NHL: Top 10 all-time duos

The NHL has had a fair share of talent in the league since it was organized in 1917. While the achievements of a single individual can be impressive, it’s interesting to see what a pair can achieve together.

With that said, these are my top ten duos in the entire history of the NHL.

No. 10 - Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl

In recent years, these two have been one of the most impressive duos in the league representing the Edmonton Oilers.

What holds them back from being farther down on this list is the lack of Stanley Cup success. They managed to reach the finals last season in a series that went to Game 7 but still came up short.

They have still won plenty of awards and trophies including McDavid winning the Conn Smythe Trophy despite a losing effort.

No. 9 - Alex Ovechkin and Nicklas Backstrom

Ovechkin is one of the longest-tenured players that is still active in the league on the Washington Capitals roster. Records that have been set by some of the most notable players in hockey have been shattered by him.

While Backstrom might not be as successful as his linemate, he played an important role in securing the Capitals their first-ever Stanley Cup in 2018.

Backstrom who has decided to step away from the ice for the time being after dealing with ongoing injuries hopefully will return before Ovechkin hangs up the skates.

No. 8 - Pavel Datsyuk and Henrik Zetterberg

Datsyuk and Zetterberg had a slow start to their time in Detroit, but in due time they became a focal point of the Red Wings franchise once Steve Yzerman was retired.

Together they went to two straight Stanley Cup Finals in 2008 and 2009 against the Pittsburgh Penguins and came out on top in the first encounter to bring home the Stanley Cup for Detroit once again.

No. 7 - Gordie Howe and Ted Lindsay

Speaking of the Red Wings, way before Datsyuk and Zetterberg there was another duo that took Detroit by storm.

Howe and Lindsay epitomized what dominance looked like as members of the Detroit Red Wings throughout the 1940s and 1950s.

During their time together in Detroit, the Red Wings were able to secure four Stanley Cups. There were many times that they were at least in the top three when it came to scoring points throughout the league.

No. 6 - Phil Esposito and Bobby Orr

With two Stanley Cups between them on the Boston Bruins, these two were one of the most dominant duos in the league during the late 1960s through the mid-1970s.

Orr managed to win three trophies during the 1971-72 season in one of the seasons they were able to win the Stanley Cup.

Esposito led the league in goal-scoring six times during their time together in Boston.

No. 5 - Mario Lemieux and Jaromír Jágr

Lemieux and Jágr are the duo that saved the Pittsburgh Penguins franchise. On the brink of either folding or relocating, Pittsburgh was able to draft Lemieux at No. 1 overall in the 1984 NHL Draft.

With moderate success after the Lemieux acquisition, it all began to pick up when Pittsburgh drafted Jágr in 1990.

The early 90s belonged to Lemieux and Jágr as they were able to bring the Penguins their first two Stanley Cups in the organization's history within back-to-back seasons.

No. 4 - Patrick Kane and Jonathan Toews

The Chicago Blackhawks already had three Stanley Cups to their name before heading into the 2010s up to that point.

That all changed when Chicago added three more Stanley Cups in 2010, 2013 and 2015. This was all due to the duo of Kane and Toews reviving the franchise.

Offensively they were difficult to beat on the ice and one of the most dominant pairings since the 2000s.

No. 3 - Mike Bossy and Bryan Trottier

These two led the New York Islanders to four straight Stanley Cups together in five straight finals appearances. That statistic alone is worthy of a spot in the top three.

The Islanders were one of the dynasties in the early 1980s with Bossy and Trottier being two of the main reasons for that success.

Bossy and Trottier have held records that stand in the Islanders franchise to this very day.

No. 2 - Wayne Gretzky and Mark Messier

Part of one of the greatest dynasties in NHL history. The Edmonton Oilers in the 1980s.

Jari Kurri and Gretzky are another duo that could be on this list. That is how good of a team the Oilers were.

However, Gretzky and Messier were the foundation of the team. They would win four Stanley Cups together during their time up north.

Messier didn’t win as many awards, but realistically who could when your teammate is considered one of the greatest hockey players of all-time?

No. 1 - Sidney Crosby and Evgeni Malkin

While they may have not won as many Stanley Cups as the two previous teams, you would have a hard time naming a duo that has been consistently great together for almost two decades.

Other than Crosby’s initial season where Malkin didn’t play, these two have been playing together for the Penguins for their entire careers.

Crosby and Malkin are one of two pairs—the other being Gretzky and Kurri—who have both reached 500 Goals as teammates.

Both have achieved three Stanley Cups in 2009, 2016 and 2017 together. The first time in the salary cap era that back-to-back champions have been accomplished.

Hudson Hvizdak is a first-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email hph5358@psu.edu.