The very first Russian-born and trained player to make it to the NHL was Victor Nechayev, whose marriage to an American woman allowed him entry into the USA. He played one season of professional hockey in North America, which included three games for the Los Angeles Kings during the 1982-83 season. He even scored in one of them, starting a legacy the carries on to this day.
Nearly a decade passed before the league started to see a major influx of Russian players, and once the Iron Curtain crumbled, the proverbial floodgates opened.
Sergei Pryakhin was the first Russian allowed exodus, and he promptly joined the Calgary Flames. Alexander Mogilny defected to join the Buffalo Sabres, and is still the only Russian to eclipse the 70-goal mark. More former Soviets would quickly become NHL superstars as well, while the 1993-94 New York Rangers became the first team with Russian players to get their names inscribed on the Stanley Cup.
Since that time, Russians are represented just as much in the NHL as any other nationality, so THW decided to take a look through nearly 40 years of history (yes, we even considered Nechayev) to determine the league’s top-50 Russians of all-time.
Here is who we came up with.
50. Danil Markov
(Toronto, Phoenix/Arizona, Carolina, Philadelphia, Nashville, Detroit)
A tireless, fearless defender, Markov could take a hit and give one in return. He once infamously took stitches below his eye without any anesthetic in order to keep playing. Three times Markov played for teams that reached the Stanley Cup semifinal round across his nine NHL seasons.
49. Boris Mironov
(Edmonton, Winnipeg, Chicago, New York Rangers)
At 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds, Mironov could be a very physical defender – especially in the earlier part of his career – but he possessed a noticeable offensive upswing. He surpassed 100 penalty minutes in four of 11 NHL seasons, all of them happening within his first six campaigns. Mironov also scored at least 30 points from the back end on six different occasions as well.
48. Alexander Frolov
(Los Angeles, New York Rangers)
Frolov had seven good seasons on the West Coast with the Kings, but then disappeared after a season-ending ACL injury during his lone year in the Big Apple. A two-time 30-goal scorer, he hit double digits in goals from 2002-03 through 2009-10 — all with Los Angeles. After his stint with the Rangers in 2010-11, Frolov finished out his career in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
47. Dmitri Mironov
(Toronto, Pittsburgh, Anaheim, Detroit, Washington)
He possessed a similar build and style to that of his younger brother Boris, though the eldest was the more offensive of the two. In 10 NHL seasons, Dmitri recorded five straight seasons (excluding the 1994-95 lockout) of at least 30 points as a blueliner. His career high of 52 (13-39-52) came in 1996-97. Mironov won the Stanley Cup with the 1997-98 Detroit Red Wings.
46. Oleg Tverdovsky
(Anaheim, Winnipeg, Phoenix/Arizona, New Jersey, Carolina, Los Angeles)
Though he was born in Ukraine, Tverdovsky developed his game in Russia, and represented the country internationally. A highly gifted offensive-defenseman, he recorded at least 50 points in a season three separate times. Perhaps best thought of as a Duck, Tverdovsky won two Stanley Cups in his career: one with the 2002-03 New Jersey Devils, and one with the 2005-06 Carolina Hurricanes.
45. Maxim Afinogenov
(Buffalo, Atlanta)
When Afinogenov arrived on the scene in Buffalo in 1999-00, he seemed destined to become the next Pavel Bure. With lightning-speed and exhilarating rushes, he thrilled Sabres fans for nine seasons. The trouble was that as fast as Afinogenov was, his scoring could not keep pace. He never scored more than 24 goals in a season, and that came during his lone and final NHL campaign with the Atlanta Thrashers. He notched at least 20 for Buffalo three different times, but he could never fully harness his raw talent.
44. Andrei Kovalenko
(Quebec, Colorado, Montreal, Edmonton, Philadelphia, Carolina, Boston)
Kovalenko was nicknamed “The Tank.” While standing a modest 5-foot-11, he weighed 230 pounds, and was very sturdy in front of the net. Kovalenko possessed a decent scoring touch, and generated double digits in goals for all but one of his nine NHL seasons. His highest total came in 1996-97 when he potted 32 for the Oilers.
