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Wow, this list was a tough one! When I set out to create it I already had four or five definite individual seasons in mind, and I figured filling out the remaining positions in my top 10 wouldn't be much of a chore. Boy, was I wrong. Not only did I have difficulty narrowing down which players would make the list, but in some cases even once I chose the player I continued to agonize over which of their seasons was their best.

That particular conundrum illustrates one of my stipulations when creating this list: No player appears more than once on the list. Sure, I could easily justify having Gretzky's name show up five or six times, but that wouldn't be very interesting. For the sake of variety I chose (in my opinion) the best or most incredible season of each player that made the cut.

I also decided against including players/seasons from the "old school" NHL. Seasons that included such antiquated rules as "no forward passing" were disregarded. Sorry to fans of George Hainsworth or Joe Malone.

Also, this list only includes regular season accomplishments for the years in question. Ironically, not a single player on the list went on to win the Stanley Cup the same year they enjoyed their respective remarkable seasons. Weird.

With all that said let's get on to the list. Read on to see who made the cut:

Top 10 Greatest Individual Seasons in NHL Hockey History

10 - Bernie Nicholls - 1988-89

As is usually the case with these lists the #10 spot is the hardest to decide upon. It is always the bubble pick, and it is ultimately the one that eliminates many other worthy candidates from contention. In this case Steve Yzerman, Mike Bossy, Brett Hull, Paul Coffey, Jaromir Jagr, Pat LaFontaine and others all get snubbed in favor of this "one hit wonder".

Only four players in NHL history have scored 70 goals and 150 points in a single season. Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux, Phil Esposito, and, you guessed it, Bernie Nicholls. In 1988-89 the spotlight in Los Angeles was all on Wayne Gretzky, and with good reason. "The Great One" had been acquired in the off-season from the Edmonton Oilers in the biggest trade in NHL history. Gretzky didn't disappoint in his inaugural year with the Kings, putting up 54 goals and 168 points and winning yet another Hart Trophy. Nicholls thrived in Gretzky's enormous shadow, putting up staggering totals previously only reserved for the game's biggest superstars. Now, some might complain at my "one hit wonder" moniker, and to be fair, Nicholls put up more than respectable numbers throughout his career, but that 150 point season was a full 50% higher than his next highest single season total (100 in 1984-85).

9 - Tony Esposito - 1969-70

I wanted to make sure to get representation for every position when creating this list, and Tony Esposito's remarkable rookie season in 1969-70 made it easy to squeeze at least one goalie onto the list.

Esposito had actually seen NHL action the previously season with the Montreal Canadiens, appearing in 13 games with the club and even posting a pair of shutouts. However, the next year the Chicago Blackhawks nabbed the star keeper off waivers (intra-league draft) and they would be richly rewarded for their decision.

Esposito was lights out that season, posting an NHL record 15 shutouts in his first full season. The mark for shutouts was not only a rookie record, but the single season record period, and is one that still stands to this day, more than forty years later. He also had 38 wins and a stingy 2.17 GAA that same year.

Unlike Nicholls, Esposito had a couple of seasons worthy of consideration for the list. His 1971-72 season where he had a 31-10-6 record, 9 shutouts and set the modern day NHL record for lowest goals against average with a 1.77 mark wasn't too shabby either, but in my opinion didn't quite trump the accomplishments of his rookie year.

8 - Gordie Howe - 1968-69

Though the man known as "Mr. Hockey" is best known for his incredible consistency throughout his remarkable career, he did have some "peak years" that saw him win six Art Ross Trophies as the NHL's leading scorer throughout the first half of his career. However, his most amazing season came in 1968-69, when at the ripe old age of 40 Howe defied Father Time, and eclipsed the 100 point plateau for the first time in his career. His 44 goals and 103 points were good enough for third in the NHL in scoring, behind only Phil Esposito and Bobby Hull.

Howe was not only the first player to put up 100 points in a season at the age of 40, but also the last. With the way the game has shifted to a young man's sport it is likely that Howe's record may stand as long as the game itself does.

