Massachusetts always churns out top NHL talent, and these are the 20 best. Some on this list are projected to get even better since they still play.
When you look at most NHL rosters, you’ll likely find a player from Massachusetts on it. While some current players will crack my list of the top 20 NHL players all-time from the Bay State, a lot of these guys are retired. Some current players still have room to make this list or move up, maybe to the top.
My rankings are not an exact science. I took games played, points scored, and a number of other factors into account, but I did not base the list on one particular stat. Some of these players just have it. We all know what it is, even if can’t explain it. As always with these rankings, let me know where you disagree or let me know who I left off the list!
20. Jack Eichel, North Chelmsford: Buffalo Sabres 2015 – Present
Jack Eichel is just 20-years old, but he’ll be entering his 3rd season in the NHL for the Buffalo Sabres. He’s one of the Massachusetts natives that I believe has a chance to skyrocket up this list.
Through two seasons, Eichel has 113 points in 142 games. Last season, he had 57 points after 56 in 2015-16. He actually played in 20-less games though in his second year. In year three, expect another jump for Eichel. He’ll likely end up somewhere around 70-75 points.
19. Ryan Whitney, Boston: Pittsburgh Penguins, Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, Florida Panthers 2005 – 2014
Just three seasons ago, defenseman Ryan Whitney called it a career. He spent time with four NHL teams, the majority coming with the Penguins and Oilers. Surprisingly, he was never selected to represent his league in an NHL All-Star Game.
Whitney appeared in 481 games over the course of his career, and he finished with 259 points on 50 goals and 209 assists.
18. Chris Kreider, Boxford: New York Rangers 2012 – Present
Chris Kreider will enter his 6th season with the Rangers this October, along with fellow Massachusetts natives Jimmy Vesey and Kevin Hayes. While those two haven’t quite cracked this list yet, they may in the future.
Kreider is the veteran of that group, with 323 NHL games under his belt. In those games, Kreider has tallied 182 points and a +53 +/- rating.
17. John Carlson, Natick: Washington Capitals 2009 – Present
Defenseman John Carlson from Natick, MA averages nearly one point per two games. He has been with the Capitals for his entire career, and he has already appeared in 526 games.
Carlson has not won any major awards, but he is consistently receiving votes for the Lady Byng Trophy.
16. Steve Heinze, Lawrence: Boston Bruins, Columbus Blue Jackets, Buffalo Sabres, Los Angeles Kings 1991 – 2003
Steve Heinze was able to play for his hometown Boston Bruins to begin his NHL career. He spent 9 seasons with Boston, before playing parts of three seasons in Columbus, Buffalo, and Los Angeles.
In his career, Heinze scored 178 goals and had 158 assists. He had a +13 rating in Boston, but he fell to career -20 thanks to his time in Columbus (-19) and Los Angeles (-20).
15. Tom Fitzgerald, Billerica: New York Islanders, Florida Panthers, Colorado Avalanche, Nashville Predators, Chicago Blackhawks, Toronto Maple Leafs, Boston Bruins 1988 – 2006
Tom Fitzgerald wasn’t an All-Star, he was an NHL journeyman. He spent time with seven different teams over his long career, and he got to end it with his hometown Boston Bruins.
Fitzgerald had just 329 points in 1,097 NHL games, but his longevity got him onto this list. You must be doing something right if you can span parts of three decades in your career.
14. Ted Donato, Boston: Boston Bruins, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators, Anaheim Mighty Ducks, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers 1991 – 2004
Another journeyman makes the cut in the form of Ted Donato. He began his career in Boston and ended it there as well. Donato was also a standout at Catholic Memorial High School and at Harvard before his time in the NHL.
In the NHL he scored 150 goals and recorded 197 assists in 796 games.
Immediately after his playing career ended, Donato became the head coach at Harvard. In 2017, he led the Crimson to a Beanpot title and an appearance in the NCAA Frozen Four. His son Ryan is a top prospect for the Boston Bruins.
