A number of NHL data outline a participant’s profession, whether or not these skaters performed essentially the most video games or collected essentially the most targets, factors, and wins. Throughout the 2020-21 season, Patrick Marleau broke one of many NHL’s most iconic data, held by Gordie Howe for 41 years, suiting up for 1,767th recreation to grow to be the all-time chief in video games performed.
Associated: San Jose Sharks Rightly Retired Patrick Marleau’s Jersey
Marleau spent 21 years with the San Jose Sharks, however he performed for 2 different groups, the Toronto Maple Leafs and the Pittsburgh Penguins. Regardless of all his accomplishments, he didn’t spend his total profession with one franchise, which only a few skilled hockey get to do. So, with that in thoughts, which skaters performed their complete profession with one NHL group?
10. Daniel Sedin – Vancouver Canucks (1,306 video games)
Daniel Sedin, like his twin brother Henrik, spent his total profession with the Vancouver Canucks, profitable the Artwork Ross Trophy and Lester B. Pearson Awards in 2010-11. Moreover, he was a key member of the group that gained the Presidents’ Trophy that yr earlier than shedding in Sport 7 of the Stanley Cup Remaining.
After Daniel made his NHL debut on Oct. 5, 2000, he would skate within the franchise’s second-most video games, trailing solely his brother. Upon retirement in 2018, the Canucks retired his quantity earlier than he finally earned enshrinement into the Hockey Corridor of Fame (HHOF) in 2022.
9. Henrik Sedin – Vancouver Canucks (1,330 video games)
Within the Canucks report books, Henrik Sedin ranks as the very best participant in franchise historical past, taking part in in essentially the most video games and scoring essentially the most factors. Moreover, he served as group captain for eight seasons, tying a report held by Stan Smyl.
After Henrik debuted on the identical day as Daniel, Oct. 5, 2000, he would skate in 1,330 video games over the subsequent 17 seasons, profitable the Artwork Ross and Hart Trophies in 2009-10. Contemplating he had a sixth sense of the sport, he related together with his brother on a number of highlight-reel performs. After leaving the NHL, he had his quantity retired and entered the HHOF in 2022.
8. Joe Sakic – Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche (1,378 video games)
To a youthful era of followers, Joe Sakic is simply the president of hockey operations for the Colorado Avalanche. Nevertheless, many will do not forget that he was the group captain for 17 years, profitable two Stanley Cup titles, a Hart Trophy, and a Conn Smythe Trophy, on high of being the Avalanche’s all-time main scorer with 1,641 factors.
Sakic was the fifteenth total decide from the 1988 NHL Entry Draft and debuted months later as a 19-year-old with the Quebec Nordiques on Oct. 6, 1988. Upon retiring 20 seasons later, the Avalanche retired his quantity, and he entered the HHOF as a first-ballot candidate in 2012.
7. Anze Kopitar* – Los Angeles Kings (1,396+ video games)
Anze Kopitar has performed his total profession with the Los Angeles Kings, who drafted him with the eleventh total decide within the 2005 NHL Entry Draft. Since debuting as a 19-year-old in 2006-07, he performed alongside Dustin Brown, profitable two Stanley Cups with the previous captain, who beforehand held the Kings’ video games performed report.
On Oct. 21, 2023, Kopitar broke Brown’s report, including one other accolade to his resume, which incorporates two Frank J. Selke and Woman Byng Memorial Trophies plus the Mark Messier Management Award. Now, at 37, he’s lower than 100 factors away from Marcel Dionne’s group report of 1,307 factors whereas remaining a methods off from Luc Robitalle’s objective report of 557. Every time he retires, it will likely be some time earlier than somebody catches his help report, which stands at 812 and counting.
6. Stan Mikita – Chicago Blackhawks (1,396 video games)
Stan Mikita is a legendary participant, not simply with the Chicago Blackhawks however from the Authentic Six period. Because of a profession point-per-game common of 1.05, he scored 1,467 factors in 1,396 video games, setting franchise data that stay intact 40 years later.
After debuting as an 18-year-old on Nov. 27, 1958, Mikita gained the Stanley Cup three seasons later in 1961. Moreover, he gained 4 scoring titles and two league MVP awards, taking part in in eight All-Star Video games. As one in all simply six gamers to have his quantity retired in Chicago, he was a first-ballot Corridor of Famer in 1983.