43. Alexander Karpovtsev
(New York Rangers, Toronto, Chicago, New York Islanders, Florida)
Though some dogged him later in his career as being a “lazy” player, Karpovtsev was nonetheless a very talented defender. He possessed good size at 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, and could contribute offensively. His finest season came in 1996-97 when he finished second among Rangers blueliners in scoring (9-29-38), and fed off of the play of Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier, Brian Leetch and Adam Graves. He was one of the first Russians to have his named etched onto the Stanley Cup in 1994. Very sadly, Karpovtsev perished in the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl tragedy in 2011.
42. Andrei Svechnikov
(Carolina)
A current player on this list, Andrei Svechnikov has accomplished a lot in the NHL at the young age of 24. After being selected second overall by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, he debuted in the 2018-19 season and promptly put up 20 goals and 37 points. Then, in his sophomore season, he executed the first Michigan goal in the NHL on Oct. 29, 2019, and has since followed it up with another two, most recently against the Bruins on April 9, 2024. He is as creative as they come and has proven he can score with aplomb in the NHL. He already has three 20-goal seasons, one 30-goal campaign, and 316 points in 406 games – all before the age of 25. He also comes to play in the playoffs with 13 goals and 25 points in 41 career games. If he keeps this up, he will enter the top 20 in no time.
41. Valeri Bure
(Montreal, Calgary, Florida, St. Louis, Dallas)
Though not as high-scoring as his more renowned older brother, Valeri Bure could still put pucks home. He surpassed the 20-goal plateau five times during his career. When Bure tallied a career-high 35 goals in 1999-00 for the Flames, he and his older brother set the NHL record (93) for most goals in a season by a pair of siblings. He finished her career with 400 points (174 G, 226 A) in 621 games.
40. Alexander Semin
(Washington, Carolina, Montreal)
An incredibly gifted scorer, Semin could have been one of the greats but earned a reputation as being lackadaisical or lazy at times. Still, his god-given talent cannot be ignored. Semin reached double digits in nine of his 11 seasons and was at least a point-per-game player three times. He scored 40 goals in 73 games for the 2009-10 Washington Capitals.
39. Viktor Kozlov
(San Jose, Florida, New Jersey, New York Islanders, Washington)
Kozlov was selected 6th overall in 1993 by the Sharks, and it wasn’t difficult to see why. He stood 6-foot-4 and over 230 pounds in a time when bigger always seemed better. Kozlov would end up playing 14 seasons in the NHL, almost half of which were spent with the Panthers. He would score at least 12 goals in 11 of those campaigns, and finished his career with 198.
38. Alexei Zhitnik
(Los Angeles, Buffalo, New York Islanders, Philadelphia, Atlanta)
Zhitnik was born in Ukraine during Soviet times, but played internationally for Russia. He could score from the blueline and possessed a cannon of a shot as well (though sometimes he had difficulty in hitting the net). Across his career, Zhitnik played in two Stanley Cup Final, but never won the Cup. On Feb. 20, 2007, he became the eighth defenseman from outside of North America to play 1,000 regular season games.
37. Vladimir Malakhov
(New York Islanders, Montreal, New Jersey, New York Rangers, Philadelphia)
A behemoth on defense, Malakhov stood 6-foot-4 and near the 230-pound mark. Aside from his hulking figure, he also possessed a lot of offensive capabilities. In his rookie NHL season, Malakhov had 52 points (14G, 38A) in 64 games. He scored at least 10 goals in a season five times, and was one of four Russians to win the Cup with the Devils in 1999-00.
36. Alexei Gusarov
(Quebec, Colorado, New York Rangers, St. Louis)
Gusarov was another Soviet-era player who made the jump to the NHL in his late-20s. He joined the Nordiques in 1990-91, and remained with the franchise on into the 2000-01 season. He had a touch of offense to his game, was a very tough player, and was instrumental to the Avalanche during their rivalry years with Detroit. He helped the Avs win the Cup in 1995-96.
35. Sergei Samsonov
(Boston, Edmonton, Montreal, Chicago, Carolina, Florida)
After potting 22 goals for the Bruins in 1997-98, Samsonov was named the NHL’s Rookie of the Year. He ended up scoring at least 19 goals for the next four seasons after that, and helped the Edmonton Oilers reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2005-06, after coming over in a trade from Boston. He recorded 235 goals across 13 seasons.
34. Alexander Radulov
(Nashville, Montreal, Dallas)
Alexander Radulov’s game matured through his three separate chapters in the NHL. Highly skilled but aggravatingly youthful during his time with the Preds, he blossomed into a go-to player in Dallas for three seasons before falling off in 2021-22. In nine years of experience, he had 368 points, including 144 goals, in 524 games. He has since returned to Russia and is now playing for Kazan Ak-Bars in the Kontinental Hockey League (KHL).
