The
National Hockey League
The National Hockey League (NHL; french: Ligue nationale de hockey—LNH, ) is a professional ice hockey sports league, league in North America comprising 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It is considered to be the top ranke ...
(NHL) is a major professional
ice hockey
Ice hockey (or simply hockey) is a team sport played on ice skates, usually on an Ice rink, ice skating rink with Ice hockey rink, lines and markings specific to the sport. It belongs to a family of sports called hockey. In ice hockey, two o ...
league which operates in Canada and the United States. Since its inception in , 357 players have played at least 1,000 regular season games, varying in amounts between
Patrick Marleau's 1,779 and counting to
Bernie Federko's 1,000. Of these players, a number have been inducted into the
Hockey Hall of Fame. From 1961 until being surpassed by Marleau on April 19, 2021, the record for most games played was held by
Gordie Howe, who played 1,767 games. A player who reaches the milestone is awarded a silver stick.
Thirty-five of the listed players have played for only one franchise (of which nine are still playing in the current ). Five of those players played exclusively for the
Detroit Red Wings
The Detroit Red Wings (colloquially referred to as the Wings) are a professional ice hockey team based in Detroit. The Red Wings compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division (NHL), Atlantic Division in the East ...
and four played for the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...
, those teams having the most such players. The record for most teams played for by a player who has competed in over 1,000 games is held by
Mike Sillinger, who played for 12 teams in his career; Sillinger played his 1,000th game with his 12th and final NHL team, the
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...
.
Patrick Roy,
Martin Brodeur and
Roberto Luongo are the only
goaltender
In ice hockey, the goaltender (commonly referred to as the goalie) is the player responsible for preventing the hockey puck from entering their team's net, thus preventing the opposing team from scoring. The goaltender mostly plays in or near t ...
s with at least 1,000 games played. Roy spent his career with the
Montreal Canadiens
The Montreal CanadiensEven in English, the French spelling is always used instead of ''Canadians''. The French spelling of ''Montréal'' is also sometimes used in the English media. (french: link=no, Les Canadiens de Montréal), officially ...
and the
Colorado Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche (colloquially known as the Avs) are a professional ice hockey team based in Denver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Central Division (NHL), Central Division in the Western Conference (N ...
while Brodeur, with a goaltender-leading 1,266 games, played for the
New Jersey Devils
The New Jersey Devils are a professional ice hockey team based in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference. The club was founded as the Kans ...
and his final seven games with the
St. Louis Blues. Luongo played for the
New York Islanders
The New York Islanders (colloquially known as the Isles) are a professional ice hockey team based in Elmont, New York. The Islanders compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Metropolitan Division in the Eastern Conference ( ...
,
Florida Panthers
The Florida Panthers are a professional ice hockey team based in the Miami metropolitan area. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Atlantic Division in the Eastern Conference, and initially played their home game ...
and
Vancouver Canucks
The Vancouver Canucks are a professional ice hockey team based in Vancouver. They compete in the National Hockey League (NHL) as a member of the Pacific Division (NHL), Pacific Division of the Western Conference (NHL), Western Conference, and ...
in his career. The first 1,000 game goaltender was
Patrick Roy, marked in the
2002–03 season.
Only 21 players have played in over 1,500 games; of those, 14 have been inducted into the Hall of Fame and three more are not yet eligible for induction. Three of those 21 (
Nicklas Lidstrom,
Alex Delvecchio and
Steve Yzerman
Stephen Gregory Yzerman (; born May 9, 1965) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player currently serving as executive vice president and general manager of the Detroit Red Wings, with whom he spent all 22 seasons of his NHL playing c ...
) played their entire careers with Detroit;
Shane Doan, of the Winnipeg/Phoenix/Arizona franchise, is the only player to play over 1,500 games with a single franchise other than Detroit. In addition, eight of the 18 spent at least some portion of their career with the Red Wings, also more than any other team. Lidstrom's 1,564 games is the most for any player in a career spent with only one franchise. The record for most teams played for by a player who has competed in over 1,500 games is held by
Jaromir Jagr, who has played for nine teams in his career. Jagr played his 1,500th game with New Jersey, his seventh NHL team.
Due to the much greater number of teams, the greater salaries paid to today's players, and the greater number of games played in a season, the list is dominated by post-expansion players. No NHL player surpassed 1,000 games before Gordie Howe on November 26, 1961, against the
Chicago Black Hawks
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
, image_map =
, map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago
, coordinates =
, coordinates_footnotes =
, subdivision_type = List of sovereign states, Count ...
. Only 17 players in the top 100 started their careers before the
expansion era, and only two players—
Red Kelly and
Bill Gadsby—played in more than 1,000 games and finished their careers ''before'' the expansion era.
Key
This list is updated at the end of the season, except for the list of a player's teams, and if the all-time record is broken.
''Note: There have been two different NHL franchises carrying the Winnipeg Jets name:
one that played from 1979–96 and that is now the
Arizona Coyotes, and
one from 2011 onward, formerly the
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 seaso ...
. Players with the first franchise are marked as having played with Winnipeg (original).''
1,500 or more games played
1,250–1,499 games played
1,100–1,249 games played
1,050–1,099 games played
1,000–1,049 games played
1,000th game played during the
2022–23 NHL season
The 2022–23 NHL season is the 106th season of operation (105th season of play) of the National Hockey League (NHL). The regular season began on October 7, 2022, when the San Jose Sharks and the Nashville Predators played the first of two games ...
