Best hockey player ever: Gretzky, Lemieux, Orr or Howe?

Who do you think deserves to be called the best hockey player ever? Gretzky? Lemieux? Orr? Howe? Check out how the poll is going and vote!

Canadian hockey has gifted us with arguably the top four players in history. Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux are always shortlisted among the best NHL players due to their talent and impressive achievements. We compare these four sporting geniuses and would like you to help us decide who it the best among them and why. 

Four of the best hockey players ever

• Wayne Gretzky, aka “The Great One,” played from 1979 to 1999. He still holds 60 official records in the NHL, and is often considered as the best player ever. Gretzky is the leading scorer in NHL history, with more goals and more assists than any other player. He won 4 Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers (1984, 1985, 1987 and 1988). He was also 9 times a NHL regular season MVP (Hart Memorial Trophy).
• Gordie Howe, aka “Mr Hockey,” had a very long career from 1946 to 1980. He held many records in the NHL till they were broken in the 1990s by Gretzky, but he continues to hold NHL records for most games and seasons played. Gordie Howe won 4 Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings (1950, 1952, 1954 and 1955). He was also 6 times a NHL regular season MVP.
• Bobby Orr, aka “Number 4,” played from 1966 to 1978 and used his ice skating speed, scoring, and play-making abilities to revolutionize the position of defenceman. As of 2013, the only retired players in league history to have averaged more points per game than Orr are Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy, all of them forwards. Bobby Orr won 2 Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins (1970 and 1972). He was also 3 times a NHL regular season MVP.
• Mario Lemieux, aka “The Magnificient One,” played from 1980 to 2006. A gifted playmaker and fast skater despite his large size, Lemieux often beat defencemen with fakes and dekes. He holds a great number of NHL records. Mario Lemieux had to fight cancer and injuries, this is why many observers think he could have reached or broken many of Gretzky’s records if he had been luckier with his health. Mario Lemieux won 2 Stanley Cup with the Pittsburgh Penguins (1991 and 1992). He was also awarded 3 times the Hart Memorial Trophy and won gold medal in 2002 with Canadian Olympic team.

Videos: the life of these four hockey legends

Other great hockey players

There are other excellent Canadian and non-Canadian NHL players that we have considered for our list: Maurice Richard, Dominik Hašek, Bobby Hull, Ray Bourque, Nicklas Lidström, Mike Bossy, Stan Mikita, Joe Sakic, Pavel Datsyuk, etc.

Additionally there have been also great hockey players who never played in NHL such as Alexander Maltsev, Anatoli Firshov, Erich Kuhnhackl, Jiri Holecek, Bill Cleary, Boris Mikhailov, Vladislav Tretiak, Valeri Kharlamov and Mike Eruzione.   Do you think any of these of other hockey players could claim to be the number one in hockey history.

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