33. Igor Korolev
(St. Louis, Winnipeg, Phoenix/Arizona, Toronto, Chicago)
Korolev was one of the hardest working players in the game during his time. His finest years came as a member of the Maple Leafs, when he recorded double digits in goals in all four seasons in Toronto. Though his scoring tapered off at times, he remained defensively responsible throughout his career. Tragically Korolev’s life was also cut short by the Lokomotiv Yaroslavl plane crash.
32. Dmitri Yushkevich
(Philadelphia, Toronto, Florida, Los Angeles)
A superb shot-blocker, Yushkevich developed a reputation as being a fearless battler throughout his entire career. He grew into being a top-four defenseman, and ended up playing 786 regular season games. Seven of his 11 NHL seasons were in a Maple Leafs uniform. If there was ever a defender who typified the word tireless, it would be Yushkevich.
31. Kirill Kaprizov
(Minnesota)
It’s pretty amazing what Kirill Kaprizov has done in such a short career so far. He has only played four seasons in the NHL after spending most of his youth in the KHL, but already has 160 goals and 330 points in 278 games. Included in that total are three straight 40-goal campaigns, one 100-point season, and the single-season franchise record in Minnesota Wild history. Pretty good for a fifth-round pick, right? At 26 years old, he is only getting started, with 50 goals probably in his future at some point as the Wild look to build around their dynamic Russian forward.
30. Pavel Buchnevich
(New York Rangers, St. Louis)
Speaking of players that have come into their own lately, Pavel Buchnevich has turned into quite the acquisition for Blues general manager Doug Armstrong. After starting his career in New York with the Rangers and putting up a pedestrian 79 goals and 195 points in 301 games, he has since made a name for himself in St. Louis as a goalscorer and perennial 25-goal man. Since his arrival in the Gateway City, he has 83 goals and 206 points in 216 games, which includes a career-high 30 goals and 76 points in 2021-22. He has turned into a core player for the Blues and recently eclipsed the 400-point plateau, which only 25 other Russians have hit. Five hundred points could be in his future, as he’s only 29 years old right now.
29. Sergei Makarov
(Calgary, San Jose, Dallas)
Sergei Makarov was one of the greatest Soviet hockey players to ever lace ’em up. He was elected into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2016, namely due to his play prior to his NHL career. Make no mistake though, Makarov was a top-notch NHLer as well. He won the Calder Trophy as the league’s top rookie at 31 years old, which actually caused the NHL to institute an age limit for the award. He scored 30 goals twice in his career: once with the Flames, and once with the Sharks.
28. Evgeny Kuznetsov
(Washington, Carolina)
Not only did Kuznetsov win the Stanley Cup with the Capitals in 2018, but he was the team’s leading scorer in the postseason with 32 points (12G, 20a) in 24 games. He set career highs in the 2017-18 season as well, both for goals (27) and points (83). He’s got 575 points in 743 games, spanning 11 years of service. After spending all of his career in Washington, he was traded to the Hurricanes at the 2024 Trade Deadline. Following the 2023-24 season, he returned to Russia to play for SKA Saint Petersburg.
27. Sergei Nemchinov
(New York Rangers, Vancouver, New York Islanders, New Jersey)
Like Karpovtsev and two other Russians who made our list, Nemchinov was one of the first from his country to win the Stanley Cup, doing so with the Rangers in 1994. He won a second title in 2000 as a member of the Devils. Nemchinov scored 30 goals in his rookie season of 1991-92, and was the first player in NHL history to play for all three “Hudson River” teams – the Rangers, Islanders and Devils.
26. Sergei Brylin
(New Jersey)
If there was a most underrated player on our list, it would have to be Sergei Brylin. He played 12 NHL seasons, all with the Devils, and was a member of their Cup-winning teams in 1995, 2000 and 2003. Brylin’s finest season came in 2000-01, when he set career highs in goals (23), assists (29) and points (52).
25. Andrei Markov
(Montreal)
Andrei Markov suffered a lot of injuries in his career, but his time spent in the NHL saw him become one of the most steadfast defenders in the league regardless. In 990 games, he generated 572 points (119G, 453A) from the back end. He recorded at least 35 assists in a single season seven times, and twice finished in the top-10 in voting for the Norris Trophy.
