The Best Of Legends Of Hockey

I will be taking the next few days off on vacation. Unless there is major breaking news, I expect to run "best of" features for the rest of the week, but I will continue to post a new lead story every day. With over 800 posts this season, I think there is enough for everyone to wade through around here.

Perhaps it is even a necessary chance for my growing readership numbers to catch up on some profiles and features. Thank you everyone, you're pushing me to do better. Everyone's kind comments and emails and the steadily growing page-view counts are incredibly humbling.

Here's a quick look at some of the most popular profiles this season:

Wayne Gretzky - Once an Oiler, always an Oiler. The Great One lived up to his nickname, and may be the greatest athlete ever.

Patrick Roy - The greatest goaltender of all time? The Montreal Forum was St. Patrick's cathedral for many years before moving on to Colorado.

Pavel Bure - The Russian Rocket was the NHL's most exciting player in the 1990s. He was one of the few players in hockey history to get you out of your seat on a nightly basis.

Steve Yzerman - What more can be said about Stevie Wonder? He was one of hockey's greatest players and classiest people.

Bob Probert - Hockey's ultimate tough guy rarely lost a battle on the ice. Unfortunately he's lost more than a few off of it.

Mark Messier - The brightest star on Broadway, Mark Messier truly became Manhattan's immortal "Messiah" in 1994

Jean Beliveau - One of the top ten players of all time, few were more graceful on or off the ice than hockey's original gentle giant.

	Gordie Howe - Forget about Gretzky or Lemieux. Old time hockey fans will insist Gordie Howe is the greatest of all time, with great merit. Mr. Hockey could do it all
	Bobby Hull - The Golden Jet might be better known now as Brett's dad, but this Chicago and Winnipeg legend is one of the most important players in hockey history

Vladislav Tretiak - Vladislav Tretiak is one of the greatest hockey heroes, not just in Russia but also in Canada and all around the world.

Eddie Shore - Despite finishing his NHL career back in the 1930s, he's the one old-timer who consistently ranks in all of top 10 greatest players lists.

Legends of Hockey from The Original Six

Legends of Hockey from The 1970s

Legends of Hockey from The 1980s

Legends of Hockey from The 1990s

Legends of Hockey from The Pre-1950s

Legends of Hockey from International Hockey