Most Games Played in NHL History

These players never wanted to come off the ice.

Most Games Played in NHL History

Gordie Howe on the ice with Detroit Red Wings fans — Detroit Red Wings legend Gordie Howe was a fan favorite.

Professional sports are meant to be a young man's game, so when an athlete plays into their late 30s or early 40s it generates a ton of respect.

In hockey, some of the best players of all time had careers that lasted more than two decades. But playing in the NHL takes a physical toll on the body, and the average career for an NHL player is just five seasons.

These players went way past that and played the most regular-season games in NHL history.

(All stats updated through end of 2022-23 season)

30. Mike Gartner — 1,432 NHL Games

Mike Gartner flies across the ice — Mike Gartner is one of the fastest skaters in NHL history.

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

Position: Right wing

Seasons: 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)

Career highlights: NHL All-Star Game MVP (1993), three-time NHL Fastest Skater (1991, 1993, 1996), NHL All-Star (1981, 1985, 1986, 1988, 1990, 1993, 1996), 100 Greatest Players in NHL History

Bottom line: Mike Gartner was a three-time winner of the NHL Fastest Skater Competition, in 1991, 1993 and 1996, and was also 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.

He was named one of the NHL's 100 Greatest Players in 2017 and had his number retired by the Washington Capitals in 2008.

29. Tim Horton — 1,445 NHL Games

Tim Horton with the New York Rangers — Tim Horton is one of the most legendary players in NHL history.

Born: Jan. 12, 1930 (Cochrane, Ontario, Canada)

Died: Feb. 21, 1974, 44 years old (St. Catharine's, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Defense

Career: 24 seasons (1949-50 1951-74)

Teams: Toronto Maple Leafs (1949-50, 1951-70), New York Rangers (1969-71), Pittsburgh Penguins (1971-72), Buffalo Sabres (1972-74)

Career highlights: Four-time Stanley Cup champion (1962-64, 1967), 100 Greatest Players in NHL History, Hockey Hall of Fame (1977), six-time NHL All-Star (1954, 1963, 1964, 1967-69), 100 Greatest NHL Players

Bottom line: Tim Horton won four Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple Leafs and was a millionaire off the ice by the 1960s thanks to his successful line of fast-food and donut restaurants — aptly named Tim Horton's.

Considered one of the strongest players in NHL history, Horton's mere presence seemed to intimidate opponents. Horton died in a car accident at 44 years old after playing for the Buffalo Sabres against his former team in Toronto. It's not beyond the realm of possibility that he could've played in the NHL into his late 40s.

Horton's life should be made into a movie.

28. Teemu Selanne — 1,451 NHL Games

Teemu Selanne lifts the Stanley Cup — Teemu Selanne was the subject of a hit documentary film in Finland.

Born: July 3, 1970 (Helsinki, Finland)

Position: Right wing

Career: 22 seasons (1992-2004, 2005-14)

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

Career highlights: Stanley Cup champion (2007), Calder Trophy (1993), NHL All-Rookie Team (1993), 10-time NHL All-Star (1993, 1994, 1996-2000, 2002, 2003, 2007), Masterson Trophy (2006)

Bottom line: Perhaps Finland's greatest player, "The Finnish Flash" Teemu Selanne won NHL Rookie of the Year in 1993 and was a 10-time All-Star in 22 seasons.

Selanne led the NHL in goal scoring in 1999 and won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, named for another one of the NHL's fastest skaters. Selanne won one Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.

The Finnish documentary "Selanne" about his life is one of the highest-grossing documentaries of all time in Finland.

27. Glen Wesley — 1,457 NHL Games

Born: Oct. 2, 1968 (Red Deer, Alberta, Canada)

Position: Defense

Career: 20 seasons (1987-04, 2005-08)

Teams: Boston Bruins (1987-94), Hartford Whalers (1994-97), Carolina Hurricanes (1997-2003, 2003-04, 2005-08), Toronto Maple Leafs (2003)

Career highlights: Stanley Cup champion (2006), NHL All-Rookie Team (1988), NHL All-Star (1989)

Bottom line: Glen Wesley grew up cheering for the Edmonton Oilers and won the only Stanley Cup of his career facing them when he won with the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006.