24. Vladimir Tarasenko
(St. Louis, New York Rangers, Ottawa, Florida, Detroit)
Vladimir Tarasenko was one of the NHL’s most dynamic players in the 2010s. He scored at least 33 goals for the Blues for five seasons straight. Tarasenko finished second on the team in playoff goals during their Cup run in 2018-19. Now that he has that Cup and is showing no signs of slowing down, he will likely have earned a much higher spot on our list by the time he has retired. Many wondered if Tarasenko could have become the first Blues player since 1993-94 to reach 50 goals in a season; however, that did not happen.
Tarasenko has bounced around a bit since the Blues traded him to the Rangers at the 2023 Trade Deadline, spending time with the Senators before another trade brought him to the Panthers where he won the 2024 Stanley Cup. He may not be the 30-goal scorer he was in St. Louis anymore, but he can still put the puck in the net, finishing 2023-24 with 23 goals and 55 points in 76 games. In 751 career games, he has 293 goals and 629 points.
23. Valeri Kamensky
(Quebec, Colorado, New York Rangers, Dallas, New Jersey)
Kamensky was another key component for the Avalanche during their rivalry years with the Red Wings, and one of the team’s premier scorers. When the Avs won the Cup in 1995-96, Kamensky scored 38 goals that season, plus another 10 during the playoffs. He finished his NHL career with 200 regular season goals in 637 games.
22. Viacheslav Fetisov
(New Jersey, Detroit)
In his younger years, Fetisov was widely considered the best defenseman in the world. He eventually made his NHL debut with the 1989-90 Devils at the age of 31. He played until the age of 40, and appeared in three Stanley Cup Finals with the Red Wings, winning the Cup in 1997 and 1998. Despite the late start, he still managed to record 228 points (36G, 192A) in 546 games.
21. Evgeni Nabokov
(San Jose, New York Islanders, Tampa Bay)
Though born in Kazakhstan during Soviet times, Nabokov primarily represented Russia on the international scene. He won the Calder Trophy in 2000-01 when he went 32-21-7 for the Sharks, and put forth a 2.19 goals-against and a .915 SV%. Nabokov was named to the First All-Star Team in 2008, and finished in the top-5 in voting for the Vezina Trophy on five different occasions.
20. Vladimir Konstantinov
(Detroit)
Were it not for the tragic accident that cut his career short, Vladimir Konstantinov may have had a Hall of Fame career. He was nicknamed “Vlad the Impaler”, and with good reason, as there were very few who could check as well as he could. Konstantinov earned the NHL Plus/Minus Award in 1995-96 with a brilliant plus-60, and though not overly large, he was solid like steel, and his hits were devastating. Konstantinov won the Cup with the Red Wings in 1997, and had his name included with the 1998 team as well.
19. Alexei Yashin
(Ottawa, New York Islanders)
As much as Yashin was criticized during his career for what was felt to be a failure to show up in the playoffs, he was still a very talented hockey player. Contract disputes certainly did not help either, but Yashin scored at least 30 goals in half of his dozen NHL campaigns. He was a Second All-Star Team selection in 1998-99, and finished second in voting for the Hart Trophy that season as well.
18. Vyacheslav Kozlov
(Detroit, Buffalo, Atlanta)
A two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Red Wings, Slava Kozlov was one of the most consistent scorers of his generation. Playing parts of 18 NHL seasons, he scored at least 20 goals in a season 11 different times. Even while with the lowly Thrashers for his final seven campaigns, Kozlov had 70-point seasons four times.
17. Nikolai Khabibulin
(Winnipeg, Phoenix/Arizona, Tampa Bay, Chicago, Edmonton)
Khabibulin was the first Russian goaltender to win the Stanley Cup when he did so with the 2003-04 Tampa Bay Lightning. His 333 career victories make him one of only 36 goalies to have recorded 300 wins. A four-time NHL All-Star, Khabibulin finished his career with 46 career shutouts.
16. Alexei Kovalev
(New York Rangers, Pittsburgh, Montreal, Ottawa, Florida)
Kovalev is widely recognized one of the most gifted individual players to appear in the league. He won the Stanley Cup with the Rangers in only his sophomore NHL season. His 21 playoff points were third most on that particular team, behind Brian Leetch and Mark Messier. Kovalev would go on to score 430 goals in his NHL career.
