Ice Hockey
NHL teams, players and records.
52 guides, records and explainers.
Records & Money
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Best NHL Season Ever: Ranking the Greatest Regular Seasons
No NHL team has ever finished undefeated, but the 2022-23 Boston Bruins came closest to perfection with a record 65-12-5, 135-point season. Here is the full ranked leaderboard.
Art Ross Trophy Winners (NHL Scoring Leaders)
Wayne Gretzky won the Art Ross Trophy a record 10 times as the NHL's top scorer. The recent winners list and every multiple winner, explained.
Hart Trophy Winners (NHL MVP by Year)
Wayne Gretzky holds the record with nine Hart Trophies as NHL MVP. The recent winners list and every multiple winner, explained.
Norris Trophy Winners (NHL Best Defenseman)
Bobby Orr holds the record with eight Norris Trophies, all in a row. The recent winners list and every multiple winner, explained.
What Is the Calder Trophy?
The Calder Memorial Trophy is the NHL's Rookie of the Year award. What it is, who is eligible, how the vote works, and the recent winners.
Conn Smythe Trophy Winners (NHL Playoff MVP)
Patrick Roy holds the record with three Conn Smythe Trophies. The full list of recent NHL playoff MVPs and every multiple winner, explained.
Vezina Trophy Winners (NHL's Best Goaltender)
Jacques Plante holds the record with seven Vezina Trophies. The list of recent NHL best-goaltender winners and every multiple winner, explained.
Longest Winning Streak in NHL History
The 1992-93 Pittsburgh Penguins won 17 straight games, the longest winning streak in NHL history. The full leaderboard of team streaks, explained.
Most Assists in NHL History
Wayne Gretzky holds the NHL assists record with 1,963, more than any other player's total points. The full leaderboard, explained.
Most Goals in NHL History
Alex Ovechkin passed Wayne Gretzky in 2025 and holds the NHL goals record with 897. The full all-time goal-scoring leaderboard, explained.
Most Hat Tricks in NHL History
Wayne Gretzky scored 50 career hat tricks, the most in NHL history. The full leaderboard of the league's top hat-trick scorers, explained.
Most Points in NHL History
Wayne Gretzky holds the NHL career points record with 2,857. The full leaderboard of hockey's all-time scoring leaders, explained.
Most Stanley Cups Won by a Player
Henri Richard won a record 11 Stanley Cups as a player. The full leaderboard of hockey's most decorated champions, explained.
Most Stanley Cups by a Team
The Montreal Canadiens have won 24 Stanley Cups, the most of any team. The full leaderboard of NHL franchises by championships, explained.
The Winningest Coaches in NHL History
Scotty Bowman holds the record with 1,244 wins as an NHL coach, far ahead of Joel Quenneville's 969. The full leaderboard, explained.
Most NHL Goals in a Season
Wayne Gretzky holds the record for most NHL goals in a season with 92 in 1981-82. The full ranked list, the team single-season record, and era context explained.
Rules & How It Works
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How Many Periods Are in a Hockey Game? NHL Rules Explained
How many periods are in a hockey game: three 20-minute periods, how long intermissions last, and how NHL overtime and shootouts settle ties.
Types of Shots in Ice Hockey: Every Shot Explained
The main types of shots in ice hockey are the wrist shot, slap shot, snap shot, backhand, one-timer, wraparound, and deflection. Full breakdown here.
What Is a Deke in Hockey? Meaning, Types, and Examples
A deke in hockey is a fake move used to skate past a defender or goalie. Learn the term's origin, the main types of dekes, and how they're used.
What Is a One-Timer in Hockey? Definition & How It Works
A one-timer in hockey is a shot fired directly off a teammate's pass with no puck control first. How it works, why it's hard to stop, and how to practice one.
What Is a Slap Shot in Hockey? Mechanics, Speed & Records
A slap shot in hockey is a full wind-up shot built for maximum puck speed. Learn the technique, how it compares to a wrist shot, and NHL speed records.
What Is an Empty Net Goal in Hockey? Rules, Strategy, and Records
An empty net goal in hockey is scored when the net has no goaltender in it. Learn when teams pull the goalie, the delayed-penalty rule, and NHL records.
What Is Backchecking in Hockey? Meaning, Purpose & Technique Explained
Backchecking in hockey is when a player skates hard back to their own zone to defend after losing the puck. Learn the rules, technique, and why it matters.
What Is Cross-Checking in Hockey? NHL Rule Explained
Cross-checking in hockey is using the stick shaft with both hands to shove an opponent; learn the NHL rule, penalties, and how it differs from slashing.
What Is Forechecking in Hockey? Systems and Roles Explained
Forechecking in hockey is pressuring the puck carrier in the offensive zone to force a turnover. Learn the F1-F2-F3 roles and the 1-2-2, 2-1-2, and 1-3-1 systems.
What Is High Sticking in Hockey? The Rule Explained
High sticking in hockey is contact above the shoulders with the stick blade. Learn the minor vs. double-minor penalty, exceptions, and the puck-height stoppage rule.
