It's a fast-moving sport with fights, tumbles and razor-sharp ice skates thrown into the mix, NHL hockey is exciting to watch even though NHL scores never get too high. The energy that the fans bring to the games is unmatched, which keeps players on their toes.
As an avid enthusiast, your love for the game may not restrict itself to just catching up on the matches. You do not shy away from going the extra mile to read about the historical moments, and the greatest players to grace the game.
In the interest of your gleaming passion, we have compiled a list of the top five players with the most NHL scores of all time. Not only will this list help you to know about the records, but you will also learn a little bit about the history of the game.
Wayne Gretzky
Scoring 2,857 points across 20 seasons in the NHL, Wayne Gretzky ranks as the leader among the players with the most scores of all time in the history of the league. The Canadian legend has been nicknamed “The Great One” for his stupendous achievements.
Born in 1961, Gretzky played his first season as a timid 15-year-old for the Peterborough Petes in 1976-77. He won the Bronze Medal in IIHF Under-20 World Championship 1978 as a member of Team Canada.
Gretzky played for some of the greatest teams in the NHL including the Los Angeles Kings before playing his final season with the New York Rangers in 1998-99, drawing curtains over a phenomenal NHL career.
Jaromír Jágr
Arguably the best active player to grace the game, Jaromir Jágr ranks second in the list by scoring 1,921 points after playing 28 seasons. Out of these, 24 were played in the NHL while the other 4 were in Europe.
Deemed as the most productive player in the history of the league, Jágr was born in 1972, in the Czech Republic. At the age of 17, he secured a Bronze Medal in the Under-20 World Championship 1990 as a part of Team Czechoslovakia.
Following this, he represented the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1990-91 season as an 18-year-old, making him the youngest player in the league. Before his transfer at the age of 45, he was the oldest player to play in the NHL. Moreover, he remains the oldest player to score a hat-trick in the league.
Mark Messier
With a score of 1,887 points across a career span of 25 years with the NHL, Mark Messier takes up the third place in this legendary list. A Canadian maestro, he has played as a forward for teams like Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, and Vancouver Canucks.
Messier was born in 1961 and started playing in the NHL at the tender age of 17. Over the years, he earned the nickname of “The Moose” for his aggression and strength. Furthermore, he was called “The Messiah” when he helped the New York Rangers end a 54-year Stanley Cup drought.
In recognition of his contributions towards the sport, Messier was named as the Officer of the Order of Canada by Governor General David Johnston in 2017.
Gordie Howe
Adding to the list of legendary Canadians as the all-time top scorers in NHL, Gordie Howe ranks fourth, scoring as many as 1,850 points. One of the early pioneers in the game, Howie had an illustrious career in the NHL spanning 26 seasons.
Howie was born in 1928 in Saskatchewan. He played his first NHL season as an 18-year-old playing for the Detroit Red Wings. Playing for 25 years for the same team, he was known as one of the most complete players to grace the sport with his skills and talent.
After his retirement in 1971, he was inducted in the Saskatchewan Hall of Fame. The following year, he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame as well.
Ron Francis
Concluding this list of the players with the most NHL scores of all time is Ron Francis with 1,798 points. Francis has played 23 seasons in the NHL with teams such as Pittsburgh Penguins and Carolina Hurricanes.
Born in 1963, Francis started his NHL career with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the 1980-81 season. After he retired from professional ice hockey in 2004, he had 1,249 career assists, placing him second in the all-time list just behind Wayne Gretzky.
Presently, he is the General Manager of the upcoming Seattle NHL team, which will play its debut season in 2021.
Conclusion
So these are some of the legends that have graced the NHL rink. They've all got one thing in common and that is an unbelievable work ethic which has made them better with each game played. And that's why we can call all of these guys legendary.
