Among the many sports in the world hockey is quite a popular one. It comes in several variants, and ice hockey is quite common. The league associated with the sport is the National Hockey League or the NHL. It has produced a lot of legends over the years and has inspired many people to get into the sport.
Nowadays, there are thousands of hockey fans enjoying matches in various leagues. They can do so thanks to the existence of many platforms covering sports. Some of the platforms happen to be sportsbooks that cater to bettors across the world. These cover a variety of sports and some of them might have online casino sections.
These sites are filled with various casino games as well as enticing bonuses. Players can claim the most rewarding offers to improve their chances of winning when playing the selection of slots, table games, and live-dealer titles. All this is available on a secure platform, with 24/7 customer support.
Aside from that, hockey fans can find plenty of documentaries about the legends of the NHL. They might argue as to who can be considered the best of all time, but they will agree on certain players. With that in mind, here are some NHL icons of all time:
Wayne Gretzky
When it comes to great hockey players, Wayne Gretzky makes a list. Although his career is over, it has never ceased to inspire future players to get into that sport and become legends themselves, bit by bit. Wayne graced the hockey rink for 20 years, as his career lasted from 79 to 99. He is a legend in the sport because of his skills. His determination and effort have brought him lots of records under his belt. One such example includes the number of career points which is 2,857.
Aside from that, he has scored a staggering 894 goals. Hockey is a team sport and Gretzky was a team player have assisted his fellow players 1,963 times. These are records that still haven’t been beaten. Wayne played for the Edmonton Oilers and managed to win the Stanley Cup four times in the 1980s. With stats like these, you can see why Wayne Gretzky is one of the greatest hockey players of all time. However, he’s not the only NHL icon on the list.
Bobby Orr
Usually, when someone looks at hockey they look at either offense or defense, but there are a few players that could do both, and Bobby Orr was one of them. Bobby was one of the most offensive defensemen. During his career, which spanned from 1966 to 1978, he scored a lot of goals, 270 to be exact. Aside from that, he also had 645 assists in 657 regular season games. His skill blends defense and offense, making him a fantastic player. He helped the Boston Bruins win the Stanley Cup two times, in 70 and 72.
In addition to those two trophies, he also managed to get a playoff MVP award during both trophy events. With so many rewards under his belt, Bobby Orr remains another hockey legend. He also remains an inspiration for hockey defensemen, letting them know, they can take the offensive approach and still be successful. So far, he’s a frequent member of lists of the best hockey players of all time for various reasons. To witness his skills you can watch some of the matches he’s played in and realize why he’s got so many fans even today. In short, Bobby Orr is an NHL legend, one of the many at least.
Mario Lemieux
When it comes to tall hockey players Mario Lemieux makes the list, but his size didn’t stop him from becoming a hockey legend. Mario is 6’4’’ making him an imposing player to see on the ice, and that might have affected some of his opponents. Another astounding thing is that despite his height, he’s quite a skilled and agile player. During his career, he managed to score 690 goals in 915 games. Aside from scoring, he knew he had to pass the puck a couple of times to help his teammates make a difference. He did so 1,033 times. All things considered, he’s an exceptional player when you look at his record.
Aside from his skills on the ice, he also faced numerous challenges. Due to health issues, he had to retire a couple of times, but he always returned and when he did, Mario did his best. Aside from playing, he used his experience to continue to be a part of the world of hockey. In other words, he went on to coach a hockey team, the Pittsburgh Penguins and guided them to success. He’s still one of the greatest players alive.
Gordie Howe
There are several hockey players that could be praised for their longevity, and Gordie Howe is one of them. He played hockey from 1946 until 1980, which is pretty long for a hockey player. His career spanned 33 years and during his time on the ice, he made a name for himself.
801 goals in 1,767 games is no small feat. Gordie also helps his teammates score 1,049 times. Thanks to his durability and longevity, the Detroit Red Wings won the Stanley Cup four times. All things considered, Gordie Howe is another icon on the ice and will continue to inspire future players.
Sidney Crosby
When people refer to amazing NHL players, they usually go back in time, but there are also modern examples of amazing hockey players. Sidney Crosby is one of them and he has been making a name for himself since 2005. He’s got several awards and trophies under his belt and will continue to dazzle hockey fans later on.
Final Words
These are some of the greatest hockey players of all time. Some of them are praised for their skills at offense, defense, or both while others are legends because of their endurance. Either way, they established themselves as legends of the sport.
