considered by most hockey fans and so-called experts as the greatest playmaker the game has ever seen. His on-ice vision and his ability to saucer tape to tape passes to teammates helped him set a myriad of assist records that will very probably never be broken. Though he was known predominantly as a passer and not a “pure” goal scorer some would dispute the assertion he is the greatest goal scorer of all time, however, since he is the NHL’s all time leading regular season goal scorer with 894 career goals and all time leading playoff goal scorer with 122 it would be a huge oversight to keep “The Great One” off the list.

The career goal scoring stats alone provide a compelling argument, but Gretzky also had many single season accomplishments that help his case:

50 goals in 39 games - Gretzky himself refers to this particular feat as his most untouchable record. In 1981-82 Gretzky stunned the hockey world when he not only beat Rocket Richard’s and Mike Bossy’s shared mark of 50 goals in 50 games, but completely annihilated it. On December 30th, 1981 Gretzky notched five goals against the Philadelphia Flyers to hit the 50 in 39 mark, serving notice to the hockey world that the NHL record book was going to take a beating in the years to come.

92 goals in a single season - After notching 50 in 39 late in 1981, Gretzky was apparently satisfied enough with his accomplishment and just coasted through the rest of the season. In his final 41 games he managed a meager 42 goals, finishing with an NHL record 92 that year. He was on a pace for a 100 goal season at one point. What happened Wayne? 

Eight straight 50 goal seasons - That magical 92 goal season marked the third consecutive time that Gretzky had eclipsed the 50 goal mark. He was just getting started. He would rack up eight straight seasons with 50 or more goals, including four straight years with 70 or more before an injury in the 1987-88 season would hold him to a mere 40.

There is more I could add, but you get the picture. Yes, Gretzky was a legendary playmaker, but he was also a pretty damn good goal scorer as well. But was he the greatest of all time?

Mike Bossy

Above, I mentioned that Gretzky was not known as a “pure” goal scorer. Well, no one could dispute that moniker when analyzing the career of Mike Bossy. As deadly a sniper as the game has ever seen, Bossy gave goalies fits with his quick release and his deadly accuracy. In many cases just the blink of an eye had passed in the time it took him to receive a pass and put it in the back of the net. Yes, his career was short (just 752 career regular season games over 10 seasons), but he made the most of that time, scoring an incredible 573 career goals and helping the mighty Islanders capture four Stanley Cups. Here are some of the goal scoring highlights of his career:

50 goals in 50 games

Though it was eclipsed a year later by Gretzky’s amazing 50 goals in 39 games, in 1980-81 Bossy made history when he became the first player in over three decades, and only the second player ever, to hit the 50 in 50 mark. Maurice Richard’s standard had stood untouched since the 1944-45 season before Bossy managed to equal the mark.

Nine straight 50 goal seasons

Yes, Gretzky’s streak of eight straight 50 goal campaigns was an amazing achievement, but it wasn’t an NHL record. Bossy holds that distinction with nine straight 50+ seasons, including five years where he topped the 60 goal mark. He very likely would have kept the streak alive for several more seasons if he had not been hobbled my a chronically bad back, forcing him to hang up the skates after a truncated 10th season in the league.

Highest goals per game percentage in NHL history

If those first two facts didn’t convince you of Bossy’s potential claim as the greatest goal scorer of all time, then this telling fact should get your attention. No one in the history of the league averaged more goals per game during the regular season than Mike Bossy. His .762 goals per game average makes him number one in that category. Some might argue that his shortened career helped him achieve that mark, but on the flip side if he’d enjoyed a 20 year career he might also have finished as the NHL’s all time leading goal scorer.

Mario Lemieux

In my opinion no other player had as much skill with the puck than Mario Lemieux did. At times it seemed like he was a man playing against kids and his size, his reach and his incredible stick-handling skills made it all but impossible for opposing defenders to relieve him of the puck. Even Hall of Fame defensemen like Ray Bourque were made to look silly by the Magnificent One.

Lemieux’s ridiculous skill resulted in plenty of chances to put the puck in the net, and when he got in close in most cases the goalie was just as helpless as the defenders in front of him had been. With a deft flick of his wrists Mario would roof the puck before the goalie could even flinch. He was just as deadly if he opted to deke, and few goalies could follow his dazzling stick-handling in close, even if Mario had two defenders draped over his back.

