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The NHL Top 50

To celebrate its 50th anniversary, The Hockey News presented its list of the “Top 50 NHL Players of All-Time” on January 9, 1998. The list was determined by a panel of 50 hockey experts representing past and present NHL players, coaches, executives and journalists. Voting was conducted before the 1997 Stanley Cup playoffs. Players active during the 2001-02 season are in bold type.

No.	Player	Pos
1	Wayne Gretzky, 1979-99	C
2	Bobby Orr, 1966-79	D
3	Gordie Howe, 1946-71, 79-80	RW
4	Mario Lemieux, 1984-97, 2000—	C
5	Maurice Richard, 1942-60	RW
6	Doug Harvey, 1947-69	D
7	Jean Beliveau, 1950-71	C
8	Bobby Hull, 1957-72, 79-80	LW
9	Terry Sawchuk, 1949-70	G
10	Eddie Shore, 1926-40	D

11	Guy Lafleur, 1971-85, 88-91	RW
12	Mark Messier, 1979—	C
13	Jacques Plante, 1952-65, 67-73	G
14	Ray Bourque, 1979-2001	D
15	Howie Morenz, 1923-37	C
16	Glenn Hall, 1952-71	G
17	Stan Mikita, 1958-80	C
18	Phil Esposito, 1963-81	C
19	Denis Potvin, 1973-88	D
20	Mike Bossy, 1977-87	RW

21	Ted Lindsay, 1944-60, 64-65	LW
22	Red Kelly, 1947-67	D
23	Bobby Clarke, 1969-84	C
24	Larry Robinson, 1972-92	D
25	Ken Dryden, 1970-79	G
26	Frank Mahovlich, 1956-74	LW
27	Milt Schmidt, 1936-42, 45-55	C
28	Paul Coffey, 1980-2001	D
29	Henri Richard, 1955-75	C
30	Bryan Trottier, 1975-92, 93-94	C

31	Dickie Moore, 1951-65, 67-68	LW
32	Newsy Lalonde, 1917-21, 25-27	C
33	Syl Apps, 1936-48	C
34	Bill Durnan, 1943-50	G
35	Patrick Roy, 1984—	G
36	Charlie Conacher, 1929-41	RW
37	Jaromir Jagr, 1990—	RW
38	Marcel Dionne, 1971-89	C
39	Joe Malone, 1917-24	C
40	Chris Chelios, 1983—	D

41	Dit Clapper, 1927-47	D
42	Bernie Geoffrion, 1950-64, 66-68	RW
43	Tim Horton, 1949-50, 51-74	D
44	Bill Cook, 1926-37	RW
45	Johnny Bucyk, 1955-78	LW
46	George Hainsworth, 1926-37	G
47	Gilbert Perreault, 1970-87	C
48	Max Bentley, 1940-43, 45-54	C
49	Brad Park, 1968-85	D
50	Jari Kurri, 1980-98	RW