It was Wesley's fourth and final trip to the Stanley Cup Final and ended one of the longest active streaks in the NHL for players who had never won a championship.

Wesley's career was notable for making the move with the Hartford Whalers to becoming the Carolina Hurricanes and being the only player to stay with the franchise for its first 10 seasons in the new location.

26. Doug Gilmour — 1,474 NHL Games

Doug Gilmour scores for the Toronto Maple Leafs — Doug Gilmour averaged almost one point per game for his entire career.

Born: June 25, 1963 (Kingston, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 20 seasons (1983-2003)

Teams: St. Louis Blues (1983-88), Calgary Flames (1988-92), Toronto Maple Leafs (1992-97, 2003), New Jersey Devils (1997-98), Chicago Blackhawks (1998-2000), Buffalo Sabres (2000-01), Montreal Canadiens (2001-03)

Career highlights: Stanley Cup champion (1989), Selke Trophy (1993), two-time NHL All-Star (1993, 1994)

Bottom line: Doug Gilmour was one of the most consistent players in NHL history, and his 1,414 career points line up almost exactly with his 1,474 career games.

Gilmour won his only Stanley Cup in 20 seasons with the Calgary Flames in 1989, which was part of a five-year stretch where he scored 80 points each season.

Gilmour's nickname — "Killer" — has some questionable origins. Some say it's because of his likeness to serial killer Charles Manson, and others say it's for his aggressive style of play.

25. Rod Brind'Amour — 1,484 NHL Games

Rod Brind'Amour with the Philadelphia Flyers — Rod Brind'Amour skates through a sea of plastic rats.

Born: Aug. 9, 1970 (Ottawa, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 21 seasons (1988-2004, 2005-10)

Teams: St. Louis Blues (1988-91), Philadelphia Flyers (1991-00), Carolina Hurricanes (2000-04, 2005-10)

Career highlights: Stanley Cup champion (2006), NHL All-Star (1992), two-time Selke Trophy (2006, 2007)

Bottom line: Rod Brind'Amour was the No. 9 overall pick in the NHL draft and became one of the most durable players in NHL history, at one point playing 484 consecutive games for the Philadelphia Flyers.

Brind'Amour's greatest success came with the Hurricanes, where he spent the last decade of his career, made it to the Stanley Cup Final in 2002 and won his only Stanley Cup in 2006.

Brind'Amour has been the Hurricanes' head coach since 2018.

24. Wayne Gretzky — 1,487 NHL Games

Wayne Gretzky with the puck — Wayne Gretzky couldn't be stopped in his prime.

Born: Jan. 26, 1961 (Brantford, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 20 seasons (1979-99)

Teams: Edmonton Oilers (1979-88), Los Angeles Kings (1988-96), St. Louis Blues (1996), New York Rangers (1996-99)

Career highlights: Four-time Stanley Cup champion (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988), nine-time Hart Trophy winner (1980-87, 1989), two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner (1985, 1988), five-time Lady Byng Trophy winner (1980, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999), three-time NHL All-Star Game MVP (1983, 1989, 1999), 18-time NHL All-Star (1980-86, 1988-99)

Bottom line: Wayne Gretzky — "The Great One" — is the NHL's career scoring leader and has more goals and assists than any player in history.

Gretzky credits his father, Walter, for much of his success because of his cerebral approach to coaching Wayne at an early age. It was also Walter who bought a house when Wayne was seven months old because it had the flattest yard he could find, the perfect surface to put an ice rink on in the winter.

Gretzky famously went against the NHL's propensity for violence and spoke out against fighting many times. He won the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship five times in his career.

23. Phil Housley — 1,495 NHL Games

Phil Housley playing for the Chicago Blackhawks — Phil Housley, center, was an elite defender his entire career.