5. Alex Ovechkin* – Washington Capitals (1,444+ video games)
Alexander Ovechkin is the second lively skater on this record, taking part in his total profession (up to now) with the Washington Capitals. As the previous first total decide from the 2004 NHL Entry Draft closes in on Wayne Gretzky’s profession objective mark (894), he stays the one captain in group historical past to win the Stanley Cup.
Every time Ovechkin decides to retire from skilled hockey, debuting 19 years in the past on Oct. 5, 2005, he’ll be a first-ballot Corridor of Famer who would wish his personal part to showcase his accomplishments. After the 2022-23 season, he’s gained 19 awards, been to 9 All-Star Video games, and has 13 extra honors on his resume.
4. Steve Yzerman – Detroit Crimson Wings (1,514 video games)
Steve Yzerman at present serves as the final supervisor of the Detroit Crimson Wings, the identical group that drafted him fourth total within the 1983 NHL Entry Draft. Ultimately, at 40, he retired after 22 seasons, serving as one of many league’s longest captains for 19 years.
Surprisingly, taking part in for an Authentic Six franchise that when employed Howe for 25 years, Yzerman ranks second behind “Mr. Hockey” in targets and factors whereas surpassing him in assists. After debuting on Oct. 5, 1983, he hung up his skates with three Stanley Cup titles. Inside a short while, the Crimson Wings retired his quantity, and he entered the HHOF in 2009.
3. Shane Doan – Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes (1,540 video games)
Shane Doan is one in all three gamers (the others being the Sedin twins) on this record and not using a Stanley Cup championship, having performed his total profession with the Winnipeg Jets/Arizona Coyotes franchise. Because the seventh total choice within the 1995 NHL Entry Draft, he debuted with the Jets on Oct. 7, 1995. Ultimately, the franchise relocated to the desert the next season, the place he performed the ultimate 20 years of his profession.
Because of his longevity, together with 13 years as captain, Doan holds a number of franchise data, together with video games performed, targets, assists, factors, power-play, and game-winning targets. As one in all seven gamers to have his quantity retired by the group, he stays with the Coyotes, serving as an government for hockey improvement.
2. Alex Delvecchio – Detroit Crimson Wings (1,550 video games)
Alex Delvecchio performed alongside Howe in the course of the Nineteen Fifties and Sixties and is likely one of the greatest gamers from his period. After taking part in only one recreation as an 18-year-old on Mar. 25, 1951, he grew to become an NHL common the next season, profitable the Stanley Cup.
Ultimately, Delvecchio surpassed Howe as group captain in 1962 and served as their chief for the subsequent 11 seasons. He gained three Stanley Cups and three Woman Byng Trophies, went into the HHOF in 1977, and the Crimson Wings retired his quantity in 1991.
1. Nicklas Lidström – Detroit Crimson Wings (1,564 video games)
Nicklas Lidström was the 53rd decide within the 1989 NHL Entry Draft, making his debut two years in a while Oct. 3, 1991. Statistically, he’s thought of the best participant from Sweden and one of many recreation’s all-time greatest gamers.
Ultimately, Lidström gained 4 Stanley Cup titles, turning into the primary European-born captain to guide a group to victory. Moreover, he gained seven Norris Trophies because the league’s greatest defenseman, a quantity solely surpassed by Bobby Orr, who has eight wins.
Associated: Swedish Gamers within the Hockey Corridor of Fame
Traditionally, he’s the fifth-highest-scoring defenseman of all time and the highest skater when it comes to video games performed when discussing gamers who spent their profession with one franchise. Upon retirement, Detroit honored him with a jersey retirement, and he entered the HHOF on the primary poll in 2015.
The Way forward for Gamers Skating With One Franchise
Marc-Édouard Vlasic (1,296 video games) and Sidney Crosby (1,289) are the opposite closest lively gamers who could make this record. Contemplating each gamers have already performed for over 18 years with their respective franchises, the Sharks and Penguins, there aren’t any ensures that well being and contract extensions will get them on the record.
Though it’s an honor to play within the NHL, it’s a extra vital achievement when a franchise values a participant sufficient to permit them to remain in the identical metropolis for his or her total profession, like so many iconic names on this record.
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