# The 15 Athletes Who Changed Hockey the Most

> A mask, a trade, a colour barrier, a jump to a rival league: hockey changed shape because specific people forced it to. Vote for the one whose effect you can still see in the game tonight.

*By YPB Team · Published August 21, 2026 · https://youpick.best/ranking/the-15-athletes-who-changed-hockey-the-most*

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## Current results (no votes yet)

1. **Wayne Gretzky** — score 1000/1000
   His trade to Los Angeles in 1988 put NHL teams in Anaheim, San Jose, Tampa and Miami.
2. **Bobby Hull** — score 862/1000
   Jumped to the WHA in 1972 for a million dollars and dragged NHL salaries up behind him.
3. **Mario Lemieux** — score 724/1000
   Saved the Penguins twice — once as a player, once by buying them.
4. **Bobby Orr** — score 665/1000
   Turned the defenceman into an attacker and won two scoring titles doing it.
5. **Maurice Richard** — score 596/1000
   His 1955 suspension set off a riot and turned a player into a political symbol.
6. **Manon Rheaume** — score 517/1000
   The first woman to play in an NHL game, in Tampa Bay's 1992 preseason.
7. **Hayley Wickenheiser** — score 423/1000
   Seven world titles and four Olympic golds that built the women's game's audience.
8. **Vladislav Tretiak** — score 423/1000
   The Soviet goalie whose 1972 Summit Series showed North America it had competition.
9. **Sidney Crosby** — score 423/1000
   Arrived as the face of the post-lockout NHL and scored the goal that sold it.
10. **Jacques Plante** — score 423/1000
   Put on a mask in 1959 and every goalie in the world followed.
11. **Borje Salming** — score 310/1000
   The Swedish defenceman who proved Europeans could survive the 1970s NHL.
12. **Alex Ovechkin** — score 172/1000
   Made the one-timer from the left circle a standard NHL power-play design.
13. **Willie O'Ree** — score 172/1000
   Broke the NHL colour barrier with Boston in 1958.
14. **Ted Lindsay** — score 172/1000
   Tried to organise the first players' union in 1957 and was traded for it.
15. **Gordie Howe** — score 172/1000
   Played until 52 and set the template for how long a career could last.

Tags: sports, hockey, players, legends