CHL unveils top 50 player list of all time

The Canadian Hockey League has published a list of the 50 best players to play in the Canadian Hockey League from throughout the league’s 50-year tenure.

The list was assembled by a panel of over 40 media members from across the sport, including The Nation Network’s Steven Ellis and Jeff Marek. The panel was asked to weigh their decisions based on factors such as their CHL performance, their impact beyond junior hockey and historical significance.

To be eligible for the list, the player must have played a full season in one of the three CHL leagues – the OHL, WHL or QMJHL – from 1975-76 onwards. The list was not ranked 1-50, with a fan vote opening today helping to determine the final order. The vote will end on March 10, with the final ranking coming later this spring.

Of the 50 players, 31 are Hockey Hall of Famers, while 34 players have combined for 81 Stanley Cups. There are still 11 active NHLers on the list: Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon, John Tavares, Corey Perry, Patrick Kane, Connor Bedard, Drew Doughty, Steven Stamkos, Leon Draisaitl, and Taylor Hall. Crosby, McDavid, MacKinnon, Kane, Doughty and Draisaitl are set to represent their respective nations at the upcoming Winter Olympic Games in Italy.

The full list of players can be found below:

• Bedard, Connor / Forward (WHL, Regina Pats – 2020-23) / (Chicago Blackhawks – 2023-Present)
• Bergeron, Patrice / Forward (QMJHL, Acadie-Bathurst Titan – 2001-03) / (Boston Bruins – 2003-2023) 
• Bossy, Mike / Forward (QMJHL, Laval National – 1972-1977) / (New York Islanders – 1977-1987)
• Bourque, Ray / Defenceman (QMJHL, Trois-Rivières Draveurs & Sorel/Verdun Blackhawks – 1976-79) / (Boston Bruins & Colorado Avalanche – 1979-2001)
• Brodeur, Martin / Goaltender (QMJHL, St. Hyacinthe Laser – 1989-92) / (New Jersey Devils & St. Louis Blues – 1991-2015)
• Carbonneau, Guy / Forward (QMJHL, Chicoutimi Saguenéens – 1976-80) / (Montréal Canadiens, St. Louis Blues & Dallas Stars – 1980-2000)
• Coffey, Paul / Defenceman (OHL, Kingston Canadians, Soo Greyhounds & Kitchener Rangers) / (Edmonton Oilers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers, Philadelphia Flyers, Chicago Blackhawks, Carolina Hurricanes & Boston Bruins – 1980-2001)
• Crosby, Sidney / Forward (QMJHL, Rimouski Océanic – 2003-05) / (Pittsburgh Penguins – 2005-Present) 
• Doughty, Drew / Defenceman (OHL, Guelph Storm – 2005-08) / (Los Angeles Kings – 2008-Present)
• Draisaitl, Leon / Forward (WHL, Prince Albert Raiders & Kelowna Rockets – 2012-15) / (Edmonton Oilers – 2015-Present)
• Ferraro, Ray / Forward (WHL, Portland Winterhawks & Brandon Wheat Kings – 1982-84) / (Hartford Whalers, New York Islanders, Los Angeles Kings, Atlanta Thrashers, St. Louis Blues – 1984-2002)
• Fleury, Marc-André / Goaltender (QMJHL, Cape Breton Screaming Eagles – 2000-04) / (Pittsburgh Penguins, Vegas Golden Knights, Chicago Blackhawks & Minnesota Wild – 2003-25)
• Francis, Ron / Forward (OHL, Soo Greyhounds – 1980-82) / (Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Carolina Hurricanes & Toronto Maple Leafs – 1981-2004)
• Fuhr, Grant / Goaltender (WHL, Victoria Cougars – 1979-81) / (Edmonton Oilers, Toronto Maple Leafs, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues & Calgary Flames – 1981-2000) 
• Gilmour, Doug / Forward (OHL & QMJHL, Cornwall Royals – 1980-83) / (St. Louis Blues, Calgary Flames, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres & Montreal Canadiens – 1983-2003)
• Gretzky, Wayne / Forward (OHL, Peterborough Petes & Soo Greyhounds – 1977-78) / (Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues & New York Rangers – 1979-99) 
• Hall, Taylor / Forward (OHL, Windsor Spitfires – 2007-10) / (Edmonton Oilers, New Jersey Devils, Arizona Coyotes, Buffalo Sabres, Boston Bruins, Chicago Blackhawks & Carolina Hurricanes – 2010-Present)
• Hawerchuk, Dale / Forward (QMJHL – 1979-80, Cornwall Royals) / (Winnipeg Jets, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues & Philadelphia Flyers – 1981-97)
• Iginla, Jarome / Forward (WHL, Kamloops Blazers – 1993-96) / (Calgary Flames, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche & Los Angeles Kings – 1995-2017)
• Kane, Patrick / Forward (OHL, London Knights – 2006-07) / (Chicago Blackhawks, New York Rangers & Detroit Red Wings – 2007-Present)
