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NHL Record for Most Seasons Played in a Career

Chris Chelios holds the NHL record with 26 seasons (1983-84 to 2009-10).

Top of the list

Most Seasons Played, Career: the leaders
RankPlayerSeasonsSeasonGPGoalsAssists
1Chris CheliosMTL,CHI,DET,ATL261983-84 to 2009-101,651185763
1Gordie HoweDET,HFD261946-47 to 1979-801,7678011,049
3Mark MessierEDM,NYR,VAN251979-80 to 2003-041,7566941,193
4Tim HortonTOR,NYR,PIT,BUF241949-50 to 1973-741,445115403
4Alex DelvecchioDET241950-51 to 1973-741,550456825
4Zdeno CharaNYI,OTT,BOS,WSH241997-98 to 2021-221,680209471

The full top 60

Most Seasons Played, Career: NHL skater records
RankPlayerSeasonsSeasonGPGoalsAssists
1Chris CheliosMTL,CHI,DET,ATL261983-84 to 2009-101,651185763
1Gordie HoweDET,HFD261946-47 to 1979-801,7678011,049
3Mark MessierEDM,NYR,VAN251979-80 to 2003-041,7566941,193
4Tim HortonTOR,NYR,PIT,BUF241949-50 to 1973-741,445115403
4Alex DelvecchioDET241950-51 to 1973-741,550456825
4Zdeno CharaNYI,OTT,BOS,WSH241997-98 to 2021-221,680209471
4Joe ThorntonBOS,SJS,TOR,FLA241997-98 to 2021-221,7144301,109
4Jaromir JagrPIT,WSH,NYR,PHI,DAL,BOS,NJD,FLA,CGY241990-91 to 2017-181,7337661,155
9Al MacInnisCGY,STL231981-82 to 2003-041,416340934
9Johnny BucykDET,BOS231955-56 to 1977-781,540556813
9Brent BurnsMIN,SJS,CAR,COL · active232003-04 to 2026-271,588273675
9Dave AndreychukBUF,TOR,NJD,COL,BOS,TBL231982-83 to 2005-061,639640698
9Ron FrancisHFD,PIT,CAR,TOR231981-82 to 2003-041,7315491,249
9Patrick MarleauSJS,TOR,PIT231997-98 to 2020-211,779566631
15Ray WhitneySJS,EDM,FLA,CBJ,DET,CAR,PHX,DAL221991-92 to 2013-141,330385679
15Dean PrenticeNYR,BOS,DET,PIT,MNS221952-53 to 1973-741,378391469
15Doug MohnsBOS,CHI,MNS,AFM,WSH221953-54 to 1974-751,391248462
15Stan MikitaCHI221958-59 to 1979-801,396541926
15Sidney CrosbyPIT · active222005-06 to 2026-271,4306571,110
15Corey PerryANA,DAL,MTL,TBL,EDM,CHI,LAK · active222005-06 to 2026-271,469465507
15Steve YzermanDET221983-84 to 2005-061,5146921,063
15Alex OvechkinWSH · active222005-06 to 2026-271,581930761
15Ray BourqueBOS,COL221979-80 to 2000-011,6124101,169
15Scott StevensWSH,STL,NJD221982-83 to 2003-041,635196712
15Mark RecchiPIT,PHI,MTL,CAR,ATL,TBL,BOS221988-89 to 2010-111,652577956
26George ArmstrongTOR211949-50 to 1970-711,188296417
26Claude LemieuxMTL,NJD,COL,PHX,DAL,SJS211983-84 to 2008-091,215379407
26Eric NesterenkoTOR,CHI211951-52 to 1971-721,219250324
26Gary RobertsCGY,CAR,TOR,FLA,PIT,TBL211986-87 to 2008-091,224438472
26Allan StanleyNYR,CHI,BOS,TOR,PHI211948-49 to 1968-691,244100333
26Kris LetangPIT · active212006-07 to 2026-271,245178632
26Evgeni MalkinPIT · active212006-07 to 2026-271,279538876
26James PatrickNYR,HFD,CGY,BUF211983-84 to 2003-041,280149490
26Jean RatelleNYR,BOS211960-61 to 1980-811,280491776
26Mathieu SchneiderMTL,NYI,TOR,NYR,LAK,DET,ANA,ATL,PHX,VAN211987-88 to 2009-101,289223520
26Ron StewartTOR,BOS,STL,NYR,VAN,NYI211952-53 to 1972-731,353276253
26Paul CoffeyEDM,PIT,LAK,DET,HFD,PHI,CHI,CAR,BOS211980-81 to 2000-011,4093961,135
26Jordan StaalPIT,CAR · active212006-07 to 2026-271,409318429
26Harry HowellNYR,OAK,CGS,LAK211952-53 to 1972-731,41194324
26Luke RichardsonTOR,EDM,PHI,CBJ,TBL,OTT211987-88 to 2008-091,41735166
26Scott MellanbyPHI,EDM,FLA,STL,ATL211985-86 to 2006-071,431364476
26Teemu SelanneWIN,ANA,SJS,COL211992-93 to 2013-141,451684773
26Phil HousleyBUF,WIN,STL,CGY,NJD,WSH,CHI,TOR211982-83 to 2002-031,495338894
26Mike ModanoMNS,DAL,DET211989-90 to 2010-111,499561813
26Matt CullenANA,FLA,CAR,NYR,OTT,MIN,NSH,PIT211997-98 to 2018-191,516266465
26Brendan ShanahanNJD,STL,HFD,DET,NYR211987-88 to 2008-091,524656698
26Shane DoanWIN,PHX,ARI211995-96 to 2016-171,540402570
26Larry MurphyLAK,WSH,MNS,PIT,TOR,DET211980-81 to 2000-011,615288929
49Dit ClapperBOS201927-28 to 1946-47835229248
49Jean BeliveauMTL201950-51 to 1970-711,125507712
49Kris DraperWIN,DET201990-91 to 2010-111,157161203
49Marc BergevinCHI,NYI,HFD,TBL,DET,STL,PIT,VAN201984-85 to 2003-041,19136145
49Marcel PronovostDET,TOR201950-51 to 1969-701,20688257
49Steve ThomasTOR,CHI,NYI,NJD,ANA,DET201984-85 to 2003-041,235421512
49Patrik EliasNJD201995-96 to 2015-161,240408617
49Bill GadsbyCHI,NYR,DET201946-47 to 1965-661,248130438
49Joe NieuwendykCGY,DAL,NJD,TOR,FLA201986-87 to 2006-071,257564562
49Henri RichardMTL201955-56 to 1974-751,258358688
49Rob BlakeLAK,COL,SJS201989-90 to 2009-101,270240537
49Ken DaneykoNJD201983-84 to 2002-031,28336142

