What is the best final season of an NHL career?

Some walked away holding the Cup; others left after one last milestone goal or a season that looked nothing like a farewell.

1. 1
   Lanny McDonald (1988–89)

   McDonald reached his 1,000th point and 500th goal in March 1989 and scored in Calgary's Cup-clinching Game 6 win in Montreal.
   1000pts
2. 2
   Ray Bourque (2000–01)

   Bourque recorded 59 points for Colorado, made the First All-Star Team and won his only Stanley Cup before retiring.
   733pts
3. 3
   Maurice Richard (1959–60)

   Richard captained Montreal to its fifth straight Stanley Cup in 1960 and retired before the next season.
   551pts
4. 4
   Bill Barilko (1950–51)

   Barilko scored the overtime goal that won Toronto the 1951 Stanley Cup and died in a plane crash that August.
   466pts
5. 5
   Mark Recchi (2010–11)

   Recchi won the 2011 Stanley Cup with Boston at age 43 and retired after the Final.
   466pts
6. 6
   Kimmo Timonen (2014–15)

   Timonen was traded from Philadelphia to Chicago in February 2015 and won his first Stanley Cup that June.
   466pts
7. 7
   Gordie Howe (1979–80)

   Howe played all 80 games for Hartford and scored 15 goals in the season he turned 52.
   363pts
8. 8
   Mike Bossy (1986–87)

   Bossy scored 38 goals in 63 games for the New York Islanders while playing through a back injury.
   363pts
9. 9
   Ken Dryden (1978–79)

   Dryden won the Stanley Cup with Montreal and shared the Vezina Trophy with Michel Larocque before retiring at 31.
   363pts
10. 10
    Patrice Bergeron (2022–23)

    Bergeron won a record sixth Selke Trophy while captaining a Boston team that set NHL records with 65 wins and 135 points.
    363pts
11. 11
    Patrick Roy (2002–03)

    Roy won 35 games for Colorado with a 2.18 goals-against average in his last NHL season.
    363pts
12. 12
    Syl Apps (1947–48)

    Apps led Toronto with 26 goals, passed 200 career goals in the final weekend and captained the Leafs to the Stanley Cup.
    363pts
13. 13
    Dominik Hašek (2007–08)

    Hašek went 27–10–3 in the regular season and won his second Stanley Cup with Detroit.
    363pts
14. 14
    Jean Béliveau (1970–71)

    Béliveau scored his 500th goal, posted 76 points and captained Montreal to the 1971 Stanley Cup.
    0pts
15. 15
    Ken Daneyko (2002–03)

    Daneyko returned to the lineup for Game 7 of the 2003 Final and won his third Stanley Cup with New Jersey.
    0pts
16. 16
    Bill Durnan (1949–50)

    Durnan won his sixth Vezina Trophy and made his sixth First All-Star Team with Montreal, posting eight shutouts and a 2.20 goals-against average.
    0pts

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