7 - Dominik Hasek - 1997-98
It only seems fitting that a player with the nickname "The Dominator" should make the list. Dominik Hasek was mind-blowingly good throughout the latter half of the 90s while playing for the Buffalo Sabres. With an unorthodox style and an athleticism that made him look like an Olympic gymnast crossed with Gumby, Hasek confounded shooters, and for years he was arguably the most dominant player in the game at any position.

Once again I had multiple seasons to choose from as Hasek had multiple stellar years during a span that saw him win six Vezina Trophies as the NHL's best goalie. Ultimately I settled on 1997-98. That year Hasek won yet another Vezina, his second of two consecutive Hart Trophy's (making him the only goalie to ever win the prestigious award twice), had 13 shutouts, a 2.09 GAA, and a .932 save percentage. Oh, and just for good measure he threw in an Olympic Gold Medal in Nagano, Japan in the middle of the regular season. What can you say but wow.

6 - Phil Esposito - 1970-71

As great as Tony Esposito was he'll always be remembered as the second best player in the Esposito family. Big brother Phil was a larger than life NHL superstar in the 1960s and 1970s while playing for the Boston Bruins, leading the league in scoring five times during his time with the club. Though he had many great statistical years his biggest offensive explosion occurred in 1970-71. That year, follow the Bruins' Stanley Cup victory in 1970, Esposito absolutely demolished the NHL record book. Up until that point only a handful of players had ever scored 50 goals. Even Esposito himself wasn't a member of that elite club, having missed the mark by a single tally in the 1968-69 season. However, that year Espo breezed right through 50 and established himself as the sole member of the 70 goal club, finishing with a jaw-dropping 76 on the season.

The 76 goal mark would have been impressive by itself, but Esposito matched it with the same number of assists, giving him an incredible 152 points for the season, obliterating the NHL record, and setting a standard that wouldn't fall until the arrival of one Wayne Gretzky.

5 - Teemu Selanne - 1992-93

By 1992 the fifty goal club's membership had grown significantly larger, and it wasn't such a big deal to hit the half century mark anymore... at least not for veteran NHLers. For rookies, however, it was a different story. Coming into that year only two men (Mike Bossy and Joe Nieuwendyk) had cracked the 50 goal mark as rookies. Bossy's mark of 53 seemed relatively safe until one "Finnish Flash" took aim at it.

Selanne scored at a prolific rate in his first year in the league, lighting the lamp over and over again while playing for the Winnipeg Jets. In the end he finished with 76 goals, wiping out the old record, much like Esposito had done with his 76 goal campaign more than two decades early.

In addition to the goal record, Selanne also crushed the point record for rookies, finishing with 132, 23 more than the 109 previously established by Peter Stastny of the Quebec Nordiques. Both the goal and point records still stand, and, having survived the rookie years of phenoms Sidney Crosby and Alexander Ovechkin, it is quite likely both records will stand for decades to come.

4 - Mario Lemieux - 1992-93

Some might wonder why I've chosen this particular season, rather than Lemieux's incredible 1988-89 campaign where he scored 85 goals, had 199 points and finally wrested the Art Ross Trophy away from Wayne Gretzky. Well, it was a tough decision, but ultimately I felt with how the 1992-93 played out for Mario that this one deserved the nod.

That season, Lemieux, fresh off the second of back to back Stanley Cup victories, started the season on a tear, and for a time he looked poised to do the unthinkable: break Wayne Gretzky's single season record of 215 points. However, it was not to be. The hockey world was shocked when it was discovered that Lemieux had Hodgkin's Lymphoma. He stepped away from the game to begin radiation treatment for the potentially deadly disease. At the time, no one thought he would return that season, and there was fear that his career, or even his life would be in jeopardy.

After missing two months Lemieux again surprised the hockey world, making a miraculous return to play. In his absence Buffalo's Pat LaFontaine, having a career year of his own, had reeled in Lemieux and led the scoring race by 12 points, with only a month left in the season. Without missing a beat, despite the two month absence and the grueling treatments, Lemieux returned and continued to score at a torrid pace. By the time the dust settled on the season he'd not only caught LaFontaine, but eclipsed him by 12 points to win the Art Ross.

3 - Maurice Richard - 1944-45

Habs fans will no doubt grumble that The Rocket begins at the top of this list. They have a strong argument. Prior to 1944-45 few hockey fans would have thought that 50 goals in a single season was possible, particularly considering teams only played 50 regular season games at that time. Richard's achievement is even more impressive considering he did it in only his second full season in the league.

