1. Mario Lemieux
2. Bobby Orr
3. Wayne Gretzky
4. Mike Bossy
5. Steve Yzerman
7. Brett Hull
8. Jaromir Jagr
9. Ray Bourque
10. Joe Sakic

I hate putting Joe so low in that list.. I think Bourque should be rated higher, but thats just me... arguably?

Wayne Gretzky
Mario Lemieux
Bobby Orr
Gordie Howe
Maurice Richard
Mark Messier
Steve Yzerman
Bobby Hull
Phil Espisito
Guy Lafleur
Doug Harvey
Jean Beliveau
Joe Sakic

I know there's more then 10 here, but I believe that I had to make a list of more then 10 players. Sorry but I don't believe that Bossy should be that high, he was a great goal scorer one of the best, but I don't think his overall game puts him up there with the rest of the players I mentioned. Also there's no way that you rank Bourque higher then Doug Harvery, after Bobby Orr, Harvey is the best defenseman of all time, Bourque was good, but Harvey was great.

well he had over 500 goals and he played half his career really. if he lasted another healthy 5 years there no question that he wouldve scored another 250 goals, age wouldnt have stoped him. Age doesnt stop great players, it didnt stop Mario, Gretz and Jagr. I forgot about Lafleur. he was the best player in the world between 1975 and 1980. Mike Bossy vs Maurice Richard is 1 of my favorite topics, Mike Bossy is a better player than Maurice Richard though, I think that would be a big debate.
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I know it sounds stupid but I never knew about Harvey, in montreal we praise so many french players that english players are out of the spot light.

Like I said, Bossy was a great goal scorer, but I don't believe he was a top 15 player of all time, there's no doubt in my mind that Maurice Richard was a better overall player then Bossy, I know they played in two different era's but Rocket was better skater and better scorer, and better fighter, in other words he was a better overall player.

Like I mentioned before, Harvey is the best NHL defensemen of all time no named Bobby Orr, he's the greatest defensemen of the Canadiens. He was such a talented player.

like I told Babe in the chat... I hate these top 10 lists just because they are so minimal. I'm definitely not a fan of choosing just 10 guys out of the very very rich history of hockey. However had I just had to chose 10 (in no particular order):

-Phil Esposito
-Bobby Orr
-Gordie Howe
-Steve Yzerman
-Patrick Roy
-Jean Beliveau
-Wayne Gretzky
-Eddie Shore
-Stan Mikita
-Marcel Dionne

Honorable Mention to Borje Salming

My list isnt necessarily based on skill (because chances are I wasnt able to watch half those guys play) as much as its based on their influence of the sport itself either in the way its played, where its played, and other important aspects of the game.

good call on adding Roy in the list..
comparing Bossy to Richard now;
Bossy had a great shot, was a fast skater, thats what made him such a great sniper. both got 50 goals in 50 games once in their career, so no argument to saying "in Richard era they only play 50 games) by Richard's 8th season, teams started playing 70 games, but he only scored 50 once in his career. He played 18 seasons and scored 40 goals 4 times. Bossy played 10 seasons and had 9 straight 50 goals seasons and 5 60 goal seasons.

Bossy only played 752 NHL games.. ONLY and still finished his career with over 1100 points. Richard played 200 more NHL games than Bossy, and still finished his career with less goals and points than Bossy. Bossy had more talent than Richard, but not much. Richard may have been the tougher player but Bossy was faster, and never fought, stayed out of the box and scored more. Both were great pure goal scorers, both helped their teamates well, both were in dynastys that reached the finals 5 straight years.

If Bossy played 800 or so more games, which is arguably the average most great players from his era played (1400-1600 games) he'd have more goals than Gretzky, had he played a long and healthy career like the Great One.
Mario and Mike may have reached 1000 goal plateau if they were healthy, there's no question about it.

What I don't like about this is that many of these players all played in the NHL at different times. The goalies are much better now than they were 20-30 years ago. Some of those older player may not even be on the list had they played in the league within the last 10 years. Plus, it's all circumstance. It could be argued that the French Connection would never been as good as they were on different teams. So who's to say they are in the top 10, 20, or 30??

I totally agree with you when you say those goalies in the past aren't good as the ones today, but I bet you anything if they played in today's era they would dominate even more. A lot of them didn't play with a mask, they barely had any padding, the pads were small compared to what they are today. The training is more advance then what it is today. I can keep going, but I believe you get what I am trying to say.

It was a different game back then, but I am sure if Plante, Dryden, Hall, Esposito, Bauer and so many more great goalies played in today's game, they would still be effective and dominate this era.

I completely disagree that goalies are better today. No, their equipment is bigger. Just look at Giguerre - he and his equipment take up practically the entire net.

I dare you to say that Terry Sawchuk was not one of the greatest goalies of all time. He still holds the record for regular season shutouts, and he did it without all the equipment used today.