Fastest Skaters in NHL History

These NHL stars left scorched ice in their wake.

Fastest Skaters in NHL History

There has never been a consistent metric for NHL players to gauge speed over the history of the game — like the 40-yard dash in football — but we know great on-ice speed when we see it.

Hockey's beginnings were built around players that could dart around the ice faster than anyone thought was possible. They had the type of speed that captures the imaginations of fans and usually leads to Hart Trophies, Stanley Cups and Hall of Fame ceremonies.

These are the fastest skaters in NHL history, with single-lap speed times where available.

30. Jonathan Drouin

Born: March 28, 1995 (Sainte-Agathe-des-Monts, Quebec, Canada)

Position: Left wing

Career: 9 seasons (2014-present)

Teams: Tampa Bay Lightning (2014-17), Montreal Canadiens (2017-present)

Stanley Cup championships: None

Bottom Line: Jonathan Drouin

Jonathan Drouin won the NHL Fastest Skater competition in 2015, the last year the contest was on a course instead of one lap around the rink.

Drouin was the No. 3 overall pick by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2013 NHL draft after he was named Canadian Hockey League Player of the Year in 2013.

He hasn't found the same success in the NHL. After six seasons, the left wing has scored 67 goals and sports a career plus/minus rating of minus-51.

29. Teemu Selanne

Born: July 3, 1970 (Helsinki, Finland)

Position: Right wing

Career: 22 seasons (1992-2014)

Teams: Winnipeg Jets (1992-96), Anaheim Mighty Ducks (1996-2001, 2005-14), San Jose Sharks (2001-03), Colorado Avalanche (2003-04)

Stanley Cup championships: 1 (2007)

Bottom Line: Teemu Selanne

Perhaps Finland's greatest player, Teemu Selanne won the NHL Rookie of the Year award in 1993 and was a 10-time All-Star in 22 seasons.

Selanne led the NHL in goal scoring in 1999 to take home the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, which was named for another one of the NHL's fastest skaters.

Selanne won one Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.

28. Bill Guerin

Born: Nov. 9, 1970 (Worcester, Massachusetts)

Position: Right wing

Career: 19 seasons (1991-2010)

Teams: New Jersey Devils (1991-98), Edmonton Oilers (1998-2001), Boston Bruins (2001-02), Dallas Stars (2002-06), St. Louis Blues (2006-07), San Jose Sharks (2007), New York Islanders (2007-09), Pittsburgh Penguins (2009-10)

Stanley Cup championships: 2 (1995, 2009)

Bottom Line: Bill Guerin

Bill Guerin was a trailblazer as the first NHL player of Hispanic descent.

He played 19 seasons in the NHL and won a pair of Stanley Cup titles with the New Jersey Devils in 1995 and Pittsburgh Penguins in 2009.

Guerin was a four-time All-Star and was the NHL All-Star Game MVP in 2001.

27. Mike Modano

Born: June 7, 1970 (Livonia, Michigan)

Position: Center

Career: 23 seasons (1988-2011)

Teams: Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars (1988-2010), Detroit Red Wings (2010-11)

Stanley Cup championships: 1 (1999)

Bottom Line: Mike Modano

No player is more associated with the Dallas Stars franchise than Mike Modano, who had a bow-legged skating stride that was as great to watch as a Ray Allen jumper.

Modano's skating form was pretty much perfect, and he had a big slap shot to go with it.

The nine-time All-Star won his lone Stanley Cup with the Stars in 1999.

26. Gilbert Perreault

Born: Nov. 13, 1950 (Victoriaville, Quebec, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 17 seasons (1970-87)

Teams: Buffalo Sabres

Stanley Cup championships: None

Bottom Line: Gilbert Perreault

Gilbert Perreault was the first draft pick in Buffalo Sabres franchise history and played his entire career with the club.

Perreault was the center of the famed "French Connection" line alongside Rene Robert and Richard Martin, and the trio helped lead the Sabres to the Stanley Cup finals in 1975.

Because of his speed, Perreault was a threat to go coast-to-coast every time he got the puck.

25. Matthew Barzal

Born: May 26, 1997 (Coquitlam, British Columbia, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 7 seasons (2016-present)

Teams: New York Islanders (2016-present)

Stanley Cup championships: None

Single-lap time: 13.175 seconds

Bottom Line: Matthew Barzal

Matthew Barzal is a two-time All-Star just three full seasons into his career and was named NHL Rookie of the Year in 2018.

