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Top 100 Players of All-Time
The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. In each issue, you'll find news, features and opinions about the NHL and leagues across North America and the world.
FLORIDA PANTHERS
THE WINNINGEST U.S.-born goalie in the history of the NHL deserves a spot in the Hall of Fame for a variety of reasons. With 374 career regular season victories, John Vanbiesbrouck ranks 13th all-time and is No. 2 on the list of Halleligible goalies not inducted. Only Mike Vernon and his 385 wins are higher, although Curtis Joseph (454 wins) and Chris Osgood (396 wins) likely won’t get in the Hall when they’re eligible in coming years. On the ice, ‘Beezer’ was a dynamo for nine seasons with the New York Rangers, then five more with Florida, carrying the Panthers to the Stanley Cup final in 1996. He also spent four more seasons with Philadelphia, the New York Islanders and New Jersey. So while Vanbiesbrouck is worthy of consideration based on win-count, you…
22 MIKE BOSSY
1991 IT’S HARD TO BELIEVE the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history was passed over by 12 teams (Toronto and the Rangers did it twice) before being drafted. But that’s exactly what happened to Mike Bossy in 1977. He potted 309 goals (a Canadian major junior record) in four seasons for the Laval National of the Quebec League, but scouts thought him too timid for the NHL. The New York Islanders couldn’t have been happier. “We never had that guy you could count on to break a 2-2 tie,” said Islanders teammate and Hall of Famer Denis Potvin. “Mike was that guy.” Bossy became the first NHL rookie to score 50 goals when he netted 53 for New York as a 20-year-old in 1977-78, a record that stood for 15 seasons and is still second…
DETROIT RED WINGS
WHEN DAZZLING Pavel Datsyuk isn’t among your top three centers all-time, you know you’ve had a rich history of legends down the middle. Besides Steve Yzerman, the Wings boast a couple other Hall of Fame pivots in Sid Abel and Alex Delvecchio. We’re putting Delvecchio on the second team and Abel on the third team because they ranked 82nd and 85th in THN’s 1997 ranking of the top 100 players of all-time. On the left side, versatile Brendan Shanahan gets our nod on the second team. He spent nine of his 21 NHL seasons in Detroit and scored 309 of his 656 goals with the Red Wings. The third team left winger is current Wing Henrik Zetterberg. After Gordie Howe on the right wing is 1930s great Larry Aurie and 1980s sniper John…
7 TIM HORTON
1977 ONE OF THE most iconic Leafs ever, Horton played 18-plus seasons with Toronto, winning four Cups. But it took him a while to become an elite defenseman, especially after a legendary ‘double-double’ hit from Bill Gadsby in 1955 broke his leg and jaw and left him in traction. Horton wasn’t prolific on offense, but his strength and powerful skating made him one of the game’s best all-around blueliners. It all ended tragically in 1974 when, with his doughnut and coffee shop in its infancy, he died in a car crash after a game in Toronto while playing with Buffalo. DEFENSEMAN 1950-1974 BORN JAN. 12, 1930 COCHRANE, ONT. HT 5-10 WT 180 SHOOTS RIGHT TOTALS GP 1,446 G 115 A 403 PTS 518 PIM 1,611 HONORS NHL FIRST ALL-STAR TEAM 1964, 1968, 1969 NHL SECOND ALL-STAR TEAM 1954, 1963, 1967…
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