Born: March 9, 1964 (Saint Paul, Minnesota)

Position: Defense

Career: 21 seasons(1982-2003)

Teams: Buffalo Sabres (1982-90), Winnipeg Jets (1990-93), St. Louis Blues (1993-94), Calgary Flames (1994-96, 1998-2001), New Jersey Devils (1996), Washington Capitals (1996-98), Chicago Blackhawks (2001-03), Toronto Maple Leafs (2003)

Career highlights: NHL All-Rookie Team (1992), seven-time NHL All-Star (1984, 1989-93, 2000), Norris Trophy runner-up (1992)

Bottom line: Phil Housley had one of the more understated, underappreciated careers of any American on this list.

He retired as the leading point scorer among American-born players in 2003, but another look at his stats reveals why his career may have been so underappreciated. He also retired with the NHL record for most career games without winning a Stanley Cup.

Housley, who is married to Minnesota Sen. Karin Housley, was the head coach for the Buffalo Sabres from 2017 to 2019.

22. Mike Modano — 1,499 NHL Games

Mike Modano scores for the Dallas Stars — Mike Modano is beloved in the city of Dallas.

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)

Career highlights: Stanley Cup champion (1999), eight-time NHL All-Star (1993, 1998-2000, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2009), Hockey Hall of Fame (2014)

Bottom line: 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 slapshot to go with it. The nine-time All-Star won his lone Stanley Cup with the Stars in 1999.

You can make a good argument no American-born player in NHL history had more of a role in expanding the game's popularity in the United States than Modano.

21. Steve Yzerman — 1,514 NHL Games

Born: May 9, 1965 (Cranbrook, British Columbia, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 22 seasons (1983-2004, 2005-06)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings

Career highlights: Three-time Stanley Cup champion (1997, 1998, 2002), 10-time NHL All-Star (1984, 1988-93, 1997, 1999, 2000), Conn Smythe Trophy (1998), Selke Trophy (2000), Hockey Hall of Fame (2009), 100 Greatest NHL Players

Bottom line: Just a fantastic hockey player, leader and spokesman for the game for most of the last four decades.

Steve Yzerman played his entire career for the Detroit Red Wings and didn't win a Stanley Cup until his 14th season. No player in NHL history played more games as a captain for a team than Yzerman, who was named captain of the Red Wings at 21 years old and held that position for over 1,300 games.

Currently, the executive vice president and general manager of the Red Wings, Yzerman won another Stanley Cup in a management role in 2010.

20. Matt Cullen — 1,516 NHL Games

Matt Cullen celebrates a goal — Matt Cullen was steady but not spectacular for 21 seasons.

Born: Nov. 2, 1976 (Virginia, Minnesota)

Position: Center

Career: 21 seasons (1997-2004, 2005-19)

Teams: Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997-2003), Florida Panthers (2003-04), Carolina Hurricanes (2005-06, 2007-10), New York Rangers (2006-07), Ottawa Senators (2010), Minnesota Wild (2010-13, 2017-18), Nashville Predators (2013-15), Pittsburgh Penguins (2015-17, 2018-19)

Career highlights: Three-time Stanley Cup champion (2006, 2016, 2017)

Bottom line: Minnesota native Matt Cullen was the definition of steady but not spectacular for almost the entirety of his 21-year career in the NHL.

Cullen won three Stanley Cup championships — the first in 2006 with the Carolina Hurricanes, then a decade later with back-to-back to back championships as a member of the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Cullen is the only player in NHL history to play in more than 1,500 games and never be selected to an All-Star game.

19. Brendan Shanahan — 1,524 NHL Games

Brendan Shanahan with the Red Wings — You didn't want to trade fists with Brendan Shanahan.

Born: Jan. 23, 1969 (Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Left wing

Career: 21 seasons (1987-04, 2005-09)

Teams: New Jersey Devils (1987-91), St. Louis Blues (1991-95), Hartford Whalers (1995-96), Detroit Red Wings (1996-2004, 2005-06), New York Rangers (2006-08), New Jersey Devils (2008-09)

Career highlights: Three-time Stanley Cup champion (1997, 1998, 2002), eight-time NHL All-Star (1994, 1996-2000, 2002, 2007), King Clancy Trophy (2003), Hockey Hall of Fame (2013)

Bottom line: Brendan Shanahan was an elite goal scorer. His 17 hat tricks in one year are tied with Gordie Howe for an unofficial NHL record.

