Ranking Every NHL Team's Best Starting Lineup

Every NHL team has had its share of quality players, and while some franchises have been more lucky than others, hockey fans have been quite fortunate to witness some awesome players create great excitement in the sport we love.

Let's take a trip down memory lane and look at each NHL team's best all-time starting lineup and how they rank against each other.

Who's on your team's starting lineup, and where does it rank?

30) Columbus Blue Jackets

LW Rick Nash C Jeff Carter RW Nikolai Zherdev

D Jan Hjeda & James Wisniewski

G Steve Mason

Unfortunately Steve Mason has not been able to live up to his Calder Trophy winning season a few years ago, but the Blue Jackets has had some decent players in the team's short time as an NHL franchise.

Rick Nash, the team's best player ever, has been a superstar forward for many seasons.

29) Winnipeg Jets

LW Ilya Kovalchuk  C Marc Savard RW Dany Heatley

D Tobias Enstrom &  Dustin Byfuglien

G Kari Lehtonen  

The Atlanta Thrashers (now the Winnipeg Jets) began as an NHL franchise in the 1999 season and had some very talented forwards such as Ilya Kovalchuk (now of the New Jersey Devils). However, they never won a playoff series before the team re-located to Winnipeg for this season.

28) Nashville Predators

LW Martin Erat C David Legwand RW J.P. Dumont

D Kimmo Timonen & Shea Weber

G Pekka Rinne

The Nashville Predators have been in the NHL for only about a decade, but they have had some quality defenseman helping the team win games.

Kimmo Timonen, Shea Weber, and Ryan Suter have been a major reason the Predators have been a very good defensive team since their inaugural season.

27) Minnesota Wild

LW Andrew Brunette C Mikko Koivu RW Marian Gaborik

D Brent Burns & Filip Kuba

G Niklas Backstrom

The Minnesota Wild are another expansion team that is just starting to become a real NHL power, and they currently have the best record in hockey.

The Wild do not have Marian Gaborik anymore since he left in 2009 to join the New York Rangers via free agency, but they acquired Dany Heatley from the San Jose Sharks last summer to solidify the right wing position.

26) Florida Panthers

LW Kris Versteeg  C Olli Jokinen RW Pavel Bure

D Robert Svehla & Ed Jovanaski  

G Roberto Luongo

The Florida Panthers have not had a ton of success in their brief history, but their all-time lineup isn't that bad. Versteeg leads the current team in points and has been a big reason why the Panthers have led the Southeast division for most of the season.

Pavel Bure is the only player to ever score 50 goals in a single season in team history.

25) Ottawa Senators

LW Dany Heatley C Jason Spezza RW Daniel Alfredsson

D Wade Redden & Sergei Gonchar 

G Dominik Hasek

The Ottawa Senators have made one Stanley Cup appearance, and three players from that team make up the forwards in their all-time roster.

Heatley did not spend a ton of seasons with the team, but he was a prolific scorer with the Senators. Daniel Alfredsson, the team's captain, is one a fantastic player and is one of the few players to show true loyalty to one team in his career.

24) Phoenix Coyotes

LW Keith Tkachuk C Dale Hawerchuk RW Shane Doan

D Teppo Numminen & Phil Housley 

G Ilya Bryzgalov

The Phoenix Coyotes have had some quality players, especially on offense, that have provided some great moments for hockey fans in the southwest, but current ownership issues have the franchise facing a possible relocation from Arizona. Nevertheless, their all-time roster is still a good one that has a lot of talent.

23) Tampa Bay Lightning

LW Brad Richards C Vinny Lecavalier RW Marty St.Louis

D Dan Boyle & Victor Hedman

G Nikolai Khabibulin 

The Tampa Bay Lightning won the Stanley Cup in the last season before the NHL lockout (2003-04) and have had some tremendous offensive players excite their fans. Martin St. Louis and Vinny Lecavalier are still with the team.

Young star Steven Stamkos is quickly building a resume that will earn him a spot on this list quite soon.

22) San Jose Sharks

LW Sergei Makarov C Patrick Marleau RW Owen Nolan

D Dan Boyle D Rob Blake

G Evgeni Nabokov

The San Jose Sharks have been blessed with some amazing teams, but unfortunately the team has never made the Stanley Cup Final. To their credit, the Sharks have been quite competitive for about a decade and are again a Cup contender. They are always an exciting team to watch. 

21) Carolina Hurricanes

LW Eric Staal C Ron Francis RW Kevin Dineen

D Mark Howe & Glen Wesley

G Cam Ward

The Hartford Whalers were a loved team in New England but the franchise did not win the Stanley Cup until they moved to Carolina and became the Hurricanes, winning the title in the 2005-06 season. Eric Staal is the team's best player right now and is one of the most under-appreciated in the game.