Players with 1,000 games played by franchise
Anaheim Ducks
The Ducks' active leader in games played is
Cam Fowler
Cameron Matthew Fowler (born December 5, 1991) is a Canadian-born American professional ice hockey defenceman and an alternate captain for the Anaheim Ducks of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected 12th overall by the Ducks in the 201 ...
, who has played 811 games with the team.
Arizona Coyotes
The Coyotes' active leader in games played is
Clayton Keller, who has played 360 games with the team.
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
The Sabres' active leader in games played is
Zemgus Girgensons, who has played 545 games with the team.
Calgary Flames
The Flames' active leader in games played is
Mikael Backlund, who has played 826 games with the team.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Hurricanes' active leader in games played is
Jordan Staal
Jordan Staal (born September 10, 1988) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the Carolina Hurricanes of the National Hockey League (NHL). He is regarded as a premier penalty-killer, both for his strong defensive skills and ...
, who has played 661 games with the team.
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
The Avalanche's active leader in games played is
Gabriel Landeskog, who has played 738 games with the team.
Columbus Blue Jackets
No player has played 1,000 games with the franchise. The Blue Jackets' all-time leader in games played is
Rick Nash, who played 674 games with the team. The Blue Jackets' active leader in games played is
Boone Jenner
Boone Robert Kenneth Jenner (born June 15, 1993) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player and captain of the Columbus Blue Jackets of the National Hockey League (NHL). Jenner was selected by Columbus in the second round, 37th overall, of the ...
, who has played 589 games with the team.
Dallas Stars
The Stars' active leader in games played is
Jamie Benn, who has played 948 games with the team.
Detroit Red Wings
The Red Wings' active leader in games played is
Danny DeKeyser, who has played 547 games with the team.
Edmonton Oilers
The Oilers' active leader in games played is
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, who has played 719 games with the team.
Florida Panthers
No player has played 1,000 games with the franchise. The Panthers' all-time leader in games played is
Jonathan Huberdeau, who played 671 games with the team. The Panthers' active leader in games played is
Aleksander Barkov, who has played 596 games with the team.
Los Angeles Kings
Minnesota Wild
The Wild's active leader in games played is
Jared Spurgeon, who has played 772 games with the team.
Montreal Canadiens
The Canadiens' active leader in games played is
Brendan Gallagher, who has played 638 games with the team.
Nashville Predators
No player has played 1,000 games with the franchise. The Predators' all-time leader in games played is
David Legwand, who played 956 games with the team. The Predators' active leader in games played is
Roman Josi, who has played 760 games with the team.
New Jersey Devils
The Devils' active leader in games played is
Damon Severson, who has played 566 games with the team.
New York Islanders
The Islanders' active leader in games played is
Josh Bailey
Joshua Bailey (born October 2, 1989) is a Canadian professional ice hockey winger and alternate captain for the New York Islanders of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was selected ninth overall by the Islanders in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft ...
, who has played 993 games with the team.
New York Rangers
The Rangers' active leader in games played is
Chris Kreider
Christopher James Kreider (born April 30, 1991) is an American professional ice hockey winger and alternate captain for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Raised in the Charlestown neighborhood of Boston, Kreider previo ...
, who has played 654 games with the team.
Ottawa Senators
The Senators' active leader in games played is
Thomas Chabot, who has played 313 games with the team.
Philadelphia Flyers
The Flyers' active leader in games played is
Sean Couturier, who has played 721 games with the team.
Pittsburgh Penguins
San Jose Sharks
Seattle Kraken
Added to the NHL for the , the Kraken have not yet existed for 1,000 games. The Kraken's active and all-time leader in games played is
Adam Larsson, who has played 82 games with the team.
St. Louis Blues
No player has played 1,000 games with the franchise. The Blues' current leader in games played is
Bernie Federko, who played 927 games with the team. The Blues' active leader in games played is
Vladimir Tarasenko, who has played 606 games with the team.
Tampa Bay Lightning
The Lightning's active leader in games played is
Steven Stamkos, who has played 922 games with the team.
Toronto Maple Leafs
The Maple Leafs' active leader in games played is
Morgan Rielly
Morgan Frederick Rielly (born March 9, 1994) is a Canadian professional ice hockey defenceman and alternate captain for the Toronto Maple Leafs of the National Hockey League (NHL). He was drafted by the Maple Leafs in the first round, fift ...
, who has played 654 games with the team.
Vancouver Canucks
The Canucks' active leader in games played is
Bo Horvat
Bowie William Horvat (born April 5, 1995) is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre and captain of the Vancouver Canucks of the National Hockey League (NHL).
He was selected ninth overall in the 2013 NHL Entry Draft. During his junior caree ...
, who has played 572 games with the team.
Vegas Golden Knights
Added to the NHL for the , the Golden Knights have not yet existed for 1,000 games.
The Golden Knights' active and all-time leader in games played is
Jonathan Marchessault, who has played 356 games with the team.
Washington Capitals
Winnipeg Jets
No player has played 1,000 games with the franchise. The Jets' all-time leader in games played is
Bryan Little, who played 843 games with the team. The Jets' active leader in games played is
Blake Wheeler, who has played 825 games with the team. The franchise was originally known as the
Atlanta Thrashers
The Atlanta Thrashers were a professional ice hockey team based in Atlanta. Atlanta was granted a franchise in the National Hockey League (NHL) on June 25, 1997, and became the League's 28th franchise when it began play in the 1999–2000 seaso ...
from 1999 to 2011.
References
External links
Career games played leadersat Hockey-Reference
{{DEFAULTSORT:1000 Games
National Hockey League statistical records
Lists of National Hockey League players