Shanahan was a monster on the ice, and at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, he was built more like an NFL linebacker than anything.

Shanahan used his size and physicality as a hammer throughout his career. He is the only player in NHL history to have 600 goals and 2,000 penalty minutes. Long story short, you didn't want to end up in a scrap with the three-time Stanley Cup champion.

17. Shane Doan — 1,540 NHL Games (Tie)

Born: Oct. 10, 1976 (Halkirk, Alberta, Canada)

Position: Right wing

Career: 21 seasons (1995-2004, 2005-17)

Teams: Winnipeg Jets/Phoenix Coyotes

Career highlights: Two-time NHL All-Star (2004, 2009), King Clancy Trophy (2010)

Bottom line: Shane Doan was a two-time All-Star who spent his entire career with one franchise — kind of.

Doan started his career with the Winnipeg Jets and made the transition with the team to become the Phoenix Coyotes and served as captain of the team from 2003 to 2017 and was the last NHL player to take the ice for Winnipeg.

Doan's reputation and career were forever marred by racist comments made to a referee during the 2006 Olympics.

17. Johnny Bucyk — 1,540 NHL Games (Tie)

Johnny Bucyk lifts the Stanley Cup — Johnny Bucyk has been affiliated with the Boston Bruins since 1957 in one form or another.

Born: May 12, 1935 (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)

Position: Left wing

Career: 23 seasons (1955-78)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings (1955-57), Boston Bruins (1957-78)

Career highlights: Two-time Stanley Cup champion (1970, 1972), seven-time NHL All-Star (1955, 1963-65, 1968, 1870, 1971), 100 Greatest Players in NHL History, Hockey Hall of Fame (1981)

Bottom line: Johnny Bucyk played his first two seasons for the Detroit Red Wings but played his last 21 seasons with the Boston Bruins when he was traded, straight up, for goaltender Terry Sawchuk.

Bucyk was a perfect role player with the Bruins on two Stanley Cup championships with the Boston Bruins in 1970 and 1972 alongside legendary players Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr.

Bucyk, who still has a role with the Bruins as an official ambassador, has been affiliated with the team in a variety of roles every year since he joined the organization in 1957.

16. Alex Delvecchio — 1,549 NHL Games

Alex Delvecchio takes a shot — Alex Delvecchio was Robin to Gordie Howe's Batman.

Born: Dec. 4, 1931 (Fort William, Ontario)

Position: Center/left wing

Career: 24 seasons (1950-74)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings

Career highlights: Three-time Stanley Cup champion (1952, 1954, 1955), 13-time NHL All-Star (1953-59, 1961-65, 1967), 100 Greatest NHL Players in History, Hockey Hall of Fame (1977)

Bottom line: Alex Delvecchio is third in career games played for the Detroit Red Wings, trailing just Steve Yzerman and Nicklas Lidstrom.

The running mate for Howe on the great Detroit Red Wings teams during the 1950s, Delvecchio had two stints as the head coach of the Red Wings and one as general manager before he left hockey in 1977 to go into business for himself.

Delvecchio was also inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1977 and named one of the NHL's 100 Greatest Players in 2017.

15. Jarome Iginla — 1,554 NHL Games

Colorado Avalanche forward Jarome Iginla

Born: July 1, 1977 (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada)

Position: Right wing

Career: 22 seasons (1996-2017)

Teams: Calgary Flames (1996-2013), Pittsburgh Penguins (2013), Boston Bruins (2013-14), Colorado Avalanche (2014-17), Los Angeles Kings (2017)

Career highlights: NHL All-Rookie Team (1997), six-time NHL All-Star (2003, 2004, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2012), NHL 2000s All-Decade Team, Art Ross Trophy (2002), two-time Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy (2002, 2004)

Bottom line: Jarome Iginla was selected No. 11 overall in the 1995 NHL Draft by the Dallas Stars but traded to the Calgary Flames before he played his first NHL game — a move Dallas still regrets to this day. Iginla played 22 seasons and was a six-time NHL All-Star and was eventually named to the NHL All-Decade Team for the 2000s.