Despite setting an NHL record for the ages Richard somehow did not win the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP. That honor went to linemate Elmer Lach, who finished with 7 more points than Richard to lead the league in scoring.

Richard's historic record stood for more than three decades. Though more and more players had 50 goal seasons as the years went by, they all accomplished the feat in more than 50 games, benefiting from the longer NHL seasons than in Richard's day. It wasn't until 1980-81 that Richard's mark for 50 in 50 was equaled, when Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders finally accomplished the feat.

2 - Wayne Gretzky - 1981-82

Wayne Gretzky stood the NHL record book on its ear over his remarkable Hall of Fame career. He not only eclipsed records, he obliterated them. Barring a significant overhaul to the way the game is played, many of the marks he set will live on as long as the NHL does. With so many incredible moments on his resume it was tough to pick a single season that could be described as his best. Certainly 1985-86 when he set the NHL record for points (again) with 215 and averaged more than two assists a game, finishing with 163, is certainly a strong candidate. Yet, for my money, his 1981-82 season was the peak of his regular season achievements.

In 1980-81 when Gretzky eclipsed Phil Esposito's record for points, scoring 164 that season, fans and media mused that the young phenom might one day have a shot at 200 points in a single season. Well, they certainly didn't have to wait long.

In 1981-82 Gretzky reinvented his game. Though he'd scored over 50 goals in each of his first two NHL seasons he was predominantly known as a playmaker. That year he resolved to shoot more, and it paid off. Gretzky scored goals in bushels, and as time went on it became apparent that he might have a shot at the same 50 in 50 mark that Mike Bossy had finally equaled the previous season. After 37 games he had 41 goals and, barring injury, it looked certain he would hit the mark.

Though it seemed a foregone conclusion that he would break the record, no one expected how fast he did it. Not only did he make it in under 50 games, but he got there in under 40. Gretzky scored four goals in game 38 and another five in game 39 to reach the mark 11 games faster than either Richard or Bossy.

After taking care of that particular piece of business Gretzky went on to finish the season with 92 goals, 120 assists and 212 points, all NHL records. Of all of his numerous records, Gretzky cites the 50 in 39 as his favorite as he deems it will be the one hardest to break.

1 - Bobby Orr - 1970-71

Yes, I know Oilers' fans will be crying foul that Gretzky isn't at the top of this list of the best individual seasons in NHL history. Unfortunately I think this gentleman managed to eke him out in this particular debate.

Hockey fans were gobsmacked in 1969-70 when Bobby Orr, a defenseman, racked up an incredible 120 points in a single season, winning the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer. Surely he couldn't improve on such a lofty total? Orr, fresh off scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal against the Blues went right back to work at the start of the 1970-71 season. He scored 37 goals, four better than the previous year. He set an NHL record with 102 assists, a record at the time not just for defensemen but for players at any position. All totaled he finished with 139 points, a mark unmatched to this day by another NHL rearguard. Only teammate Phil Esposito's NHL record setting 152 points prevented Orr from winning his second straight scoring title.

As impressive as Orr's offensive stats were that season his plus/minus total was even more mind-boggling. Orr finished the campaign with a rating of +124, another mark that still stands today - an average of better than +1.5 a game!

His accomplishments didn't go ignored. He won his fourth straight Norris Trophy and his second straight Hart Trophy, and etched his name forever in hockey history as perhaps the greatest player of all time.

Whenever I set out to do one of these "best of all time" lists I am forcibly reminded just how many great players this sport has seen over the years. I initially planned just to do a top ten, but quickly realized how many superstar Hall of Fame blueliners I'd be shunning if I were to keep the list that short. So, I expanded it to 20 and even still I found myself crossing off some true NHL legends. Still, a guy has to draw the line somewhere, so I decided 20 was the magic number. Read on to see which rearguards from yesterday and today made the cut:

Top 20 NHL Defensemen of All Time

20 - Serge Savard

The mere fact that this cornerstone of the vaunted Montreal Canadiens' blueline only eked onto the list by the skin of his teeth should give mute testimony to what an exclusive club this is. Savard was one of the "Big Three" that patrolled the blueline for the Habs during their glory days in the 1970s. At 6'3" tall and 210 lbs he towered over many of his contemporaries, yet despite his hulking size he was surprisingly fleet of foot. Though many younger hockey fans attribute the phrase, "Savardian spin-o-rama" to Denis Savard it was actually used to describe Serge Savard's commonly used tactic back in the 70s. Savard played his entire 1,040 game NHL career with the Montreal Canadiens, scoring 106 goals and 439 points. He was a 7 time Stanley Cup champion, won the 1969 Conn Smythe as Playoff MVP and was a 4 time All Star.