15. Alexei Zhamnov
(Winnipeg, Chicago, Philadelphia, Boston)
Nicknamed “Archie” for his red hair and resemblance to the comic character, Zhamnov was an exceptionally talented center who was strong both ways. Beginning with his rookie season in 1992-93, he scored at least 20 goals for eight consecutive seasons. In the lockout shortened 1994-95 season, Zhamnov reached a career-high of 30 goals in only 48 games. Injuries slowed him down later in his career, but his talent was always frustratingly underrated.
14. Sergei Bobrovsky
(Philadelphia, Columbus, Florida)
Before Andrei Vasilevskiy came along, Sergei Bobrovsky was the top netminder on our list, having won the Vezina Trophy in both the 2012-13 and 2016-17 seasons. His 2.06 GAA and .931 SV% across 63 games for the Blue Jackets in 2016-17 were simply staggering, and he’s posted a career 2.59 GAA and .915 save percentage, spanning 14 years to this point. He led the Panthers to the Stanley Cup Final in 2024 and just finished his best season with the franchise since signing the massive $70 million contract in 2020. He finished with a 2.37 GAA, .915 SV% and six shutouts, numbers we haven’t seen from him since his final season in Columbus in 2018-19.
13. Sergei Gonchar
(Washington, Boston, Pittsburgh, Ottawa, Dallas, Montreal)
There is a likelihood that Sergei Gonchar receives Hockey Hall of Fame induction sometime soon, as few Russian defenders have been more offensively potent. He was an NHL Second All-Star Team selection in 2002 and 2003, and was picked to play in the All-Star Game in 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2008. He twice surpassed 20 goals in a season, despite being a blueliner. Gonchar earned a Stanley Cup with the Penguins in 2009, and finished his career with 811 points (220G, 591A) in 1,301 games.
12. Artemi Panarin
(Chicago, Columbus, New York Rangers)
Ever since “The Bread Man” embarked on the Big Apple portion of his NHL career, he has been simply amazing. While he had already established himself as one of the most skilled Russians in the league in his time with the Blackhawks (where he won the Calder Trophy with 30 goals and 77 points), and the Blue Jackets (55 goals and 169 points in 160 games), he has hit another level with the Rangers. He has thrived under the big lights of MSG to the tune of 149 goals and 461 points in 350 games, which includes three 90-plus point seasons (2019-20, 2021-22, 2022-23) and his most recent career-high of 49 goals and 120 points in 2023-24. With 265 goals and 781 points in 672 games, he is seven points away from passing the great Borje Salming for eighth on the all-time list among undrafted players.
11. Ilya Kovalchuk
(Atlanta, New Jersey, Los Angeles)
During his prime, Kovalchuk was arguably the purest sniper in the NHL. He won the “Rocket” Richard Trophy in 2003-04 when he tallied 41 goals in 81 games. Kovalchuk followed that up with seasons of 52, 42, 52 and 43 respectively, before dropping more into the 30s. Had he not gone to play in the KHL from 2013-14 through 2017-18, he would have hit the 500-goal plateau a long time ago. Even so, he finished his NHL career with 876 points, including 443 goals, in 926 games.
10. Andrei Vasilevskiy
It is very hard to find a finer goaltender, Russian or otherwise, than Andrei Vasilevskiy. He is the top netminder on our list, having won the Vezina Trophy in the 2018-19 season and backstopping the Tampa Bay Lightning to back-to-back Stanley Cups in 2020 and 2021, and the Final in 2022. He has been their workhorse and superstar ever since he established himself in the NHL in 2016-17 at the age of 22, and is now considered the best Russian goaltender of all time. In 10 years of service, he has a 293-143-30 record, 2.56 GAA, .917 SV% and 34 shutouts. Of course, in the playoffs, he’s been lights out with 65 wins, a 2.37 GAA, .921 SV% and seven shutouts. Oh yes, to go along with his two Cups, he won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2021 after a sparkling 1.90 GAA, .937 SV% and five shutouts. His resume speaks for itself and is well-deserving of a top-10 spot.
