By the Numbers: 100 NHL Legends—A Century of Greatness
In the long-standing tradition of hockey, the number “100” is one of the most significant benchmarks. For an offensive-minded player, it can refer to a career-high season (e.g., 100-point season); for an emerging #1 goalie, it can refer to major milestone along a rising career trajectory (e.g., 100th NHL win). However, in 2017, the NHL elevated the number “100” from a mere statistic to a historical monument. By commissioning the 100 Greatest Players of the NHL's First 100 Years list to celebrate its Centennial year, the NHL turned number “100” into a legacy.
The Blue Ribbon Standard
To ensure the 100 Greatest Players of the NHL's First 100 Years list carried the weight of history rather than the bias of the moment, the league didn't just pick names out of a hat. A "Blue Ribbon Panel” was assembled—a powerhouse group of 58 individuals from a wide cross-section of the NHL family; voters that collectively represented over 1,800 years of hockey experience (e.g., owners, executives, general managers, coaches, players, broadcasters).
Cool Fact: For each of the selected players on the 100 Greatest Players of the NHL's First 100 Years list, the NHL commissioned original portraits, painted by renowned Canadian artist Tony Harris.
100 Greatest Players: A Two-Part Unveiling
The reveal itself was a choreographed tribute to the league's timeline. The first 33 legends—those who helped dominate the game during the NHL’s first 50 years (1917–1966)—stepped into the spotlight on New Year's Day 2017. This initial group reminded NHL fans of the pioneers who helped build the game’s foundation, including Jacques Plante, the man who helped change the face of goaltending with the goalie mask, and Gordie Howe from the "Production Line".
The final 67 names were revealed on January 27, 2017. This part of the list brought players from the NHL’s next 50 years (beginning in 1967) to the stage, featuring the offensive magic of Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, the goaltending brilliance of Patrick Roy, and the blistering shots of Bobby Hull and Al MacInnis.
The Legacy of “100” in NHL History
In the end, the NHL’s 100 Greatest Players list includes 39 centers, 21 defensemen, 15 goalies, 15 right wings and 10 left wings; combining for 106,632 regular-season games.
Cool Fact: 5-time Stanley Cup champion, Grant Fuhr, was selected to the “100 Greatest Players of the NHL's First 100 Years” list.
For any player, being named one of the 100 Greatest Players of the NHL's First 100 Years means more than just being on a list; it signifies being recognized as a fundamental architect of the great game of hockey.