19 - Rod Langway

For some reason this stellar blueliner always seems to be a forgotten man when discussing the best d-men ever. Langway missed most of the glory run of the Montreal Canadiens, joining the team in 1979, just in time to play a part time role in their final Stanley Cup of four in a row. He really established himself as a member of the Washington Capitals after he was dealt in a blockbuster deal that brought Ryan Walter and Rick Green the other way. After the trade Langway went on to win two consecutive Norris Trophies in 1982-83 and 1983-84.

Langway played almost 1,000 NHL games, and though he was predominantly known as a defensive rearguard, he did chip in with a respectable 329 points. He appeared in 6 All Star games and helped lead his team to the playoffs every year but the final season of his NHL career.

18 - King Clancy

The NHL has boasted many legends over its history, but only a handful of those stars have had a major NHL awarded named in their honor. Such was the respect accorded to this star defenseman. Clancy played in 592 games over 16 seasons, first as a member of the original incarnation of the Ottawa Senators and later with the Toronto Maple Leafs. at 5'7" tall and only 155 lbs he wasn't the prototypical d-man you see in today's NHL, but his small stature allowed him to be quick and elusive and he was a more offensive threat than many blueliners of that era. He was named to 4 All Star teams and played in the Stanley Cup Finals on 6 occasions, winning 3 times.

17 - Chris Pronger

One of only two active NHL players on this list, Pronger's ultimate ranking may yet fluctuate. However, I think it's safe he isn't going anywhere but up in the rankings. Pronger was just named the newest captain of the Philadelphia Flyers following the trade of Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings, and after an injury-plagued 2010-11 campaign, he's no doubt anxious to get back to dominating on the ice like he's done his whole career.

Pronger has made a significant impact wherever he's gone. In 2000 he became the first defenseman since Bobby Orr in 1972 to take home the Hart Trophy, and added the Norris for good measure. In 2006 he helped lead the Edmonton Oilers to game 7 the Stanley Cup Finals, and in 2007 he did one better, leading the Ducks to Stanley Cup glory. In 2010 he helped the Flyers reach the cup final, and if he can remain healthy this year they have a very good shot at returning there in the spring of 2012.

Though known mainly for his imposing physical presence and his mean streak, Pronger is also a big offensive threat. To date he has racked up 156 goals and 686 points and consistently scores 50+ points season in and season out.

16 - Brad Park

Though his lone NHL award was the 1983-84 Bill Masterston Memorial Trophy, don't let that fool you into thinking that Brad Park wasn't one of the best defensemen of his era. Yes, there is a noted lack of Norris Trophies on his mantle, but before you go judging remember that this guy played at a time when a couple of guys by the name of Bobby Orr and Denis Potvin were in their respective primes. Park finished as runner-up for the Norris 6 times! Sucks to be him Think that's bad? Park played in the playoffs each and every one of his 17 NHL seasons and never won the Stanley Cup.

Park's lack of Stanley Cup success was no fault of his own. Over his career he amassed 213 goals and 896 points in just 1,113 NHL regular season games and added another 125 playoff points for good measure. He did at least have one bit of good fortune in his career. In 1988 he was rightfully inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame.

15 - Al MacInnis

When people remember Al MacInnis as a player the first thing that comes to mind is his booming slapshot. Yes, he had a cannon from the point, but MacInnis was far from a one-trick pony. He was the quarterback of the lethal Calgary Flames powerplay of the 1980s. He was a master of faking his dreaded shot, then sliding a down low pass to a teammate for an easy tap-in. He was not only an offensive force. He played equally well in his own end and played with plenty of sandpaper when angered.

