Nov 26, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; A statue of Hall of Fame player Gordie Howe is seen inside the arena before the start of the Detroit Red Wings game against the Montreal Canadiens at Joe Louis Arena. Howe passed away earlier this year. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
Here are 35 of the greatest all-time NHL nicknames. Do you agree? Disagree? Did we miss any good ones? Leave your comments and let us know.
35. Glen Sather
Dec 11, 2015; Edmonton, Alberta, CAN; Glen Sather speaks during his banner raising celebration at Rexall Place. Mandatory Credit: Perry Nelson-USA TODAY Sports
“Slats”
34. Terry O’Reilly
“Taz”
33. Gary Unger
“Iron Man”
32. Glenn Resch
Apr 13, 2014; Newark, NJ, USA; New Jersey Devils announcer Glenn “Chico” Resch is acknowledged during the first period at Prudential Center. Resch announced his retirement and is calling his last game today. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
“Chico”
31. Rod Langway
“Secretary of Defense”
30. Guy LaFleur
2004 Season: Guy Lafleur during his playing days with the Montreal Canadiens And Player Guy Lafleur. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
“The Flower”
29. Larry Robinson
Feb 14, 2012; Buffalo, NY, USA; New Jersey Devils assistant coach Larry Robinson watches his team play against the Buffalo Sabres at the First Niagara Center. Mandatory Credit: Timothy T. Ludwig-USA TODAY Sports
“Big Bird”
28. Ron Tugnutt
Unknown Date, 1998; Washington, DC, USA; FILE PHOTO; Washington Capitals center Joe Juneau (90) scores a goal against Ottawa Senators goalie Ron Tugnutt (31) at the MCI Center. Mandatory Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK
“Nuts”
27. Lorne Worsley
“Gump”
26. Dave Schultz
“The Hammer”
25. Yvan Cournover
“The Roadrunner”
24. Don Cherry
Sep 18, 2018; Lucan, Ontario, CAN; Television personality Don Cherry makes an appearance during Kraft Hockeyville festivities at the Toronto Maple Leafs preseason game against the Ottawa Senators at Lucan Community Memorial Centre. The Maple Leafs beat the Senators 4-1. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
“Grapes”
23. Henrik Lundqvist
Sep 27, 2005; East Rutherford, NJ, USA; New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) in action against the New Jersey Devils at Continental Airlines Arena. Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK
“The King”
22. Dave Williams
“Tiger”
21. Stu Grimson
“The Grim Reaper”
20. Mark Messier
BOSTON, MA – MAY 24: Mark Messier #11 (right) of the Edmonton Oilers helps out teammate Joe Murphy drink from the Stanley Cup in the locker room as they celebrate their Game 5 win over the Boston Bruins on May 24, 1990 at the Boston Garden, Boston, Massachusetts. The Oilers defeated the Bruins 4-1 and won the Series 4 games to 1. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
“Moose”
19. Eddie Belfour
Unknown Date, 2000; Dallas, TX, USA; FILE PHOTO; Dallas Stars goalie Ed Belfour (20) and defenseman Darryl Sydor (5) on the ice against the New Jersey Devils during the 2002 Stanley Cup Finals at Reunion Arena. New Jersey defeated Dallas to win the series 4-2. Mandatory Credit: Lou Capozzola-USA TODAY NETWORK
“The Eagle”
18. Felix Potvin
Dec 31, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Toronto Maple Leafs former goalie Felix Potvin (29) before the Alumni Showdown against the Detroit Red Wings as part of the Winter Classic at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports
“The Cat”
17. Sidney Crosby
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS – FEBRUARY 15: Sidney Crosby #87 of the Pittsburgh Penguins skates with the puck against the Chicago Blackhawks during the first period at the United Center on February 15, 2024 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
“The Kid”
16. Peter Forsberg
Nov 28, 1997; Miami, FL; USA; FILE PHOTO; Colorado Avalanche defender Peter Forsberg (21) in action against the Florida Panthers during the 1997-98 season at Miami Arena. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