14. Nicklas Lidstrom — 1,564 NHL Games

Nicklas Lidstrom wore the "C" for the Red Wings — Nicklas Lidstrom trails just Bobby Orr in Norris Trophy wins.

Born: April 28, 1970 (Krylbo, Sweden)

Position: Defense

Career: 20 seasons (1992-2004, 2005-2012)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings

Career highlights: Four-time Stanley Cup champion (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008), seven-time Norris Trophy winner (2001-03, 2006-08, 2011), Conn Smythe Trophy (2002), 12-time NHL All-Star (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000-04, 2007-09, 2011)

Bottom line: Nicklas Lidstrom's seven Norris Trophies are second only to Bobby Orr. He became the first European-born player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL playoffs MVP in 2002. He's also a four-time Stanley Cup champion.

Lidstrom spent his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings. For good measure, Lidstrom also won an Olympic gold medal with Sweden in 2006.

Behind Bobby Orr, Lidstrom is perhaps the greatest defenseman in NHL history.

13. Ray Bourque — 1,612 NHL Games

Born: Dec. 28, 1960 (Saint-Laurent, Quebec, Canada)

Position: Defense

Career: 22 seasons (1979-2001)

Teams: Boston Bruins (1979-2000), Colorado Avalanche (2000-01)

Career highlights: Stanley Cup champion (2001), five-time Norris Trophy winner (1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1994), Calder Trophy (1980), King Clancy Trophy (1992), NHL All-Star Game MVP (1996), 20-time NHL All-Star (1979-86, 1988-94, 1996-2001)

Bottom line: Ray Bourque famously won his lone Stanley Cup with the Colorado Avalanche in the final game of his career, but his Hall of Fame career was defined by his time with the Boston Bruins.

Bourque won five Norris Trophies in Boston and was named to the end-of-season All-Star team a staggering 20 times in 22 seasons. The only two times he didn't make it there wasn't even an All-Star game.

Bourque is the greatest scoring defenseman of all time and is still the career leader for the position in goals and points.

12. Larry Murphy — 1,615 NHL Games

Larry Murphy on the ice — Larry Murphy won four Stanley Cups in the back half of his career.

Born: March 8, 1961 (Scarborough, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Defense

Career: 21 seasons (1980-2001)

Teams: Los Angeles Kings (1980-83), Washington Capitals (1983-89), Minnesota North Stars (1989-91), Pittsburgh Penguins (1991-95), Toronto Maple Leafs (1995-97), Detroit Red Wings (1997-2001)

Career highlights: Four-time Stanley Cup champion (1991, 1992, 1997, 1998), three-time NHL All-Star (1994, 1996, 1999), Hockey Hall of Fame (2004)

Bottom line: Larry Murphy spent the early part of his career toiling away on some pretty mediocre teams but hit a hot streak when he joined the Pittsburgh Penguins via trade during the 1990-91 season.

Murphy helped the Penguins win back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 1991 and 1992, then did the same with the Detroit Red Wings in 1997 and 1998.

Murphy was the No. 4 overall pick in 1980 and still holds the NHL records for most points and assists by a rookie defenseman.

11. Scott Stevens — 1,635 NHL Games

Scott Stevens with the St. Louis Blues — Scott Stevens carved out his career around a physical style of play.

Born: April 1, 1964 (Kitchener, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Defense

Career: 22 seasons (1982-2004)

Teams: Washington Capitals (1982-90), St. Louis Blues (1990-91), New Jersey Devils (1991-2004)

Career highlights: Three-time Stanley Cup champion (1995, 2000, 2003), 13-time NHL All-Star (1985, 1989, 1991-94, 1996-2001, 2003), Conn Smythe Trophy (2000)

Bottom line: Scott Stevens' physical style of play helped lead the way to three Stanley Cup titles in a 22-year career — all with the New Jersey Devils. While Stevens never won a Norris Trophy, he did win a Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL's playoff MVP in 2000.