MacInnis is one of just a handful of NHL defensemen to ever have a 100 point season, scoring 103 in 1990-91 and his 31 points during the Flames' 1989 Stanley Cup championship run are the third most in history behind only Paul Coffey's 37 in 1985 and Brian Leetch's 34 in 1994. MacInnis deservedly won the Conn Smythe that year for his efforts.

Though his greatest offensive achievements came while with the Flames, MacInnis actually won his only Norris Trophy while with the St. Louis Blues. He landed the award in 1998-99 at age 35, after putting up a 20 goal, 62 point, +33 season. In all MacInnis finished his career with 340 goals and 1,274 points, ranking him third all time in scoring by a defenseman.

14 - Scott Stevens

Perhaps the most crushing hitter the game has ever seen, Scott Stevens could make an impact on a game in a very literal sense. Stevens was famous for targeting forwards cutting across the middle with their heads down, and he didn't care if you were a 4th line grinder or a superstar if he got you in his sights. His victims included Paul Kariya, Ron Francis, and most famously, Eric Lindros, whose career he derailed after a crushing hit in the 2003 NHL playoffs.

Though best known as a body-checker, Stevens was also one of the greatest leaders in the game during his time, captaining the Devils to three Stanley Cups over his career. Though his numbers would dwindle later in his career, during the first half he was actually one of the league's biggest offensive threats from the back end, scoring 70+ points on two occasions.

13 - Pierre Pilote

Of every defenseman in NHL history, Pilote is one of just four to win the Norris Trophy three straight times. The others? Bobby Orr, Doug Harvey and Nicklas Lidstrom. Not exactly poor company. He also finished as the runner-up on three more occasions. In 1961 he led the Chicago Blackhawks to Stanley Cup glory. Amazingly he led the team in scoring. Unbelievable considering this was a roster that featured legends Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita. In all, Pilote finished with 80 goals and 498 points and played in 8 All Star games in his amazing career.

12 - Red Kelly

First of all, let me qualify this by saying that Red Kelly would have finished even higher up this list had he spent his entire career as a defenseman. He was a standout on the blueline for the Detroit Red Wings, winning the inaugural Norris Trophy in 1954. His offensive acumen and his versatility allowed Kelly to seamlessly make the switch to forward when called upon, and though the Red Wings used him sparingly in that role, when he moved to Toronto to join the Maple Leafs he spent the bulk of his time there at the forward position.

Perhaps the greatest testament to Kelly's ability was his success. In all he won 8 Stanley Cups, more than any other player in NHL history that didn't play for the Montreal Canadiens.

11 - Brian Leetch

Geez, what does a guy have to do to crack the top 10 these days anyways? Though some would give the recently retired Mike Modano the title of greatest American-born hockey player of all time, in my mind that distinction belongs to Mr. Leetch. He was an absolute wizard at rushing the puck, and always seemed to be able to find an escape route even when double or triple-teamed. His greatest moment came in the Rangers' 1994 playoff run when Leetch led all playoff scorers with 34 points. Though many people credit Mark Messier for the Rangers finally ending their 54 year championship drought, most forget that it was Leetch, not Messier, who won the Conn Smythe that year.

Leetch racked up 1,028 points from the back end during his time with the Rangers and brief stints with the Boston Bruins and Maple Leafs at the tail end of his career. Along with his Conn Smythe Trophy he also won the Calder as Rookie of the Year and two Norris Trophies for good measure.

10 - Tim Horton

It's not all about offensive stats on this list of best defenseman. Sometimes it's your ability to crack ribs with the strength of your arms that gets you there That's not to say that Horton wasn't offensively gifted. He put up a very respectable 518 points over his career in an era when d-men didn't have much involvement in the offense. However, it was his fearsome physical play that made other players dread lining up against him. Horton played for 24 seasons in the NHL, most with the Toronto Maple Leafs, before finishing out his career with brief stops in New York, Pittsburgh and Buffalo. He never won a Norris Trophy but did appear in 7 All Star games, and most importantly helped the Leafs win 4 Stanley Cups, including their most recent in 1967.