“The Great”
15. Georges Vezina
“The Chicoutimi Cucumber”
14. Marc-Edouard Vlasic
Apr 13, 2025; Calgary, Alberta, CAN; San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic (44) skates with the puck against the Calgary Flames during the first period at Scotiabank Saddledome. Mandatory Credit: Sergei Belski-Imagn Images
“Pickles”
13. Nikolai Khabibulin
October 11, 2005; St. Louis, MO, USA; Chicago Blackhawks Nikolai Khabibulin (53) reacts after giving up a goal to St. Louis Blues Dean McAmmond (37) in the first period at the Savvis Center. Mandatory Credit: Photo by Scott Rovak-USA TODAY Sports
“The Bulin Wall”
12. Curtis Joseph
Apr 1, 2009; Toronto, ON, Canada; Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Curtis Joseph (31) holds on to the puck after making a save as Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Carle (25) goes to the net at the Air Canada Centre in Toronto, ON. The Maple Leafs beat the Flyers 3-2. Mandatory Credit: Tom Szczerbowski-USA TODAY Sports
“Cujo”
11. Dominik Hasek
Dominik Hasek #39, Goaltender for the Buffalo Sabres looks on from in front of the goal post during the NHL Eastern Conference Northeast Division game against the St Louis Blues on 22nd October 1995 at the Buffalo Memorial Auditorium in Buffalo, New York, United States. The Sabres won the game 5 – 2. (Photo by Harry Scull Jr./Allsport/Getty Images)
“The Dominator”
10. Teemu Selanne
VANCOUVER, BC – FEBRUARY 24: Teemu Selanne #8 of Finland celebrates after their 2-0 win during the ice hockey men’s quarter final game between Finland and the Czech Republic on day 13 of the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics at UBC Thunderbird Arena on February 24, 2010 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Jasper Juinen/Getty Images)
“The Finnish Flash”
9. Pavel Bure
Mar 3, 1999; Miami, FL; USA; FILE PHOTO; Florida Panthers forward Pavel Bure (10) in action against the Colorado Avalanche at the Miami Arena. Mandatory Credit: RVR Photos-USA TODAY Sports
“The Russian Rocket”
8. Henri Richard
“The Pocket Rocket”
7. Joe Sakic
MIAMI, FL – JUNE 10: Joe Sakic #19 of the Colorado Avalanche takes the Stanley Cup from NHL commissioner Gary Bettman after the Avalanche defeated the Florida Panthers in Game 4 of the 1996 Stanley Cup Finals on June 10, 1996 at the Miami Arena in Miami, Florida. (Photo by B Bennett/Getty Images)
“Mr. Clutch”
6. Maurice Richard
“The Rocket”
5. Bernie Geoffrion
“Boom Boom”
4. Mario Lemieux
Unknown Date; Miami, FL, USA; FILE PHOTO; Pittsburgh Penguins forward Mario Lemieux (66) in action against the Florida Panthers at the Miami Arena during the 1996 season. Mandatory Credit: USA TODAY Sports
“Super Mario”
3. Bobby Hull
(Original Caption) One of hockey’s top stars, Bobby Hull, of the Chicago Black Hawks, almost seems to be shunning the limelight at the moment during a National Hockey League game against the New York Rangers in New York February 26th. Or maybe he is so good that he can move the puck around the ice with his eyes shut. The Rangers kept their eyes open and on Bobby, often keeping two men on a Hull watch. He only got three shots at the goal. With one of them, he scored.
“The Golden Jet”
2. Gordie Howe
BLOOMINGTON, MN – MARCH 17: Gordie Howe #9 of the Detroit Red Wings skates on the ice during an NHL game against the Minnesota North Stars on March 17, 1968 at the Met Center in Bloomington, Minnesota. (Photo by Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
“Mr. Hockey”
1. Wayne Gretzky
EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – NOVEMBER 11: Wayne Gretzky #99 of the Edmonton Oilers skates on the ice during an NHL game against the New Jersey Devils on November 11, 1982 at the Brendan Byrne Arena in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by B Bennett/Bruce Bennett Studios via Getty Images Studios/Getty Images)