13. Doug Brown, Southborough: New Jersey Devils, Pittsburgh Penguins, Detroit Red Wings 1986 – 2001
Doug Brown had a long, successful career, even if he wasn’t ever an all-star. He spent 7 years in New Jersey and a gap year in Pittsburgh before another 7 seasons in Detroit. Brown appeared in 854 career NHL games for those clubs, and he finished with 374 points.
12. Jeff Norton, Acton: New York Islanders, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Edmonton Oilers, Tampa Bay Lightning, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins 1987 – 2002
Norton is another man on this list that seemingly played for every NHL team during his career.
He had short stints in Pittsburgh and Boston, but he played in 50 or more games for every other franchise he played for. When he ended up with the Bruins in 2002, he only played 3 games for his hometown team. Norton was able to tally an assist in the black and gold though.
In all, Norton appeared in 799 NHL games with 384 points.
11. Darren Turcotte, Boston: New York Rangers, Hartford Whalers, Winnipeg Jets, San Jose Sharks, St. Louis Blues, Nashville Predators 1988 – 2000
Turcotte was a journeyman as well. He was close to coming in at a top 10 spot on this list. He surpassed 400 career points, with 411 in 635 games.
Most of Turcotte’s career was spent with his first team, the New York Rangers. He was there for 6 seasons and 325 games. He had a career high 67 points in 1990-91 for New York.
10. Marty McInnis, Hingham: New York Islanders, Calgary Flames, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, Boston Bruins 1991 – 2003
McInnis got to spend the twilight seasons of his career at home with the Boston Bruins, but his most successful years came with the Islanders. He was in New York for 6 years, and he had 198 points. McInnis never blew anyone away with his stats, but he was consistent for a long time.
With Boston, McInnis played in 96 games. He had 11 goals and 13 assists for 24 points in that span.
Now, Marty McInnis is an assistant coach at his alma mater Boston College.
9. Shawn McEachern, Waltham: Pittsburgh Penguins, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, Ottawa Senators, Atlanta Thrashers 1991 – 2006
Shawn McEachern was a Matignon Warrior and Boston University Terrier before his NHL career, so he maintained his local roots for as long as he could. As a rookie, he won the Stanley Cup with Mario’s Pittsburgh Penguins. In that season he played just 15 regular season games but had 4 points. He actually played more in the playoffs, with 19 appearances.
As a rookie, he won the Stanley Cup with Mario’s Pittsburgh Penguins. In that season he played just 15 regular season games but had 4 points. He actually played more in the playoffs, with 19 appearances, and 9 points.
McEachern spent two different seasons in Boston, 1995-96 and 2005-06, his final season. With the Bruins, he had 61 points in 110 games. McEachern finished his career with 579 points in 911 games played.
8. Kevin Stevens, Brockton: Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, Los Angeles Kings, New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers 1987 – 2002
Kevin Stevens won 2 Stanley Cups in the NHL, both with the Pittsburgh Penguins. He, of course, had Shawn McEachern on his team for the 1992 run at the cup.
Stevens was the better player though, as he was selected to 3 all-star games and was able to score much more. He finished his career with 874 games played (37 less than McEachern) and 726 points. Stevens was very well balanced, as he had 329 goals and 397 assists in his NHL career.
7. Scott Young, Clinton: Hartford Whalers, Pittsburgh Penguins, Quebec Nordiques, Colorado Avalanche, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, St. Louis Blues, Dallas Stars 1987 – 2006
Scott Young’s longevity and durability bump him ahead of the rest of the top 10 so far. In his career, Young appeared in 1,181 games.
Young won two Stanley Cups, with the Pittsburgh Penguins and Colorado Avalanche. He was never an all-star, but he always found a way to contribute. Young wasn’t huge in the points category (though he did finish with 757) but he had a few big seasons. He had over 60 points in 4 seasons, with 73 in 2000-01 for the Blues.
6. Bobby Carpenter, Beverly: Washington Capitals, New York Rangers, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins, New Jersey Devils 1981 – 1999
Carpenter is another man who gets on this list because of his durability. He also was not an all-star type player, but he was able to stay on the ice and contribute in 1,178 games.