Barzal showed his blazing speed at the 2020 NHL All-Star Skills Competition when he skated a single lap in 13.175 seconds, which was the second-fastest time in the competition's history behind just Dylan Larkin's time in 2016.

24. Guy Lafleur

Born: Sept. 20, 1951 (Thurso, Quebec, Canada)

Position: Right wing

Career: 17 seasons (1971-85, 1988-91)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens (1971-85), New York Rangers (1988-89), Quebec Nordiques (1989-91)

Stanley Cup championships: 5 (1973, 1976-79)

Bottom Line: Guy Lafleur

Guy Lafleur defined speed in the pre-helmet era thanks to his flowing blonde hair — the iconic images of him skating down the ice are numerous.

Lafleur won four consecutive Stanley Cups with the Canadiens from 1976 to 1979 and won the Hart Trophy as the NHL MVP twice in that stretch.

He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1988, then came out of retirement to play three more seasons. Without a helmet. Legend.

23. Jean Beliveau

Born: Aug. 31, 1931 (Trois-Rivieres, Quebec, Canada)

Died: Dec. 2, 2014, 83 years old (Longueuil, Quebec, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 20 seasons (1950-51, 1952-71)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens

Stanley Cup championships: 10 (1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971)

Bottom Line: Jean Beliveau

Jean Beliveau played his entire career with the Canadiens and has won more Stanley Cups than any person in history — 10 as a player and seven more as an NHL executive.

The two-time Hart Trophy winner (NHL MVP) is considered one of the 10 greatest NHL players of all time and was a 14-time All-Star.

22. Andy McDonald

Born: Aug. 25, 1977 (Strathroy, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Left wing/center

Career: 13 seasons (2000-13)

Teams: Anaheim Ducks (2000-08), St. Louis Blues (2008-13)

Stanley Cup championships: 1 (2007)

Single-lap time: 14.03 seconds

Bottom Line: Andy McDonald

Andy McDonald won the NHL Fastest Skater Competition in 2007 by hitting off a single lap at a blazing 14.03 seconds.

McDonald, who won a Stanley Cup with the Ducks in 2007, is no dummy. While he was an All-American at Colgate University in 2000, he also earned a degree in international relations.

21. Marian Gaborik

Born: Feb. 14, 1982 (Trencin, Czechoslovakia)

Position: Right wing

Career: 18 seasons (2000-18)

Teams: Minnesota Wild (2000-04, 2005-09), New York Rangers (2009-13), Columbus Blue Jackets (2012-14), Los Angeles Kings (2013-18), Ottawa Senators (2018)

Stanley Cup championships: 1 (2014)

Single-lap time: 13.73 seconds

Bottom Line: Marian Gaborik

Marian Gaborik was a three-time All-Star, including All-Star Game MVP honors in 2012.

Gaborik won the NHL Fastest Skater Competition in 2003 in the single-lap feature and won his lone Stanley Cup with the Kings in 2014.

Gaborik was the highest-drafted Slovak in NHL history when he went No. 3 overall in 2000.

20. Carl Hagelin

Born: Aug. 23, 1988 (Nykvarn, Sweden)

Position: Left wing

Career: 11 seasons (2011-22)

Teams: New York Rangers (2011-15), Anaheim Ducks (2015-16), Pittsburgh Penguins (2015-19), Los Angeles Kings (2019), Washington Capitals (2019-22)

Stanley Cup championships: 2 (2016, 2017)

Bottom Line: Carl Hagelin

Carl Hagelin has quietly carved out a pretty respectable career — in large part thanks to his speed. Hagelin moved from Sweden to North America and played two seasons for the University of Michigan before making the leap to the pros.

He won back-to-back Stanley Cup titles with Sidney Crosby and the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2016 and 2017.

19. Peter Bondra

Born: Feb. 7, 1968 (Bakivtsi, Lutsk Raion, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union)

Position: Right wing

Career: 17 seasons (1990-2007)

Teams: Washington Capitals (1990-2004), Ottawa Senators (2004-05), Atlanta Thrashers (2005-06), Chicago Blackhawks (2006-07)

Stanley Cup championships: None

Single-lap time: 13.610 seconds

Bottom Line: Peter Bondra

Peter Bondra is a two-time winner of the NHL Fastest Skater Competition, in 1997 and 1999.