At 6-foot-2 and 220 pounds, he doled out as much punishment as anyone in NHL history and earned the nickname "Captain Crunch" for two reasons. He could change the games with a goal or with a hard check.

10. Dave Andreychuk — 1,639 NHL Games

Dave Andreychuk playing for the Tampa Bay Lightning — Dave Andreychuk won one Stanley Cup in 23 seasons.

Born: Sept. 29, 1963 (Hamilton, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Left wing

Career: 23 seasons (1982-2004, 2005-06)

Teams: Buffalo Sabres (1982-93, 2000-01), Toronto Maple Leafs (1993-96), New Jersey Devils (1996-99), Boston Bruins (1999-2000), Colorado Avalanche (2000), Tampa Bay Lightning (2001-04, 2005-06)

Career highlights: Stanley Cup champion (2004), two-time NHL All-STar (1990, 1994), Hockey Hall of Fame (2017)

Bottom line: Dave Andreychuk's 1,338 career points stack up with the very best to ever play the game.

Andreychuk, who is the NHL career leader with power-play goals, was great with the Maple Leafs from 1993-96, but the reason he's underrated is that he jumped teams so much.

Six teams in 23 seasons might not seem like that many teams, but after his first 11 seasons with the Sabres, he never played more than four seasons with any one franchise.

9. Chris Chelios — 1,651 NHL Games

Chris Chelios playing for the Detroit Red Wings — Chris Chelios played almost three decades in the NHL.

Born: Jan. 25, 1962 (Chicago, Illinois)

Position: Defense

Career: 26 seasons (1983-2004, 2005-2010)

Teams: Montreal Canadiens (1983-90), Chicago Blackhawks (1990-99), Detroit Red Wings (1999-2009), Atlanta Thrashers (2009-10)

Career highlights: Three-time Stanley Cup champion (1986, 2002, 2008), three-time Norris Trophy winner (1989, 1993, 1996), 11-time NHL All-Star (1985, 1990-94, 1996-98, 2000, 2002)

Bottom line: Check once, check twice, check three times. Chris Chelios really did play 26 seasons in the NHL.

He holds the NHL record for most career games by a defenseman and most career playoff games. He won three Stanley Cups and three Norris Trophies and played in the NHL until he was 48 years old. Chelios was also an 11-time All-Star.

One amazing statistic about Chelios is that he only lost one Game 7 in his entire career — in the 1985 Adams Division final against the Quebec Nordiques.

8. Mark Recchi — 1,652 NHL Games

Mark Recchi with the Philadelphia Flyers — Mark Recchi won a Stanley Cup in three different decades.

Born: Jan. 18, 1961 (St. Albert, Alberta, Canada)

Position: Right wing

Career: 22 seasons (1998-2004, 2005-11)

Teams: Pittsburgh Penguins (1988-92, 2005-06, 2006-07), Philadelphia Flyers (1992-94, 1999-2004), Montreal Canadiens (1994-99), Carolina Hurricanes (2006), Atlanta Thrashers (2007-08), Tampa Bay Lightning (2008-09), Boston Bruins (2009-11)

Career highlights: Three-time Stanley Cup champion (1991, 2006, 2011), seven-time NHL All-Star (1991, 1993, 1994, 1997-2000), Hockey Hall of Fame (2017)

Bottom line: The statistic that probably defines Mark Recchi's career the most — and underlines his durability — is that he's one of only eight NHL players to win a Stanley Cup in three different decades.

Recchi won with the Pittsburgh Penguins in 1991, the Carolina Hurricanes in 2006 and the Boston Bruins in 2011, his final season, when he became the oldest player to score a goal in Stanley Cup history at 43 years old.