9 - Chris Chelios

Younger hockey fans might be scratching their heads, wondering what Chelios is doing on this list. That old dude who used to play for the Red Wings? Well, before Chelios was playing the "veteran leadership" role in Detroit he was winning Norris Trophies and punishing opponents both physically and on the score board while a member of the Montreal Canadiens and Chicago Blackhawks.

Though he only retired back in 2009-10, Chelios was actually drafted by the Habs way back in 1981. He didn't suit up for a full season with the club until 1984-85, but immediately proved his worth, racking up 64 points that year. Over the next several seasons he was a steady point producer, all the while cultivating a reputation as one of the league's most vicious players. This combination of skill and toughness made him a nightmare to play against, and Chelios was recognized for his dominance as he won three Norris Trophies between 1989 and 1996.

Chelios finished his incredible career having played more Stanley Cup playoff games than anyone in NHL history, winning three Stanley Cups along the way, and scoring 948 regular season points.

8 - Larry Robinson

As great as Serge Savard and Guy Lapointe were, it was this "Big Bird" that was the linchpin of the Habs' defense of the 1970s. Robinson was almost as adept as Bobby Orr at rushing the puck up the ice and when angered he could punish his opponents physically like few players before or since.

In the 1976-77 season Robinson had a season for the ages. That year he finished with 19 goals and 85 points and had a mind-numbing +120 plus/minus rating. Robinson went on to win his first of two Norris Trophies following that year.

In all, Robinson would win 6 Stanley Cup championships over his career, earning a Conn Smythe in 1978, finish with 208 goals and 958 points and an NHL record +730 career plus/minus rating. He reached the Stanley Cup playoffs in every one of his 20 NHL seasons with the Montreal Canadiens and Los Angeles Kings, and appeared in 10 All Star games.

7 - Paul Coffey

Remember I said that list was not all about offensive stats? Well, that was true, but 396 goals 1,531 career points simply cannot be ignored. Yes, the role of a defenseman is to play defense, and that was never Coffey's strongest suit, however his amazing offensive ability alone pushes him up to #7 on this list.

For those who would argue that Coffey's offensive totals are inflated due to the great stars he played with I would suggest they don't have a clear recollection of watching the Edmonton Oilers back in their heyday. It was Coffey, not Gretzky or Messier who jumpstarted that vaunted Oilers' offense. Coffey would grab the puck behind his own net, then, seemingly without effort, skate past the entire opposing team before dishing the puck off at the last minute to a teammate for an easy tap-in. Much like Bobby Orr was in the 70s, Coffey was all but untouchable when skating at full speed with the puck.

In 1985-86 Coffey did the unthinkable, breaking Bobby Orr's record for goals in a single season by a defenseman (46) when he notched 48. He also fell just one point shy of Orr's record for points, finishing with 138 that year. That season was just one of five times that Coffey had over 100 points.

Though best remembered as an Oiler Coffey was also a key member of other franchises as well, including the Pittsburgh Penguins, whom he won a Stanley Cup with in 1991. In all he finished with 4 Stanley Cup rings, 3 Norris Trophies and played in an amazing 14 All Star games.

6 - Denis Potvin

Rangers' fans are going to hate seeing this guy's name 5 spots higher than Brian Leetch's. Sorry, but Potvin was better. Not only was he an offensive weapon, but he was also stellar in his own end, and wasn't shy about throwing his weight around either (just ask Ulf Nilsson). Though Mike Bossy, Bryan Trottier, Billy Smith and Butch Goring were all key cogs of the powerful Islanders' dynasty that won 4 straight cups in the early 80s, it was Potvin that was the straw that stirred the drink in New York, and his ability to control the game from the back end made him an invaluable asset to his team during those championship years.

Over his career, Potvin won the Calder Trophy, 3 Norris Trophies, played in 9 All Star games and was the first defenseman in NHL history to eclipse the 300 goal and 1,000 point marks.

5 - Eddie Shore

Old time hockey! Just like Eddie Shore! That quote from the classic hockey movie Slap Shot is a fitting tribute to a player who was one of the most dominant of his era. Shore laced up the skates for the Boston Bruins way back in the 1920s and 1930s. There was no Norris Trophy back then, but Shore just made up for that by winning the Hart Trophy 4 times, more than any other defenseman in NHL history, including Bobby Orr!