9. Nikita Kucherov
(Tampa Bay)
Though still early on, it appears that Nikita Kucherov is in the process of assembling a Hockey Hall of Fame career. For six straight seasons his point totals have increased for the Lightning. Kucherov reached the 100-point plateau both in 2017-18 and 2018-19. Scoring 128 points (41G, 87A) in 2018-19, he earned the Art Ross Trophy, Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award. He has since won two Stanley Cups, hit the 100-assist mark (only the fifth player in NHL history to do so), and eclipsed his previous high with 144 points (44G, 100A), winning his second Art Ross Trophy in 2023-24. We will have to wait and see whether another Hart is in his future when the NHL Awards are handed out in July. Regardless, he has cemented himself in the Lightning record books and is among the best Russians of all time with 320 goals and 873 points in 725 games…so far.
8. Igor Larionov
(Vancouver, San Jose, Detroit, Florida, New Jersey)
Larionov was known as “The Professor” for his intellectual approach, his soft-spoken nature and his glasses. He was also one of the finest hockey players to ever skate. Enough so, that throughout the 1980s prior to his arrival in North America, he was thought of as a “Russian Gretzky.” Larionov won three Stanley Cups, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2008.
7. Evgeni Malkin
(Pittsburgh)
When it comes to sheer power combined with skill, there is no other Russian like Evgeni Malkin – and few other players for that matter. At 6-foot-3 and 200 pounds, he has been a beast his entire career but with an elite level of talent. Malkin has surpassed 100 points in a season three times, and led the league in scoring in 2008-09 and 2011-12. He has three Stanley Cup rings, a Hart Memorial Trophy, a Calder Trophy, a Conn Smythe, and a Ted Lindsay in addition to his two Art Ross wins. In 18 years — a span of 1,145 games — he’s got 1,296 points on 498 goals and 798 assists.
6. Sergei Zubov
(New York Rangers, Dallas Stars)
Zubov is the highest-ranking defenseman on our list. He was named a 2019 inductee into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Zubov won two Stanley Cups in his career, first with the Rangers in 1994, and then with Dallas in 1999. Eight times he surpassed 50 points in a season, and led the “Blueshirts” in scoring when they ended their 54-year curse. Zubov finished his career with 771 points in 1,068 games.
5. Pavel Datsyuk
(Detroit)
Were it not for the player who is ranked No. 2 our list, we would probably have considered Datysuk the best all-around Russian to have ever graced the NHL. Nicknamed “The Magic Man”, he is able to do things with a puck that no other player could ever duplicate. Two Stanley Cups, over 900 points, three Selke Trophies, four Lady Byngs – pretty much every reason for Datsyuk to be in the top five. He will surely be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame when it’s said and done.
4. Pavel Bure
(Vancouver, Florida, New York Rangers)
“The Russian Rocket” was inducted in the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2012, and deservedly so. There was arguably no player more exhilarating from his generation than Bure. Twice in his career he scored 60 goals in a season. Three other times he reached 50. Bure’s blinding speed, cannon of a shot, and pure “thrill factor” place him at fourth on our list.
3. Alexander Mogilny
(Buffalo, Vancouver, New Jersey, Toronto)
It is a travesty that Mogilny has not yet been enshrined in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Were it not for hip and back injuries, his numbers would have been even more prolific. Still, Mogilny generated 1,032 points (473 G, 559 A) in 990 games. Eight times he reached at least 30 goals in a season, including 76 in 1992-93. He also won the Cup in 2000.
2. Sergei Fedorov
(Detroit, Anaheim, Columbus, Washington)
Fedorov is tops on our list for being the best all-around Russian in NHL history, and, frankly, is one of the best all-around players ever. He could play forward or defense, or whatever way the great Scotty Bowman chose to utilize him. Fedorov was the first Russian to eclipse the 1,000-point plateau. He won three Stanley Cups, two Selke Trophies, one Hart Memorial Trophy, one Lester B. Pearson, and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2015.
1. Alex Ovechkin
(Washington)
As each season passes, Ovechkin furthers the conclusion that he is the NHL’s all-time greatest goal scorer. His mark of 853 goals is creeping ever-so-much-closer to Gretzky’s mark of 894, and his five-year deal with the Capitals will take him into his 40s. He’s been (at least) a 30-goal scorer every season of his career, with the exception of 2020-21, in which he scored 24 in 45 games during a pandemic-shortened season. He also just became the player with the most 30-goal seasons in NHL history, hitting 18 in 2023-24.
A sure-fire Hall of Famer, he’s a 12-time All-Star, nine-time Maurice Richard Trophy winner, three-time Hart Trophy winner, and won the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2017-18, the same year Washington captured the Cup. For those reasons, Ovie tops this list.
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