20) Vancouver Canucks

LW Markus Naslund C Henrik Sedin RW Pavel Bure

D Doug Lidster& Harold Snepsts

G Roberto Luongo

The Vancouver Canucks have made three Stanley Cup Finals, losing in a seventh game during the 1994 and 2011 Finals. The team has had some fantastic offensive players excite the hockey fans of British Columbia. Choosing between Pavel Bure and Trevor Linden for RW was tough, but I though the Russian should get the nod. 

19) New Jersey Devils

LW Patrick Elias C Bobby Holik RW John MacLean

D Scott Stevens & Scott Niedermayer

G Martin Broduer

The New Jersey Devils have had a very successful history, winning three Stanley Cups from 1995 to 2003. Defenseman Scott Stevens and goaltender Martin Brodeur are two of the best players ever at their respective positions.

18) Anaheim Ducks

LW Paul Kariya C Ryan Getlzaf RW Teemu Selanne 

D Scott Niedermayer & Chris Pronger

G J.S Giguere

The Anaheim Ducks made the Stanley Cup Final in 2003 but ultimately lost to the New Jersey Devils in seven games. Goalie J.S. Giguere won the Conn Smythe award that postseason, the last player to do so from a team that didn't win the Cup. Four years later, the Ducks returned to the Final where they beat the Ottawa Senators, led by defensive duo Scott Niedermayer and Chris Pronger.

17) Washington Capitals

LW Alex Ovechkin C Nicklas Backstrom RW Peter Bondra

D Calle Johansson & Rod Langway

G Olaf Kolzig

The Washington Capitals have had some exciting teams but have only appeared in one Stanley Cup Final (1998) and lost to the Detroit Red Wings. Alexander Ovechkin leads the team now and is currently one the of the top players in the NHL and an elite goal scorer. 

16) Dallas Stars

LW Brian Bellows C Mike Modano RW Dino Ciccarelli

D Sergei Zubov D Derian Hatcher

G Ed Belfour

The Dallas Stars are the only NHL team in Texas and won their only Stanley Cup in 1999, when they defeated the Buffalo Sabres in six games. For many years, the Stars were led by the greatest American hockey player ever, Mike Modano.

15) Buffalo Sabres

LW Dave Andreychuk C Gilbert Perreault RW Rick Martin

D Phil Housley & Mike Ramesy

G Dominik Hasek

The Buffalo Sabres had some very good teams in the late 1990s and made the Stanley Cup FInal in 1999, when they lost to the Dallas Stars in six games. Goaltender Dominik Hasek is one of the best goalies the game has ever seen and gave the Buffalo fans many reasons to cheer in his Sabres career. This past summer, the team spent a lot of money in free agency to make the club a playoff contender for many more seasons to come.

14) Calgary Flames

LW Theo Fleury C Joe Niewendyk RW Jarome Iginla

D Al MacInnis & Gary Suter

G Mike Vernon

The Calgary Flames won their only Stanley Cup championship in 1989, when they defeated the Montreal Canadiens in six games. Forward Joe Niewendyk was on that title winning team, and he was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame this year. Jarome Iginla represents the team from the present and led the team to its most recent Cup Final appearance in 2004. 

13) St. Louis Blues

LW Brian Suter C Bernie Federko RW Brett Hull

D Al MacInnis & Chris Pronger

G Jacques Plante

The forward line here for the St. Louis Blues is very talented and full of scoring and playmaking ability. Brett Hull is one of the best players of the last 25 years. Al MacInnis and Chris Pronger were one of the best defensive pairings the NHL has seen in a very long time as well.

12) Los Angeles Kings

LW Luc Robitaille C Marcel Dionne RW Dave Taylor

D Rob Blake D Marty McSorley

G Rogatien Vachon

The Los Angeles Kings have never won a Stanley Cup, but they have had some tremendous players bring some exciting hockey teams to Southern California. Marcel Dionne is one of the best forwards ever and is under appreciated. Luc Robitaille is another hockey Hall of Famer, and defenseman Rob Blake could find himself there soon as well.

11) Toronto Maple Leafs

LW Daryl Sitler C Mats Sundin RW George Armstrong

D Borje Salming & King Clancy

G Johnny Bower

The Toronto Maple Leafs have the most passionate fans in hockey, and despite going decades without winning the Stanley Cup, the fanbase has always been willing to support their team to the fullest. The Maple Leafs' history is rich and full of Hall of Fame players, so feel free to explain why you would include a different player than the six listed above in the comment section.