He also has a pretty unique distinction in NHL history that speaks to exactly how fast he was on the ice.

Bondra is one of only 45 NHL players with 500 career goals and finished his career with 892 points.

18. Shawn Horcoff

Born: Sept. 17, 1978 (Trail, British Columbia, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 16 seasons (2000-16)

Teams: Edmonton Oilers (2000-13), Dallas Stars (2013-15), Anaheim Ducks (2015-16)

Stanley Cup championships: None

Bottom Line: Shawn Horcoff

Shawn Horcoff won the NHL Fastest Skater Competition in 2008 — the first year it was on a course instead of using a single-lap time.

Horcoff was used to competition growing up as one of his childhood friends and neighbors was former MLB outfielder Jason Bay.

Horcoff played in the Stanley Cup Final once, in 2016, losing with the Edmonton Oilers.

17. Yvan Cournoyer

Born: Nov. 22, 1943 (Drummondville, Quebec, Canada)

Position: Right wing

Career: 16 seasons (1963-79)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens

Stanley Cup championships: 10 (1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979)

Bottom Line: Yvan Cournoyer

Yvan Cournoyer was known for being able to leave defenders behind in one step and won 10 Stanley Cup titles with the Montreal Canadiens in just 16 seasons.

Cournoyer credited longer blades on his skates for giving him an advantage with his speed, but let's not forget he was also only 5-foot-7 and 170 pounds soaking wet.

16. Sami Kapanen

Born: June 14, 1973 (Vantaa, Finland)

Position: Right wing

Career: 12 seasons (1995-2004, 2005-08)

Teams: Hartford Whalers (1995-97), Carolina Hurricanes (1997-2003), Philadelphia Flyers (2002-04, 2005-08)

Stanley Cup championships: None

Single-lap time: 13.649 seconds

Bottom Line: Sami Kapanen

Sami Kapanen is one of the more unheralded players on this list but definitely deserves a spot among the NHL's fastest skaters of all time.

He won the NHL Fastest Skater Competition twice and once reportedly skated a lap in 12.7 seconds.

Sami's son, Kaspari Kapanen, now plays for the Pittsburgh Penguins.

15. Syl Apps

Born: Jan. 18, 1915 (Paris, Ontario, Canada)

Died: Dec. 24, 1998, 83 years old (Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 12 seasons (1936-48)

Teams: Toronto Maple Leafs

Stanley Cup championships: 3 (1942, 1947, 1948)

Single-lap time: 14.4 seconds

Bottom Line: Syl Apps

Syl Apps was the first winner of an NHL speed competition — his prize for winning was a wristwatch.

Apps won NHL Rookie of the Year in 1937 and played his entire career with the Toronto Maple Leafs, where he won three Stanley Cup titles.

Apps' granddaughter, Gillian Apps, won three Olympic gold medals for Canada in 2006, 2010 and 2014.

14. Sidney Crosby

Born: Aug. 7, 1987 (Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 18 seasons (2005-present)

Teams: Pittsburgh Penguins

Stanley Cup championships: 3 (2009, 2016, 2017)

Bottom Line: Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby has rightfully taken his place among the NHL's all-time greats — a two-time Hart Trophy winner as NHL MVP and two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner as NHL playoff MVP.

Crosby's speed on the ice sometimes gets lost in his sheer mastery of the game.

Few players have ever been as creative on the ice.

13. Howie Morenz

Born: Sept. 21, 1902 (Mitchell, Ontario, Canada)

Died: March 8, 1937, 34 years old (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 13 seasons (1923-36)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens (1923-34, 1936-37), Chicago Black Hawks (1934-36), New York Rangers (1936)

Stanley Cup championships: 3 (1924, 1930, 1931)

Bottom Line: Howie Morenz

Howie Morenz's elite speed earned him two nicknames that stuck — the "Stratford Streak" and the "Mitchell Meteor."

His death was one of the biggest tragedies in NHL history. Moretz fractured his leg in four places in a game on Jan. 28, 1937, and was hospitalised.

Less than two months later, on March 8, he died of a coronary embolism that was a result of blood clots in his leg.