Top 60 of 1,933 lines on the NHL's list, ties kept. Source: NHL Records.

About these records

Every record list comes from the NHL's official records database (records.nhl.com): 808 regular-season and playoff records for skaters, goalies and teams. We keep the top 50 of each list, with ties, and refresh lists with active players daily, so career climbs like Alex Ovechkin's goal total update the morning after a game.

Records cover the league's whole history, so eras matter: scoring was far higher in the 1980s, goalie stats like saves and save percentage start in 1955-56 or later, and time on ice, hits and blocks start in 2005-06. Each list notes its own limits.

Active players are flagged, so you can see who is climbing a list this season. For the milestones those players are chasing tonight, see the milestone watch.

More NHL records and milestones

  • All NHL records

    Every official record list by category

  • Milestones

    Who could hit a milestone tonight, and who is close

  • Streaks

    Active point and goal streaks and droughts, with the luck behind them

  • Hat tricks

    Every hat trick this season and the leaders since 2017-18

  • Gordie Howe hat tricks

    Goal, assist and a fight in one game

  • Game highs

    Most shots, saves, hits and goals in one game this season

  • Rookies

    Rookie leaders, points pace and the Calder race

  • Awards

    Trophy winners and this season's award races with odds

  • Head to head

    All-time records between any two teams

Frequently asked questions

What is the NHL record for most seasons played in a career?

Chris Chelios holds the NHL record for most seasons played in a career with 26 (1983-84 to 2009-10).

Who is the active leader for most seasons played in a career?

Brent Burns is the highest active player on the list at 23, rank 9 all time.