Nicklas Lidstrom
Mark Messier
Stat by stat
Bars are scaled to the leader in this list.
The verdict
Mark Messier leads 3 of 3 categories. Our all-time ranking places Nicklas Lidstrom at #9 and Mark Messier at #12.
Head-to-head FAQ
Who leads more shared metrics?
How do the published ranks compare?
Are these live stats?
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.
The case for Mark Messier
The Messiah is remembered as hockey's ultimate leader, the only man to captain two different franchises to the Stanley Cup. Mark Messier won five Cups alongside Gretzky with the powerhouse Edmonton Oilers of the 1980s, then delivered the signature moment of his career in 1994, guaranteeing a win and scoring a hat trick in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Final to drag the New York Rangers toward their first championship in 54 years. He retired with 1,887 points, second only to Gretzky on the all-time list at the time, and 694 goals, won two Hart Trophies, and played 25 punishing seasons. Messier combined a power forward's ferocity with a scorer's hands and an intimidating will that teammates and opponents alike describe in almost mythic terms. Where Gretzky was serene artistry, Messier was force and fire, the emotional engine of every team he played for. His blend of production, longevity and championship leadership secures his place among the immortals.