What Is the Crease in Hockey? Rules, Size, and Goalie Interference
What the crease in hockey is, its official 8x4.5-foot dimensions, who can legally stand in it, and how NHL goalie interference rules actually work.
What Is the Neutral Zone Trap in Hockey? Rule and Strategy Explained
The neutral zone trap in hockey is a defensive system that clogs the neutral zone to force turnovers, run as a 1-2-2 or 1-3-1 formation.
Icing in Hockey Explained: The Rule, Simply
What icing in hockey means, how the NHL's hybrid icing race-to-the-dot call really works, when it's waved off, and how NHL, IIHF, and NCAA rules differ.
Power Play in Hockey Explained: The Rule, Simply
What a power play means in hockey, how long minor, double-minor, and major penalties last, and when a power-play goal ends the penalty early.
Explainer
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Hockey Referee Signals Explained: Every Penalty Arm Signal
Hockey referee signals decoded: the exact arm signal for hooking, tripping, slashing, cross-checking, high-sticking, holding, interference, and more.
Hockey Terminology Glossary: 60+ NHL Terms Explained
A complete hockey terminology glossary covering NHL rules, positions, penalties, and slang terms every fan needs to know.
How Do the NHL Playoffs Work?
The NHL playoffs are a 16-team, best-of-seven bracket: three division-based rounds plus wild cards lead to the conference finals and the Stanley Cup Final.
NHL Salary Cap Explained: The Hard Cap & Floor
The NHL has a hard salary cap with no luxury tax — teams cannot exceed it. It rises and falls with league revenue and comes with a salary floor teams must meet.
Overtime Rules in the NHL: How OT Works (2026)
NHL regular-season overtime is a 5-minute, 3-on-3 sudden-death period; if still tied it goes to a shootout. Playoff overtime is full 5-on-5 sudden death until a goal.
What Is a Faceoff in Hockey?
A faceoff starts and restarts play in hockey: an official drops the puck between two opposing players at one of nine faceoff dots, and they battle to win possession.
What Is a Penalty Kill in Hockey?
A penalty kill is when a short-handed team defends against the opponent's power play after taking a penalty, trying to survive the two minutes without conceding.
What Is a Shootout in Hockey?
A hockey shootout decides a tied NHL regular-season game after overtime: teams alternate penalty-shot attempts, best of three, then sudden death, for one standings point.
What Is Offside in Hockey?
Offside in hockey means an attacking player crosses the offensive blue line ahead of the puck. Play stops and a faceoff is held outside the zone.
Hockey Positions Explained: Every Role
Hockey positions explained: the center, wings, defensemen and goaltender, what each role does on the ice, and what F, D and G mean on a lineup.
Highest-Paid NHL Players: Ranked by Cap Hit (2025-26)
The 12 highest-paid NHL players by cap hit for 2025-26, ranked and verified: Leon Draisaitl, Auston Matthews, Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid and more, plus why Kirill Kaprizov's record deal isn't #1 yet.
List
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Best Female Hockey Players of All Time: Ranked
The best female hockey players of all time, ranked: Hayley Wickenheiser, Marie-Philip Poulin, Hilary Knight and the legends who built the women's game.
Best-Looking Female Hockey Players: Talent Meets Style on the Ice
A look at female hockey players who are known both for their on-ice excellence and their strong presence off it, from Marie-Philip Poulin to Hilary Knight.
Most Dangerous NHL Players of All Time: Feared on the Ice
The most dangerous NHL players ranked: lethal snipers, punishing power forwards, and feared enforcers, judged by how many ways they threatened opponents.
Greatest Field Hockey Players of All Time: Icons of the Pitch
The 11 greatest field hockey players ever, ranked by Olympic and World Cup titles, individual honors, and records, from Dhyan Chand to John-John Dohmen.
Biggest Hockey Hits in NHL History
The biggest hockey hits in NHL history, ranked: from Scott Stevens on Lindros and Kariya to Cam Neely and Denis Potvin, plus how Rule 48 changed the game.
Greatest NHL Players of All Time: The Definitive Ranked List
A ranked list of the greatest NHL players ever, from Wayne Gretzky and Bobby Orr to Mario Lemieux, Gordie Howe, and Sidney Crosby, weighed by the numbers.
More Ice Hockey
What Is Corsi in Hockey? Shot-Attempt Differential Explained
Corsi counts all shot attempts for and against as a proxy for puck possession. Here is the formula, a worked example, and what Corsi For % tells you.
NHL Draft Lottery Odds Explained: Full Table by Position
The NHL draft lottery gives the worst team an 18.5% shot at first overall. See the full odds table, the two-draw format, and the 10-spot movement cap.
What Is Icing in Hockey?
Icing in hockey explained: NHL Rule 81, why the whistle blows, where the faceoff goes, and why there's no icing while short-handed on a penalty kill.
NHL Eastern Conference Finals Tickets: Prices & How to Buy
How NHL Eastern Conference Finals tickets are sold, real 2026 price ranges by round, and how to buy safely on the resale market.
Sidney Crosby vs. Mark Recchi & Scott Reid: Hockey Comparisons
A look at Sidney Crosby's place in hockey history alongside players like Scott Reid, exploring what makes a generational NHL center stand apart.