Carpenter could be counted on for 30+ points a season in his peak, but he was all about consistency. He appeared in all 80 games six times in his career, and he never had a season in which he played less than 29 games (which was only once).
5. Bill Guerin, Worcester: New Jersey Devils, Edmonton Oilers, Boston Bruins, Dallas Stars, St. Louis Blues, San Jose Sharks, New York Islanders, Pittsburgh Penguins 1991 – 2010
Bill Guerin. Longevity. Both those things go hand in hand. He appeared in 1,263 games and tallied 856 points as a right winger.
He won Stanley Cups in two different decades with wins in 1995 for the Devils and 2009 for the Penguins. In 2009 he had a career best 15 playoff points, with 7 goals and 8 assists.
4. Tony Amonte, Hingham: New York Rangers, Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Calgary Flames 1991 – 2007
Amonte had longevity like Bill Guerin, but he was able to score a bit more. He appeared in over 1,100 games and finished with an even 900 career NHL points.
Tony was a 60+ point scorer in his peak, with a career best 84 in 1999-00 for the Blackhawks. He had more than 60 points in 9 of his 15 seasons. Though he was routinely nominated for awards and was in the all-star picture, he never claimed either surprisingly.
3. Keith Yandle, Boston: Arizona Coyotes, New York Rangers, Florida Panthers 2006 – Present
I think some people would argue that Keith Yandle doesn’t yet belong this high on the list, but I think he does.
In his time in the NHL, the defenseman has been one of the best. You can count on him to be in the Norris Trophy conversation, and one day he should be able to win one. He’s a 40-50 point player each season, and some think he can get even better.
Last season with Florida, Yandle had 41 points in 82 games, but people expect an improvement for 2017-18.
"“Nearly half of his 41 points were tallied on the man advantage. Despite having a weak PP, Yandle certainly showed us what he’s capable of when quarterbacking the man advantage. With a new coaching staff will also come a brand new system for the power play. Keith will continue to lead the special teams unit (more so PP), and will have a chance to do so with a brand new system put in place.”"
Yandle could climb to No. 1 on this list someday if he’s able to keep on playing.
2. Keith Tkachuk, Melrose: Winnipeg Jets, Phoenix Coyotes, St. Louis Blues, Atlanta Thrashers 1991 – 2007
Longtime NHL left winger Keith Tkachuk comes in at No. 2 here.
He appeared in 1,201 games and recorded 1,065 points. 538 goals and 527 assists provided balance to Tkachuk’s game for the Jets, Coyotes, Blues, and Thrashers.
Tkachuk recorded over 50 points in 13 of his 18 NHL seasons, with 6 seasons over 70 points. His career best was 98 in 1996-96 for Winnipeg.
Though he never won a Stanley Cup, Tkachuk performed well in the playoffs as well with 28 goals and 28 assists for 56 points in 89 games. His adjusted point shares rate him with similar scores as Jeremy Roenick, Daniel Alfredsson, Mike Modano, and Mike Messier. Tkachuk has been overlooked for the Hall of Fame, but I sure hope he gets in soon.
1. Jeremy Roenick, Boston: Chicago Blackhawks, Phoenix Coyotes, Philadelphia Flyers, Los Angeles Kings, San Jose Sharks
Current broadcaster Jeremy Roenick is the best hockey player to ever come out of the state of Massachusetts. His recent Twitter antics aside, Roenick was a great player.
Roenick has the most games played and most points in the NHL for any player coming out of the Bay State, with 1,216 points in 1,363 games played. He became just the third American-born player to score 500 goals after Joe Mullen and Mike Modano.
Roenick was never an all-star or Stanley Cup champion, but he was so explosive at times. From 1991 through 1994 Roenick had three straight seasons with over 100 points, with a career best 107 in both 93 and 94.
Next: Which Bruins numbers should be retired next?
Hopefully, 2018 will be the year that Jeremy Roenick gets into the Hall of Fame.
So, I’m sure a lot of you think I got this list wrong or completely whiffed on the order of things. I’d love to hear your opinions on Twitter @CandCFanSided or in the comments here below.