Recchi finally got his just due when he was elected to the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017, his fourth year of eligibility.

7. Zdeno Chara — 1,680 NHL Games

Zdeno Chara celebrates a goal — Zdeno Chara will turn 44 years old in 2021.

Born: March 18, 1977 (Trencin, Czechoslovakia)

Position: Defense

Career: 24 seasons (1998-2004, 2005-22)

Teams: New York Islanders (1998-2001), Ottawa Senators (2001-06), Boston Bruins (2006-20), Washington Capitals (2020-21), New York Islanders (2021-22)

Career highlights: Stanley Cup champion (2011), Norris Trophy (2009)

Bottom line: Standing at 6-foot-9, Zdeno Chara is the tallest player in NHL history and had to have a special exemption for a longer-than-regulation stick when he joined the league in 1998.

Chara won his lone Stanley Cup with the Boston Bruins in 2011 and won his lone Norris Trophy in 2009. He's the first European born-and-raised player to win the Stanley Cup and the first player from the Eastern Bloc as well.

6. Joe Thornton — 1,714 NHL Games

Joe Thornton fights early in his career — Joe Thornton's trade to the San Jose Sharks left Boston fans heartbroken.

Born: July 2, 1979 (St. Thomas, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Center

Seasons: 25 seasons (1997-2004, 2005-22)

Teams: Boston Bruins (1997-2004, 2005), San Jose Sharks (2005-2020), Toronto Maple Leafs (2020-21), Florida Panthers (2021-22)

Career highlights: Six-time NHL All-Star (2002-04, 2007-09), Hart Trophy (2006), Art Ross Trophy (2006)

Bottom line: Joe Thornton is the answer to a remarkable piece of NHL trivia. He's the only player to switch teams midseason and win the NHL Most Valuable Player award, which he did in 2005-06 when he was traded from the Boston Bruins to the San Jose Sharks.

That was also the same season where he became the only player in NHL history to switch teams and win the Art Ross Trophy for leading the NHL in points. He scored 125 that year.

Thornton, the No. 1 overall pick in the 1997 NHL draft, was beloved in Boston, and his trade is generally looked at as one of the low moments in the history of the franchise.

5. Ron Francis — 1,731 NHL Games

Ron Francis played six seasons for the Carolina Hurricanes — Ron Francis is one of the most underappreciated NHL players of all time.

Born: March 1, 1963 (Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 23 seasons (1981-2004)

Teams: Hartford Whalers (1981-91), Pittsburgh Penguins (1991-98), Carolina Hurricanes (1998-2004), Toronto Maple Leafs (2004)

Career highlights: Two-time Stanley Cup champion (1991, 1992), four-time NHL All-Star (1983, 1985, 1990, 1996), three-time Lady Byng Trophy winner (1995, 1998, 2002), King Clancy Trophy (2002), Hockey Hall of Fame (2007)

Bottom line: Ron Francis is the most underrated, underappreciated star of all time. If you want evidence, look no further than his spot at No. 4 on the NHL career points list behind only Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Gordie Howe with 1,798 points.

Have you ever heard Francis even mentioned in the same breath as the other three? Probably not. Most casual hockey fans today have a very limited knowledge of Francis' career 16 years after his retirement, if they remember him at all.

4. Jaromir Jagr — 1,733 NHL Games

Jaromir Jagr with the Florida Panthers — Jaromir Jagr played 26 seasons, and his hair was always on point.

Born: Feb. 15, 1972 (Kladno, Czechoslovakia)

Position: Right wing

Career: 26 seasons (1991-2004, 2005-18)

Teams: Pittsburgh Penguins (1991-2001), Washington Capitals (2001-04), New York Rangers (2004, 2005-08), Philadelphia Flyers (2011-12), Dallas Stars (2012-13), Boston Bruins (2013), New Jersey Devils (2013-15), Florida Panthers (2015-17), Calgary Flames (2017-18)

Career highlights: Two-time Stanley Cup champion (1991, 1992), NHL All-Rookie Team (1991), Hart Trophy winner (1999), 13-time NHL All-Star (1992-94, 1996-2004, 2016), five-time Art Ross Trophy winner (1995, 1998-2001)

Bottom line: Jaromir Jagr is second in NHL history for points, behind just Wayne Gretzky.