• Lafontaine, Pat / Forward (QMJHL, Verdun Juniors – 1982-83) / (New York Islanders, Buffalo Sabres & New York Rangers – 1983-98)
• Lecavalier, Vincent / Forward (QMJHL, Rimouski Océanic – 1996-98) / (Tampa Bay Lightning, Philadelphia Flyers & Los Angeles Kings – 1998-2016)
• Lemieux, Mario / Forward (QMJHL, Laval Voisins – 1981-84) / (Pittsburgh Penguins – 1984-97 & 2000-06)
• Lindros, Eric / Forward (OHL, Oshawa Generals – 1989-92) / (Philadelphia Flyers, New York Rangers, Toronto Maple Leafs & Dallas Stars – 1992-2007)
• Luongo, Roberto / Goaltender (QMJHL, Val-d’Or Foreurs & Acadie-Bathurst Titan – 1995-99) / (New York Islanders, Florida Panthers & Vancouver Canucks – 1999-2019)
• MacInnis, Al / Defenceman (OHL, Kitchener Rangers – 1980-83) / (Calgary Flames & St. Louis Blues – 1981-2004)
• MacKinnon, Nathan / Forward (QMJHL, Halifax Mooseheads – 2011-13) / (Colorado Avalanche – 2013-Present)
• McDavid, Connor / Forward (OHL, Erie Otters – 2012-15) / (Edmonton Oilers – 2015-Present)
• Modano, Mike / Forward (WHL, Prince Albert Raiders – 1986-89) / (Minnesota North Stars/Dallas Stars & Detroit Red Wings – 1988-2011)
• Murphy, Larry / Defenceman (OHL, Peterborough Petes – 1978-80) / (Los Angeles Kings, Washington Capitals, Minnesota North Stars, Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs & Detroit Red Wings – 1980-2001)
• Neely, Cam / Forward (WHL, Portland Winterhawks – 1982-84) / (Vancouver Canucks & Boston Bruins – 1983-96)
• Niedermayer, Scott / Defenceman (WHL, Kamloops Blazers – 1989-92) / (New Jersey Devils & Anaheim Ducks – 1991-2010)
• Perry, Corey / Forward (OHL, London Knights – 2001-05) / (Anaheim Ducks, Dallas Stars, Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, Chicago Blackhawks, Edmonton Oilers & Los Angeles Kings – 2006-Present)
• Price, Carey / Goaltender (WHL, Tri-City Americans – 2002-07) / (Montreal Canadiens – 2007-22)
• Pronger, Chris – Defenceman (OHL, Peterborough Petes – 1991-93) / (Hartford Whalers, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Anaheim Ducks, & Philadelphia Flyers – 1993-2012)
• Propp, Brian / Forward (WHL, Brandon Wheat Kings – 1976-79) / (Philadelphia Flyers, Boston Bruins, Minnesota North Stars & Hartford Whalers – 1979-94)
• Recchi, Mark / Forward (WHL, New Westminster Bruins & Kamloops Blazers – 1984-88) / (Pittsburgh Penguins, Philadelphia Flyers, Montreal Canadiens, Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers, Tampa Bay Lightning & Boston Bruins – 1989-2011)
• Richards, Brad / Forward (QMJHL, Rimouski Océanic – 1997-2000) / (Tampa Bay Lightning, Dallas Stars, New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks & Detroit Red Wings – 2000-16)
• Robitaille, Luc / Forward (QMJHL, Hull Olympiques – 1983-86) / (Los Angeles Kings, Pittsburgh Penguins, New York Rangers & Detroit Red Wings – 1986-2006)
• Roy, Patrick / Goaltender (QMJHL, Granby Bisons – 1982-85) / (Montreal Canadiens & Colorado Avalanche – 1984-2003)
• Sakic, Joe / Forward (WHL, Lethbridge/Swift Current Broncos – 1985-88) / (Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche – 1988-2009)
• Savard, Denis / Forward (QMJHL, Montreal Juniors – 1977-80) / (Chicago Blackhawks, Montreal Canadiens & Tampa Bay Lightning – 1980-97)
• Shanahan, Brendan / Forward (OHL, London Knights – 1985-87) / (New Jersey Devils, St. Louis Blues, Hartford Whalers, Detroit Red Wings & New York Rangers – 1987-2009)
• Smith, Bobby / Forward (OHL, Ottawa 67’s – 1975-78) / (Minnesota North Stars & Montreal Canadiens – 1978-93)
• Stamkos, Steven / Forward (OHL, Sarnia Sting – 2006-08) / (Tampa Bay Lightning & Nashville Predators – 2008-Present) 
• Stevens, Scott / Defenceman (OHL, Kitchener Rangers – 1980-82) / (Washington Capitals, St. Louis Blues & New Jersey Devils – 1982-2004)
• Tavares, John / Forward (OHL, Oshawa Generals & London Knights – 2005-09) / (New York Islanders & Toronto Maple Leafs – 2009-Present)
• Thornton, Joe / Forward (OHL, Soo Greyhounds – 1995-97) / (Boston Bruins, San Jose Sharks, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Florida Panthers – 1997-2022)
• Weber, Shea / Defenceman (WHL, Kelowna Rockets – 2001-05) / (Nashville Predators & Montreal Canadiens – 2005-21)
• Yzerman, Steve / Forward (OHL, Peterborough Petes – 1981-83) / (Detroit Red Wings – 1983-2006)