Quite a few all-time great hockey players have graced the ice throughout the history of the National Hockey League. Additionally, some of these players include Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux. The leaderboard for all-time career NHL points features some Hall-of-Fame players, like Gretzky. Without further ado, read on to learn about the top 10 players in career NHL points.
NHL Point Leaders: 10. Sidney Crosby
Sidney Crosby ranks 10th in career NHL points with 1,596 points thus far. Crosby is the only active NHL player in the top 10 of career NHL points. The 36-year-old Canadian center has spent his entire career with the Pittsburgh Penguins. The Penguins drafted Crosby first overall in 2005 and he has remained loyal to the team since then. Additionally, Crosby is the captain of the Pittsburgh Penguins.
9. Joe Sakic
Joe Sakic played in the NHL from 1988 to 2009. During his career, Joe Sakic racked up 1,641 points, making him ninth in career NHL points. Sakic started his NHL career with the Quebec Nordiques after they drafted him with the 15th overall pick in 1987. However, he joined the Colorado Avalanche prior to the 1995-96 season and played for them until his retirement in 2009. Also, Sakic is narrowly behind the NHL player who is eighth in terms of career NHL points.
8. Mario Lemieux
Coming in at eighth in career NHL points is Mario Lemieux. To that end, Lemieux had 1,723 points across his NHL career. Despite being hampered by health issues, he played parts of 17 NHL seasons. Lemieux is honored as a Pittsburgh Penguins legend, playing his entire career with them after they drafted him first overall in 1984.
NHL Point Leaders: 7. Steve Yzerman
Steve Yzerman ranks seventh in career NHL points with 1,755 points. The Detroit Red Wings drafted Yzerman fourth in the 1983 NHL Draft and he played his entire career with the Red Wings. That career lasted from 1983-2006. Additionally, Yzerman won three Stanley Cups in his career, with those coming in 1997, 1998, and 2002. He now serves as the Detroit Red Wings’ general manager and executive vice president. Also, he is recognized as one of the greatest hockey players in the sport’s history by most.
6. Marcel Dionne
Marcel Dionne is number six in career NHL points, having accumulated 1,771 points in his NHL career. The Detroit Red Wings drafted Dionne second overall in the 1973 NHL Draft. He played for the Red Wings from 1971-1975 before joining the Los Angeles Kings. Dionne spent the last three seasons of his career, from 1986-89, playing for the New York Rangers. Additionally, he scored 50 or more goals in six seasons and had 100 or more points in eight seasons of his career. Also, Dionne was on a list of the ‘100 Greatest NHL Players’ of all time in 2017.
5. Ron Francis
Ron Francis is fifth in career NHL points. He amassed 1,798 points during his NHL career, which lasted from 1981-2004. The Hartford Whalers drafted him with the fourth overall pick in 1981. However, he also played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes, and Toronto Maple Leafs. He won the Stanley Cup twice, in the 1990-91 season and in the following 1991-92 season. He also ranks second in NHL career assists with 1,249.
NHL Point Leaders: 4. Gordie Howe
The top four of the NHL career points list starts with Gordie Howe. Howe went undrafted and started his career with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1946-47 season. He had 1,850 points in his NHL career and is the only undrafted player in the top 10 for NHL career points. Howe played almost his entire 26-season career with the Detroit Red Wings. He spent his final season, the 1979-80 season, playing for the Hartford Whalers. Howe won four Stanley Cups during his career and his nickname, ‘Mr. Hockey’, eludes to his completeness as a hockey player and his place among the sport’s all-time greats.
3. Mark Messier
Mark Messier is third in NHL career points with 1,887 points. The Edmonton Oilers drafted Messier with the 48th overall pick in the 1979 NHL Draft. Messier played for the Oilers from 1979-1991, joining the New York Rangers in 1991. Mark Messier played for the Rangers from 1991-97 then spent three seasons with the Vancouver Canucks. Messier finished his career with the New York Rangers and won six Stanley Cups during his NHL career.
2. Jaromir Jagr
The Pittsburgh Penguins drafted Jaromir Jagr fifth overall in the 1990 NHL Draft. Jaromir Jagr played for the Pittsburgh Penguins, Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils, Florida Panthers, and Calgary Flames during his NHL career. Also, Jagr tallied a total of 1,921 NHL points and has the third-most career assists with 1,155. Additionally, he won two Stanley Cups, both with the Penguins, in the 1990-91 and 1991-92 seasons.
1. Wayne Gretzky
Most consider Wayne Gretzky the greatest hockey player of all time. Gretzky has the most career points in NHL history with 2,857 points. Additionally, Gretzky has the most goals, 894, and the most assists, 1,963, in NHL history. Wayne Gretzky signed with the World Hockey Association’s Indianapolis Racers in 1978, but he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers shortly after that. The Oilers joined the NHL after the WHA collapsed.
Gretzky played for the Oilers from 1979-88 before joining the Los Angeles Kings prior to the 1988-89 NHL season. After his time with the Kings, Gretzky signed with the St. Louis Blues and played with them briefly in the 1995-96 season. Gretzky concluded his career with the New York Rangers. He played in the NHL from 1979 until 1999, appearing in 1,487 NHL games.
Any player looking to break Gretzky’s career NHL points record has a monumental task on their hands.
NHL Point Leaders: Come Back Soon to Learn About More Fascinating Stats
The top 10 list of NHL players with the most career points features many well-known players, such as Gretzky and Lemieux, but other players who may be less recognizable like Gordie Howe. Regardless, it is good to learn about the history of the NHL. Check back soon to learn about more intriguing sports statistics.