Shore went on to win 2 Stanley Cups with the Bruins, and though his 105 goals and 284 points in 550 career games might seem paltry by today's standards they were actually a very impressive total back in the day.

4 - Ray Bourque

More career goals (410) and points (1,579) than Paul Coffey (or any other NHL defenseman for that matter), Ray Bourque also had the defensive ability to place him three spots ahead of the smooth-skating former Oilers star. Though Bourque didn't have the jaw-dropping offensive years that Coffey did, he did put up big numbers and consistently for many years. He never had a 100 point season but he did have over 80 on nine separate occasions, notching a career-best 96 in 1983-84.

Bourque won a Calder Trophy and five Norris Trophies with the Boston Bruins, but he couldn't capture the prize that he ultimately wanted: the Stanley Cup, despite reaching the finals twice with the Bruins. In 2001, he finally added that big silver cup to his already impressive resume, winning it all with the Colorado Avalanche, and then promptly retiring from the game.

3 - Doug Harvey

Before Bobby Orr came along there was no debate who the greatest NHL defenseman of all time was. Doug Harvey was a standout for the Montreal Canadiens during the 1940s and 1950s, and was a key reason that team won five straight Stanley Cups during the late 1950s. Over his career he won a total of six Stanley Cups with the Habs, and won seven Norris Trophies, an NHL record that has since been eclipsed by only Bobby Orr. He finished his Hall of Fame career with 540 points, and played in 13 All Star games, including 12 straight between 1951 and 1962.

2 - Nicklas Lidstrom

A couple of years ago when I wrote my list of the 50 Greatest Hockey Players of All Time I actually had Harvey ranked ahead of Lidstrom, but Lidstrom, though in the twilight of his career, has continued to dominate the game like a player 15 years his junior. In 2011, at the ripe old age of 41, Lidstrom was awarded his seventh career Norris Trophy, tying him with Doug Harvey and putting him just one behind Bobby Orr for most all time. You'd think the odds of him winning a second straight Norris to tie Orr would be ridiculously long, but I've stopped betting against Nicklas Lidstrom.

If ever a hockey player was a Swiss watch it is Nick Lidstrom. He just keeps working smoothly with unerring precision year after year. It is truly amazing. Among his contemporaries perhaps only Teemu Selanne, the ageless Finnish forward, can come close to comparing.

In addition to his seven Norris Trophies, Lidstrom also has a Conn Smythe, four Stanley Cup rings and 1,108 points. He has committed to at least one more season with the Red Wings, so don't close the book on this guy's amazing career just yet.

1 - Bobby Orr

If Lidstrom continues to play at his current level for another decade then we can maybe open the debate on who the greatest defenseman of all time is. Until that happens (not gonna) this is an open and shut case. Not only is Orr the best blueliner to ever play the game, he is arguably the best player period. High praise indeed considering the numbers Wayne Gretzky - his main competition for that title - put up during his career.

Orr's dominant position as the NHL's best d-man would be even harder to surmount had he had the benefit of a long, healthy career. Orr played only 657 games, most of those on bad knees, yet still managed to make a huge impact in his relatively short time in the league. Over that span he won a record eight Norris Trophies, led the Bruins to two Stanley Cups, winning the Conn Smythe and scoring the Stanley Cup winning goal in both those years. He twice won the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer, though not in the year he set the NHL record for most points in a single season by a defenseman. His +124 plus/minus rating in 1970-71 remains an NHL record 40 years later. He finished his career with a points per game average of just under 1.4, ranking him 4th behind just Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy. There is so much more I could say about him, but you get the point. Bobby Orr was the best NHL defenseman of all time.

Hockey is an emotional sport as well as a physically punishing sport. These two factors, combined with the fact that teams play each other up to six times per season (not including playoffs) year after year, causes rivalries to heat up in a hurry. Of course, back in the day when just six teams played in the NHL these rivalries were fierce among all opponents. These days, in today's 30 team league, many match-ups just don't have the same spark. How can fans or players get pumped for a Minnesota Wild/Florida Panthers game. These two teams hardly see one another, and basically have no history.