12. Mike Gartner

Born: Oct. 29, 1959 (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Right wing

Career: 19 seasons (1979-98)

Teams: Washington Capitals (1979-89), Minnesota North Stars (1988-90), New York Rangers (1990-94), Toronto Maple Leafs (1994-96), Phoenix Coyotes (1996-98)

Stanley Cup championships: None

Bottom Line: Mike Gartner

Mike Gartner was a three-time winner of the NHL Fastest Skater Competition, in 1991, 1993 and 1996. He also was the All-Star Game MVP in 1993.

Gartner is one of the few players in NHL history to make the Hall of Fame without ever winning a Stanley Cup, playing in the Stanley Cup Final or earning a postseason award.

11. Erik Karlsson

Born: May 31, 1990 (Landsbro, Sweden)

Position: Defenseman

Career: 14 seasons (2009-present)

Teams: Ottawa Senators (2009-18), San Jose Sharks (2018-present)

Stanley Cup championships: None

Norris Trophies: 2 (2012, 2015)

Bottom Line: Erik Karlsson

The only thing missing from Erik Karlsson's resume at this point is a Stanley Cup. He's a six-time All-Star and has won the Norris Trophy twice.

Karlsson owns almost all of the Senators' records for a defenseman from his nine seasons with the club, including a single-season record 78 points in 2012, when he won his first Norris.

10. Cyclone Taylor

Born: June 23, 1884 (Tara, Ontario, Canada)

Died: June 9, 1979, 94 years old (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

Position: Rover

Career: 15 seasons (1907-11, 1912-23)

Teams: Ottawa Senators (1907-09), Renfrew Creamery Kings (1909-11), Vancouver Millionaires

Stanley Cup championships: 2 (1909, 1915)

Bottom Line: Cyclone Taylor

Cyclone Taylor never actually played in the NHL but instead played in the two most influential, precursor leagues in the PCHA and the NHA — and he also won two Stanley Cup titles.

He also had one of the single greatest nicknames in the history of sports. Canadian Governor General Earl Grey gave Taylor his nickname after remarking to a sportswriter he was like a "cyclone" on the ice.

9. Bobby Hull

Born: Jan. 3, 1939 (Point Anne, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Left wing

Career: 23 seasons (1957-80)

Teams: Chicago Black Hawks (1957-72), Winnipeg Jets (1972-80), Hartford Whalers (1980)

Stanley Cup championships: 1 (1961)

Bottom Line: Bobby Hull

Bobby Hull's nickname gave some pretty good insight into how fast he was on the ice. He was known as the "Golden Jet" over his 23-year career.

Hull won the Hart Trophy twice, including in 1961 when he won his lone Stanley Cup title with the Chicago Black Hawks.

8. Dylan Larkin

Born: July 30, 1996 (Waterford, Michigan)

Position: Center

Career: 8 seasons (2015-present)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings

Stanley Cup championships: None

Single-lap time: 13.172 seconds

Bottom Line: Dylan Larkin

Dylan Larkin set the NHL record for single-lap speed when he won the NHL Fastest Skater Competition in 2016 with a time of 13.172 seconds.

Larkin, a three-time NHL All-Star, was drafted No. 15 overall in the 2014 NHL draft.

One of the few Americans to make the list, Larkin played one season of college hockey at the University of Michigan before going pro.

7. Sergei Fedorov

Born: Dec. 13, 1969 (Pskov, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union)

Position: Center

Career: 19 seasons (1990-2009)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings (1990-2003), Anaheim Ducks (2003-04, 2005-06), Columbus Blue Jackets (2006-08), Washington Capitals (2007-09)

Stanley Cup championships: 3 (1997, 1998, 2002)

Single-lap speed: 13.525 seconds

Bottom Line: Sergei Fedorov

Sergei Federov was as versatile a player who ever played the game. He could play center, wing or defense and led the Detroit Red Wings to three Stanley Cup titles in 13 years.

Those who saw Federov in his prime can attest to his greatness. Wayne Gretzky once called him the most dominant player he'd ever seen, and teammate Steve Yzerman said he was the best skater he'd ever seen.

