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NHL Record for Most Time on Ice, Forward in a Career

Alex Ovechkin holds the NHL record with 32,281:23 (2005-06 to 2026-27).

Top of the list

Most Time on Ice, Forward, Career: the leaders
RankPlayerTOISeasonGPSeasons
1Alex OvechkinWSH · active32,281:232005-06 to 2026-271,58122
2Anze KopitarLAK31,515:372006-07 to 2025-261,52120
3Sidney CrosbyPIT · active29,449:052005-06 to 2026-271,43022
4Patrick KaneCHI,NYR,DET · active27,472:472007-08 to 2026-271,37820
5Claude GirouxPHI,FLA,OTT · active26,101:052007-08 to 2026-271,35420
6Jordan StaalPIT,CAR · active25,254:492006-07 to 2026-271,40921

The full top 50

Most Time on Ice, Forward, Career: NHL skater records
RankPlayerTOISeasonGPSeasons
1Alex OvechkinWSH · active32,281:232005-06 to 2026-271,58122
2Anze KopitarLAK31,515:372006-07 to 2025-261,52120
3Sidney CrosbyPIT · active29,449:052005-06 to 2026-271,43022
4Patrick KaneCHI,NYR,DET · active27,472:472007-08 to 2026-271,37820
5Claude GirouxPHI,FLA,OTT · active26,101:052007-08 to 2026-271,35420
6Jordan StaalPIT,CAR · active25,254:492006-07 to 2026-271,40921
7Evgeni MalkinPIT · active24,884:272006-07 to 2026-271,27921
8Eric StaalCAR,NYR,MIN,MTL,BUF,FLA24,747:122003-04 to 2022-231,28418
9Joe PavelskiSJS,DAL24,727:412006-07 to 2023-241,33218
10John TavaresNYI,TOR · active24,453:542009-10 to 2026-271,27318
11Ryan O'ReillyCOL,BUF,STL,TOR,NSH · active24,351:492009-10 to 2026-271,24118
12Corey PerryANA,DAL,MTL,TBL,EDM,CHI,LAK · active24,134:222005-06 to 2026-271,46922
13Steven StamkosTBL,NSH · active23,826:222008-09 to 2026-271,25419
14Jeff CarterPHI,CBJ,LAK,PIT23,041:392005-06 to 2023-241,32119
15Patrice BergeronBOS23,012:482003-04 to 2022-231,22319
16Patrick MarleauSJS,TOR,PIT22,910:041997-98 to 2020-211,22123
17Dustin BrownLAK22,782:292003-04 to 2021-221,26518
18Phil KesselBOS,TOR,PIT,ARI,VGK22,762:302006-07 to 2022-231,28617
19Ryan GetzlafANA22,550:322005-06 to 2021-221,15717
20Joe ThorntonSJS,BOS,TOR,FLA22,448:321997-98 to 2021-221,20524
21Zach PariseNJD,MIN,NYI,COL22,337:232005-06 to 2023-241,25419
22Jonathan ToewsCHI,WPG22,104:582007-08 to 2025-261,14916
23Jamie BennDAL · active22,003:312009-10 to 2026-271,26018
24Matt DucheneCOL,OTT,CBJ,NSH,DAL · active21,540:482009-10 to 2025-261,19517
25Nicklas BackstromWSH21,427:232007-08 to 2023-241,10517
26Blake WheelerBOS,ATL,WPG,NYR21,319:412008-09 to 2023-241,17216
27Paul StastnyCOL,STL,WPG,VGK,CAR21,118:152006-07 to 2022-231,14517
28Brad MarchandBOS,FLA · active20,782:072009-10 to 2026-271,15418
29David PerronSTL,EDM,PIT,ANA,VGK,DET,OTT · active20,522:352007-08 to 2025-261,23919
30Nick FolignoOTT,CBJ,TOR,BOS,CHI,MIN · active20,442:282007-08 to 2026-271,29020
31Jordan EberleEDM,NYI,SEA · active20,217:562010-11 to 2026-271,14917
32Mikael BacklundCGY · active20,053:272008-09 to 2026-271,15619
33Ryan Nugent-HopkinsEDM · active19,988:482011-12 to 2025-261,03115
34Nathan MacKinnonCOL · active19,829:542013-14 to 2026-2795914
35Mikko KoivuMIN,CBJ19,805:222005-06 to 2020-211,03516
36Mark ScheifeleWPG · active19,545:342011-12 to 2026-2796916
37Brayden SchennLAK,PHI,STL,NYI · active19,368:112009-10 to 2026-271,11018
38Travis ZajacNJD,NYI19,350:102006-07 to 2020-211,03715
39Mika ZibanejadOTT,NYR · active19,008:372011-12 to 2026-271,02216
40Jason SpezzaOTT,DAL,TOR18,982:012002-03 to 2021-221,13719
41Henrik SedinVAN18,955:482000-01 to 2017-181,01217
42Nazem KadriTOR,COL,CGY · active18,788:362009-10 to 2026-271,07118
43Henrik ZetterbergDET18,784:092002-03 to 2017-1894215
44Evander KaneATL,WPG,BUF,SJS,EDM,VAN18,559:332009-10 to 2025-261,00116
45Ryan KeslerVAN,ANA18,553:232003-04 to 2018-1997315
46T.J. OshieSTL,WSH18,481:022008-09 to 2023-241,01016
47Tyler SeguinBOS,DAL · active18,456:452010-11 to 2026-271,02417
48Jeff SkinnerCAR,BUF,EDM,SJS18,420:472010-11 to 2025-261,11016
49Jason PominvilleBUF,MIN18,407:372003-04 to 2018-191,05915
50David KrejciBOS18,404:572006-07 to 2022-231,03216

Top 50 of 1,289 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 time on ice, forward in a career?

Alex Ovechkin holds the NHL record for most time on ice, forward in a career with 32,281:23 (2005-06 to 2026-27).