Jagr was the youngest player in the NHL when he broke in just past his 18th birthday in 1991. He was the oldest player in the league when he played his final season at 45 years old in 2018.

He's also the only player in NHL history to participate in the Stanley Cup as a teenager (in 1991) and in his 40s (in 2013). Which is pretty cool.

3. Mark Messier — 1,756 NHL Games

Mark Messier holds the 1994 Stanley Cup trophy — Winning the Stanley Cup with the Rangers cemented Mark Messier's place among the NHL's greatest players.

Born: Jan. 18, 1961 (St. Albert, Alberta, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 25 seasons (1979-2004)

Teams: Edmonton Oilers (1979-91), New York Rangers (1991-97, 2000-04), Vancouver Canucks (1997-2000)

Career highlights: Six-time Stanley Cup champion (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1994), Two-time Hart Trophy winner (1990, 1992), 15-time NHL All-Star (1982-84, 1986, 1988-92, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2004), Conn Smythe Trophy (1984)

Bottom line: Mark Messier is the only player in NHL history to serve as captain on Stanley Cup-winning teams for two separate franchises.

Messier shot to fame playing alongside Wayne Gretzky on the Edmonton Oilers, where they paired up to win five championships in seven seasons.

Messier's greatest title of his career may have been his last, when he led the New York Rangers to the Stanley Cup in 1994 for their first championship in 50 years.

2. Gordie Howe — 1,767 NHL Games

Gordie Howe in the prime of his career — Gordie Howe is in the conversation for the NHL's GOAT.

Born: March 31, 1928 (Floral, Saskatchewan, Canada)

Died: June 10, 2016 (Sylvania, Ohio)

Position: Right wing

Career: 26 seasons (1946-71, 1979-90)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings

Career highlights: Four-time Stanley Cup champion (1950, 1952, 1954, 1955), six-time Hart Trophy winner (1952, 1953, 1957, 1958, 1958, 1960, 1963), 23-time NHL All-Star (1948-55, 1957-65, 1967-71, 1980), six-time Art Ross Trophy winner (1951-54, 1957, 1963)

Bottom line: Gordie Howe is on the short list of players in the consideration for the greatest hockey player of all time alongside Bobby Orr, his contemporary, and Wayne Gretzky.

Few athletes in the history of professional sports have meant as much to a city as Howe meant to Detroit. He was a six-time NHL Most Valuable Player and four-time Stanley Cup champion.

Howe retired from the NHL in 1971, sat out two years, then returned to play six more seasons in the World Hockey League, and one more season in the NHL in the 1979-80 season, when he was 53 years old.

1. Patrick Marleau — 1,779 NHL Games

Patrick Marleau with the San Jose Sharks — Patrick Marleau played more games than anyone in NHL history without winning the Stanley Cup.

Born: Sept. 15, 1979 (Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada)

Position: Left wing/center

Career: 23 seasons (1997-2004, 2005-21)

Teams: San Jose Sharks (1997-2004, 2005-17, 2019-20, 2020-21), Toronto Maple Leafs (2017-19), Pittsburgh Penguins (2020)

Career highlights: Three-time NHL All-Star (2004, 2007, 2008), two-time Lady Byng Trophy finalist (2007, 2014), two-time Olympic gold medalist (2010, 2014)

Bottom line: Patrick Marleau broke Gordie Howe's record for NHL career games played on April 19, 2021, when he played his 1,768th career game.

Marleau is the San Jose Sharks career leader in goals, points, games played and power-play goals and has spent almost his entire career with the team since being selected No. 2 overall behind Joe Thornton in the 1997 NHL draft.

Ironically, neither Thornton or Marleau have won a Stanley Cup in their careers. To that end, Marleau owns NHL records for both most regular-season games and most playoff games without winning a Stanley Cup.