Yes, history plays a huge role in rivalries. Grudges go back generations in some cases, and fans, media and players remember any slight, real or imagined against their team. That said, nothing builds a rivalry more quickly than a hard-fought playoff series, and teams that had no traditional rivalry can suddenly become bitter enemies. The Detroit Red Wings/Colorado Avalanche feud of the late 90s is a perfect example of this.

So who are today's most bitter NHL rivals? Read on as I count down the top 5.

5 - New York Islanders vs. New York Rangers

Hockey's version of the Subway Series is a feud that will never die. These two teams, and particularly their fans, love to hate each other. The peak of the rivalry came back in 1979 when Isles' defenseman Denis Potvin hit the Rangers' star forward Ulf Nilsson. Nilsson's skate caught in a rut in the ice, and the Swedish star ended up breaking his ankle. Rangers' faithful were enraged, and the chant "Potvin sucks!" and many less flattering chants have been staples in Madison Square Garden ever since. To add salt to the wound the Isles went on to win 4 straight Stanley Cups in the years that followed, while the Rangers' fortunes sputtered. New Yorkers who weren't born in 1979 have been told the tale of the Potvin hit and the rivalry hasn't diminished much, if at all, in the more than 30 years since.

4 - Edmonton Oilers vs. Calgary Flames

Though today's rivalry is but a pale shadow of the one that existed in the 1980s when both of these teams were Stanley Cup contenders, the Battle of Alberta continues to rage both on and off the ice between these provincial rivals. No, Jarome Iginla vs Taylor Hall isn't in the same class as Mark Messier vs. Joel Otto, but despite the fact that neither of these teams has been a force in recent years they still manage to get the emotion ramped up to face one another, and one head to head match-up in the playoffs is all it would take to rekindle the coals on this legendary match-up.

3 - Pittsburgh Penguins vs. Washington Capitals

Probably more than any other rivalry on this list, this particular feud is centered around two players. Ever since they broke into the league together in 2005-06 the debate has raged whether Alexander Ovechkin or Sidney Crosby was the NHL's best player. The jury is still out, but Crosby and Ovechkin have dragged their teammates into the feud, and every time these teams clash the result is fire on ice. So far the advantage has gone to the Pens as they have been victorious in the two head to head playoff match-ups the clubs have had in recent years, but Washington looks very strong this year and with Crosby's health in doubt the pendulum could finally swing in the Caps favor come the post-season.

Pittsburgh actually has a couple of bitter feuds going, and I could just as easily have put Pens/Flyers in this spot. However, the departure of Mike Richards to the Los Angeles Kings dampens the fire a little bit, so Pens/Caps got the nod.

2 - Montreal Canadiens vs. Toronto Maple Leafs

I had to have an "Original Six" match-up on this list, and it doesn't get any better than the one that exists between these two ancient Canadian hockey rivals. Habs/Leafs have been battling it out for close to a century now, and regardless of which team is stronger in any given year they always seem to match up evenly when they face each other. They've played 707 times in the regular season going back to 1917 (including St. Pat's/Arenas days), with Montreal holding the edge 333-279-88. They've met in 15 playoff series (8-7 Montreal) and 6 Stanley Cup Finals (4-2 Toronto). The two teams haven't met in the playoffs in decades, but should fortune pit them against one another once again buckle up for one of the greatest series in recent memory.

1 - Vancouver Canucks vs. Chicago Blackhawks

As legendary as the Montreal/Toronto rivalry is, they are currently "Out-Heated" by the feud that currently exists between the Canucks and Blackhawks. These two squads have been at each other's throats for the last three seasons, most particularly in the playoffs where they've met in three consecutive seasons. The Hawks were victorious in each of the first two bouts, going on to capture the Stanley Cup after dispatching Vancouver in the Western Conference semi-finals in 2010. Vancouver got their revenge last year, beating out the Hawks in the first round, but it was a near thing. After building what they thought was a comfortable 3-0 series lead the Canucks faltered and the Hawks stormed back, pushing the series all the way to OT in game 7 before an Alex Burrows goal finally exorcised the demons of the Canucks' past playoff failures.

Though the Hawks have lost some of the pieces that made the rivalry special, particularly Dustin Byfuglien and Andrew Ladd, these two teams still have a healthy hate on for one another. After the way the first round series finished up last year, look for there to still be plenty of fuel on the fire that exists between the two clubs.