Yes, Mario could beat a goalie just about any way he chose, and it is little wonder he put up the incredible numbers he did. Here are some of his goal-scoring credentials to chew on:

50 goals in 50 or less games three times

Officially, the 50 in 50 club is limited to those players who’ve scored 50 goals in their team’s first 50 (or fewer) games of the season. Lemieux does belong to this exclusive club, having scored 50 in his team’s first 46 (he played in 44 of them) games in the 1988-89 season. However, due to ongoing injury woes Lemieux would miss games in each and every season of his NHL career. However, despite dealing with chronic back pain as well as a battle with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma Mario managed to continue to score at a prolific rate. In 1992-93 and again in 1995-96 Mario scored 50 in his first 50 games of the season.

85 goals in a single season

Only three players in NHL history have ever scored 80 or more goals in a single season, and Mario is one of them. The same season he scored 50 in 46 he topped the 80 goal mark for the year, finishing with a whopping 85 snipes. He also missed four games due to injury. If not for that he likely would have surpassed both Brett Hull’s 86 and Wayne Gretzky’s 87 to own the second highest single season total in NHL history.

Highest goals-per-game average in NHL history (regular season + playoffs)

Had he not returned to the game in 2000-01 following a three and a half year retirement Mario Lemieux, and not Mike Bossy, would currently hold the highest goals-per-game average in league history. However, because he did come back and saw his numbers dwindle season by season as he continued to play until age 40, his regular season average slipped below that of Mike Bossy. However, if you take regular season and playoffs into account, Mario’s .750 goals-per-game average is higher than anyone else to ever play the game.

Maurice “The Rocket” Richard

Though some might point to Joe Malone or Howie Morenz as the NHL’s first great goal scorer, in my mind it is Maurice Richard that was the league’s first true superstar sniper. Richard was a man possessed when he crossed the offensive blueline, and defenders and goalies alike quailed from the look of fiery determination in his eyes as he bulled his way towards the goal. Here are just a few of the reasons why Rocket Richard deserves consideration as the greatest NHL goal scorer of all time:

The first player to score 500 goals in a career

On October 19, 1957 Rocket Richard scored the 500th goal of his legendary career. He achieved the feat in just his 863rd game, becoming the first player in NHL history to reach the mark. The feat wouldn’t be matched for another 5 seasons, when Gordie Howe hit the mark (after 1,045 games). Since Richard set that bar only 40 other players have joined the club in more than 50 years of NHL hockey that’s been played since. Richard finished with 544 career goals, a mark that puts him at #1 on the all time list of Montreal Canadiens’ goal scorers.

First player to score 50 goals in a single season

When it comes to goal scoring today, there is something magical about the number 50. Joining the 50 goal club is a mark of extreme honor among goal scorers in the NHL today. However, if not for the original accomplishment of Richard back in the 1944-45 season, 50 goals might be just an arbitrary number. Back then teams only played 50 regular season games, and the notion of someone actually averaging a goal a game for entire season seemed ludicrous. However, those naysayers didn’t take the skill and determination of Richard into account. He hit the mark, and it stood untouched for 36 years before Mike Bossy finally equaled it.

In my mind the four men listed above are the greatest goal scorers in NHL history. So which one ekes out the award as the best goal scorer of all time?

Verdict: Mario Lemieux

Lemieux was pure artistry on the ice and he could beat a goalie a hundred different ways. Yes, he wasn’t able to match Gretzky’s single season or career stats, however, if he’d had the benefit of good health through his prime I’m positive at least some of those goal-scoring records, if not all of them would be his. Compelling arguments can be made for the other three men on the list, but in my mind Mario the Magnificent is the greatest sniper of all time.

Honorable Mention

Though the four men listed above are the greatest snipers to pick up a stick (in my opinion) the four below certainly aren’t far behind them, and other hockey fans will certainly argue they deserve more than just an honorable mention. Here are a few of the best “also-rans”.

Gordie Howe - Hard to ignore the incredible consistency of Mr. Hockey. Up until Gretzky came along Howe’s 801 goals was the highest career total, and he still stands second to this day.

Bobby Hull - With his incredible skating speed and blistering slap shot “The Golden Jet” was a nightmare for goalies. He hit the 50 goal mark five times in his career and finished with 610 NHL goals, a total that would have been significantly higher if he hadn’t spent several years in the WHA during his 30s.

Brett Hull - He had goal scoring in his DNA, and he was obviously paying attention when his father was torching goalies with his wicked slap shot. Brett Hull twice hit 50 in 50, scored 86 goals in a single season (the third highest total ever), and finished with 741 career tallies.

Phil Esposito - Though the bulk of his goals might have had a bit of an odor to them, no one can deny this “garbage man” had a nose for the net. Espo stood the NHL record book on its ear when he set an NHL record with 76 goals in a single season. He scored 60+ goals on four occasions and finished his Hall of Fame career with 717.