10) Colorado Avalanche

LW Peter Stastny C Joe Sakic RW Milan Hejduk

D Adam Foote & Rob Blake

G Patrick Roy

The Colorado Avalanche have struggled to find playoff success in recent seasons, but since moving to Denver from Quebec for the 1995-96 season, the team has won two Stanley Cup titles. Avalanche fans were able to see two of the best ever at their respective positions, Patrick Roy and Joe Sakic, lead the franchise to many playoff wins.

9) Philadelphia Flyers

LW Brian Propp C Bobby Clarke RW Mark Recchi

D Mark Howe & Eric Desjardins 

G Bernie Parent

The Philadelphia Flyers are a team with a rich history, but they have not won a cup for more than 30 years. Bobby Clarke was the leader of the Broad St. Bullies in the 1970's and was a great player. Mark Recchi, although he never won a Cup with the Flyers, was a fantastic right wing for the team.

8) New York Rangers

LW Mark Messier C Jean Ratelle RW Rod Gilbert

D Brian Leetch & Harry Howell

G Mike Richter

The New York Rangers' most recent Stanley Cup win came in 1994, when they defeated the Vancouver Canucks in seven games. That team was led by Mark Messier, Brian Leetch, and the best American goaltender ever, Mike Richter. The current Rangers team is playing well right now and could be on their way past the second round of the playoffs.

7) Pittsburgh Penguins

LW Ron Francis C Mario Lemieux RW Jaromir Jagr

D Paul Coffey & Randy Caryle 

G Tom Barrasso

The Pittsburgh Penguins were led to back-to-back Stanley Cups by the three players I've chosen for their all-time forward line, and you could even make the case Mario Lemieux is the greatest player ever, although you wouldn't convince me. It's too early to put current stars Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin on this list, but they will have their chance to earn a place very soon.

6) New York Islanders

LW Clark Gillies C Bryan Trottier RW Mike Bossy 

D Dennis Potvin & Ken Morrow

G Billy Smith

The New York Islanders have not had much playoff success since their four straight Stanley Cup titles in the early 1980s, but their all-time team is quite impressive. Mike Bossy is one of the best goal scorers in recent memory, and Dennis Potvin was one of the best defenseman ever.

5) Chicago Blackhawks

LW Bobby Hull C Stan Mikita RW Steve Larmer

D Doug Wilson & Chris Chelios 

G Glenn Hall

The Chicago Blackhawks are another Original 6 team with a rich history, and this all-time roster is full of unbelievable talent. The team won its first Stanley Cup in decades in 2010, and captain Jonathan Toews is one player from that winning squad who could find himself on this list someday.

4) Boston Bruins

LW Johny Bucyk C Phil Esposito RW Rick Middleton

D Ray Bourque & Bobby Orr

G Tim Thomas

This Boston Bruins all-time lineup is led by the greatest hockey player ever, Bobby Orr, who helped the team win two Stanley Cup in 1970 and 1972. Goaltender Tim Thomas is the team's current goalie, and in the last three years alone, he has one two Vezina trophies and a Conn Smythe Award. The Bruins have won six Cups in their rich history.

3) Montreal Canadiens

LW Guy Lefleur C Jean Béliveau RW Maurice Richard

D Larry Robinson D Guy Lapointe

G Jacques Plante 

It's so tough choosing an all-time lineup for the Montreal Canadiens given the many great players who have helped them win a record 23 Stanley Cups, but I think I have done a pretty good job. The Canadiens are the most successful franchise in NHL history, but they have not been to or won a Stanley Cup since 1993.

2) Edmonton Oilers

LW Mark Messier C Wayne Gretzky RW Jari Kurri

D Paul Coffey D Kevin Lowe

G Grant Fuhr

What an amazing forward line on this Edmonton Oilers all-time lineup, with two of the top 10 best players ever in Mark Messier and Wayne Gretzky, and Jari Kurri, who was a great player as well. The Oilers were a dynasty in the 1980's and look to be rebuilding another very good team with young stars Ryan Nugent-Hopkins and Taylor Hall.

1) Detroit Red Wings

LW Ted Lindsay C Steve Yzerman RW Gordie Howe

D Nicklas Lidstrom & Red Kelly

G Terry Sawchuk 

While the Oilers and Canadiens had an unreal lineup, I think you cannot beat the Detroit Red Wings with this group of six players. Gordie Howe is Mr. Hockey and a legend of the game, Ted Lindsay was one of the all-time greats, and Steve Yzerman is a top five center in NHL history and the greatest captain the game's ever seen. Nicklas Lidstrom, who has won seven Norris trophies as a defenseman, is the current captain of the team.