6. Scott Niedermayer

Born: Aug. 31, 1973 (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)

Position: Defenseman

Career: 19 seasons (1991-2010)

Teams: New Jersey Devils (1991-2004), Anaheim Ducks (2005-10)

Stanley Cup championships: 4 (1995, 2000, 2003, 2007)

Norris Trophies: 1 (2004)

Bottom Line: Scott Niedermayer

Scott Niedermayer's success with two different franchises, the New Jersey Devils and Anaheim Ducks, led both teams to retire his jersey.

Niedermayer won the Norris Trophy with the Devils and the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL playoffs MVP with the Ducks in 2007.

Niedermayer's elite speed led to four Stanley Cups titles — three with the Devils and one with the Ducks.

5. Maurice Richard

Born: Aug. 4, 1921 (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)

Died: May 27, 2000, 78 years old (Montreal, Quebec, Canada)

Position: Right wing

Career: 18 seasons (1942-60)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens

Stanley Cup championships: 7 (1944, 1946, 1953, 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960)

Bottom Line: Maurice Richard

One of the most beloved players in NHL history, Maurice "Rocket" Richard won seven Stanley Cup titles and spent his entire career with the Montreal Canadiens.

In 1955, Richard struck a linesman during a game and was suspended for the rest of the season, sparking the infamous "Richard Riot" that caused $100,000 in damage, led to 100 arrests and put 73 people in the hospital.

4. Pavel Bure

Born: March 31, 1971 (Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union)

Position: Right wing

Career: 12 seasons (1991-2003)

Teams: Vancouver Canucks (1991-98), Florida Panthers (1998-2002), New York Rangers (2001-03)

Stanley Cup championships: None

Bottom Line: Pavel Bure

Pavel Bure was one of the most exciting players to grace the NHL in the last 30 years.

The phenom defected from Moscow and was nicknamed "The Russian Rocket" for his speed and his similar playing style to former Montreal great Maurice Richard.

Of all the modern players on this list, Bure had one of the shortest careers as a result of recurring knee injuries.

3. Bobby Orr

Born: March 20, 1948 (Parry Sound, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Defenseman

Career: 12 seasons (1966-76, 1978-79)

Teams: Boston Bruins (1966-76), Chicago Blackhawks (1976-77, 1978-79)

Stanley Cup championships: 2 (1970, 1972)

Norris Trophies: 8 (1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1975)

Bottom Line: Bobby Orr

The argument for the greatest hockey player of all time usually comes down to Gordie Howe, Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr. But Orr is definitely the greatest defenseman of all time.

The picture of Orr, airborne after scoring the game-winning goal in the 1970 Stanley Cup Final, is one of the most iconic images in NHL history.

Orr won two Stanley Cups with the Bruins, won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's top defensemen eight consecutive years and won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP three straight years.

2. Connor McDavid

Born: Jan. 13, 1997 (Richmond Hill, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 8 seasons (2015-present)

Teams: Edmonton Oilers

Stanley Cup championships: None

Single-lap speed: 13.31 seconds

Bottom Line: Connor McDavid

Connor McDavid is a once-in-a-generation player and one of the fastest skaters the game of hockey has ever seen — he may also be one of the best players of all time.

McDavid has scored over 100 points in six out of eight seasons in the NHL — he scored 97 points in the pandemic-shortened 2019-20 season — and had one of the greatest single seasons in NHL history in 2022-23 with 153 points. McDavid is already a six-time All-Star and three-time NHL Most Valuable Player.

1. Paul Coffey

Born: June 1, 1961 (Weston, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Defenseman

Career: 21 seasons (1980-2001)

Teams: Edmonton Oilers (1980-87), Pittsburgh Penguins (1987-92), Los Angeles Kings (1992-93), Detroit Red Wings (1993-96), Hartford Whalers (1996-97), Philadelphia Flyers (1997-98), Chicago Blackhawks (1998-99), Carolina Hurricanes (1999-2000), Boston Bruins (2000-01)

Stanley Cup championships: 4 (1984, 1985, 1987, 1991)

Bottom Line: Paul Coffey

There is probably no greater testament to Paul Coffey's sheer unbelievable speed on the ice than what Bobby Orr once told The Edmonton Journal.

Orr's father would call him late at night after watching Coffey play and remark on how fast he was on the ice. "He's a better skater than you," Orr's father told him.

Orr would ask if he was even close to Coffey and wait as silence filled the line.