Alexander Ovechkin
Nicklas Lidstrom
Stat by stat
Bars are scaled to the leader in this list.
The verdict
Alexander Ovechkin leads 2 of 3 categories. Our all-time ranking places Alexander Ovechkin at #7 and Nicklas Lidstrom at #9.
Head-to-head FAQ
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The case for Alexander Ovechkin
The greatest pure goal-scorer the game has ever seen, Alexander Ovechkin achieved the once-unthinkable on 6 April 2025, scoring his 895th career goal to pass Wayne Gretzky's supposedly untouchable record. Through the 2024-25 season the Washington Capitals captain sits at 897 goals and climbing. Drafted first overall in 2004, Ovi has won a record nine Rocket Richard Trophies as the league's top scorer, three Hart Trophies, and, silencing critics who doubted he could win, the 2018 Stanley Cup, where he was named playoff MVP after finally leading Washington to its first title. His signature is the one-timer from the left face-off circle, his office, unleashed on the power play with such force and accuracy that everyone knew it was coming and few could stop it. Combining a booming shot with a heavy, physical game rare in a superstar, Ovechkin has scored 50 or more goals in a season nine times. His longevity and single-minded pursuit of the record redefine what a scorer can accomplish.
The case for Nicklas Lidstrom
The finest European player of all time and perhaps the most flawless defenceman the game has seen, Nicklas Lidstrom anchored the Detroit Red Wings for two decades of sustained excellence. The Perfect Human won seven Norris Trophies as the NHL's best defenceman, a total behind only Bobby Orr, and four Stanley Cups, and in 2008 became the first European-trained captain to hoist the Cup. He was awarded the Conn Smythe as playoff MVP in 2002. Lidstrom played 1,564 games across 20 seasons and never missed the playoffs, retiring at 42 still performing at an elite level. His genius was positional and cerebral rather than physical: he seemed never out of position, defended with an impeccably timed stick rather than crushing hits, and moved the puck with quiet precision. He scored 1,142 points, remarkable for a defender who prioritized responsibility, and his metronomic consistency made him the model two-way blueliner. Where Orr overwhelmed, Lidstrom perfected, redefining defensive greatness through economy and intelligence.