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The 50 skaters with the most games played, 1917–18 to 2017–18

Every skater on this list is ranked on one number: games played in the regular season between 1917–18 and 2017–18. Nothing else is weighed, and the figures each ranking rests on are in the table.

Gordie HoweGordie Howe: 1,7671,767Mark MessierMark Messier: 1,7561,756Jaromir JagrJaromir Jagr: 1,7331,733Ron FrancisRon Francis: 1,7311,731Mark RecchiMark Recchi: 1,6521,652Chris CheliosChris Chelios: 1,6511,651Dave AndreychukDave Andreychuk: 1,6391,639Scott StevensScott Stevens: 1,6351,635Larry MurphyLarry Murphy: 1,6151,615Raymond BourqueRaymond Bourque: 1,6121,612Patrick MarleauPatrick Marleau: 1,5751,575Nicklas LidstromNicklas Lidstrom: 1,5641,564Jarome IginlaJarome Iginla: 1,5541,554Alex DelvecchioAlex Delvecchio: 1,5491,549John BucykJohn Bucyk: 1,5401,540
Games played — the leading 15. Every one of the 50 is in the table below.
#PlayerPosSeasonsGames playedGoalsAssistsPoints
1Gordie HoweR1946–47 to 1979–801,7678011,0491,850
2Mark MessierC1979–80 to 2003–041,7566941,1931,887
3Jaromir JagrR1990–91 to 2017–181,7337661,1551,921
4Ron FrancisC1981–82 to 2003–041,7315491,2491,798
5Mark RecchiR1988–89 to 2010–111,6525779561,533
6Chris CheliosD1983–84 to 2009–101,651185763948
7Dave AndreychukL1982–83 to 2005–061,6396406981,338
8Scott StevensD1982–83 to 2003–041,635196712908
9Larry MurphyD1980–81 to 2000–011,6152879291,216
10Raymond BourqueD1979–80 to 2000–011,6124101,1691,579
11Patrick MarleauC1997–98 to 2017–181,5755355941,129
12Nicklas LidstromD1991–92 to 2011–121,5642648781,142
13Jarome IginlaR1995–96 to 2016–171,5546256751,300
14Alex DelvecchioC1950–51 to 1973–741,5494568251,281
15John BucykL1955–56 to 1977–781,5405568131,369
15Shane DoanR1995–96 to 2016–171,540402570972
17Brendan ShanahanL1987–88 to 2008–091,5246566981,354
18Steve YzermanC1983–84 to 2005–061,5146921,0631,755
19Mike ModanoC1988–89 to 2010–111,4995618131,374
20Phil HousleyD1982–83 to 2002–031,4953388941,232
21Joe ThorntonC1997–98 to 2017–181,4933971,0301,427
22Wayne GretzkyC1979–80 to 1998–991,4878941,9632,857
23Rod Brind'AmourC1988–89 to 2009–101,4844527321,184
24Doug GilmourC1983–84 to 2002–031,4744509641,414
25Glen WesleyD1987–88 to 2007–081,457128409537
26Teemu SelanneR1992–93 to 2013–141,4516847731,457
27Tim HortonD1949–50 to 1973–741,446115403518
28Matt CullenC1997–98 to 2017–181,445259452711
29Mike GartnerR1979–80 to 1997–981,4327086271,335
30Scott MellanbyR1985–86 to 2006–071,431364476840
30Luc RobitailleL1986–87 to 2005–061,4316687261,394
32Pat VerbeekR1982–83 to 2001–021,4245225411,063
33Zdeno CharaD1997–98 to 2017–181,423195433628
34Luke RichardsonD1987–88 to 2008–091,41735166201
35Al MacInnisD1981–82 to 2003–041,4163409341,274
36Harry HowellD1952–53 to 1972–731,41194324418
37Norm UllmanC1955–56 to 1974–751,4104907391,229
38Paul CoffeyD1980–81 to 2000–011,4093961,1351,531
39Dale HunterC1980–81 to 1998–991,4073236971,020
40Roman HamrlikD1992–93 to 2012–131,395155483638
41Stan MikitaC1958–59 to 1979–801,3945419261,467
42Doug MohnsD1953–54 to 1974–751,390248462710
43Larry RobinsonD1972–73 to 1991–921,384208750958
44Trevor LindenC1988–89 to 2007–081,382375492867
45Vincent DamphousseC1986–87 to 2003–041,3784327731,205
45Dean PrenticeL1952–53 to 1973–741,378391469860
45Joe SakicC1988–89 to 2008–091,3786251,0161,641
48Teppo NumminenD1988–89 to 2008–091,372117520637
49Jeremy RoenickC1988–89 to 2008–091,3635137031,216
50Ron StewartC1952–53 to 1972–731,353276253529

How this list is made

Ranked on games played in the regular season, 1917–18 to 2017–18. Players are ranked on that number alone and on nothing else: there is no judgement here about who was better. Where two are level they share a rank, and the list runs past fifty when fiftieth place is shared, because splitting a tie would mean choosing between them on no stated basis.

Counting statistics only. A rate — an average, a percentage — needs a minimum number of appearances before it means anything, and no such minimum is published that this site could cite. Inventing one would put a number nobody chose at the centre of a ranking. A total needs no cut-off: most goals is a fact with nothing hidden in it.

Some of these careers were not over. Jaromir Jagr, Patrick Marleau, Joe Thornton, Matt Cullen and Zdeno Chara played in 2017–18, the last season these figures cover, so their totals are what they had reached by then and not what they finished with. This site has no source for what has happened since.

Career figures from the Hockey Databank project, obtained free of charge and copyrighted by it. Regular season only; the play-offs are not counted.

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