These Countries Produce the Most NHL Players

The NHL is truly a worldwide league.

Greatest NHL Players by Country

Sandis Ozolinsh was born in Latvia and became a seven-time NHL All-Star.

We all know that the greatest concentration of hockey players in the NHL comes from Canada. In fact, there are more NHL players from just one Canadian province, Ontario, than there are from the country with the second-most NHL players, the United States.

Expand your map preferences a little bit more, and you'll see quite a few more countries that produce NHL talent — even some places where it just doesn't make sense that hockey players would come from.

Meet the top players from the top NHL countries, ranked by the number of players each country has produced.

30. Brunei: Craig Adams

NHL players born in Brunei (all-time): 1

Born: April 26, 1977

Birthplace: Seria, Brunei

Position: Right wing

Career: 13 seasons (2001-04, 2005-15)

Teams: Carolina Hurricanes (2001-04, 2005-08), Chicago Blackhawks (2008-09), Pittsburgh Penguins (2009-15)

NHL highlights: Two-time Stanley Cup champion (2006, 2009)

Bottom line: Craig Adams is the first and only — and likely last — NHL player born in Brunei, where his Canadian-born father was working for Shell Oil when Adams was born.

Adams was raised in Canada and played collegiately for Harvard before breaking into the NHL in 2001.

Adams won two Stanley Cups with two different teams, Carolina and Pittsburgh, and came up just 49 games short of hitting 1,000 for his career mark.

23. (Tied) Lithuania: Dainius Zubrus

NHL players born in Lithuania: 2

Born: June 16, 1978

Birthplace: Elektrenai, Lithuania

Position: Center

Career: 19 seasons (1996-2004, 2005-16)

Teams: Philadelphia Flyers (1996-99), Montreal Canadiens (1999-2001), Washington Capitals (2001-04, 2005-07), Buffalo Sabres (2007), New Jersey Devils (2007-15), San Jose Sharks (2015-16)

NHL highlights: NHL draft No. 15 overall (1996)

Bottom line: Dainius Zubrus played a staggering 1,293 career games in the NHL over 19 seasons.

Zubrus played in the Stanley Cup Final with three different teams and lost all three times — with the Philadelphia Flyers, New Jersey Devils and San Jose Sharks.

Zubrus is also the first player born in Lithuania to play in 1,000 career NHL games.

23. (Tied) Slovenia: Anze Kopitar

NHL players born in Slovenia (all time): 2

Born: Aug. 24, 1987

Birthplace: Jesenice, Slovenia

Position: Center

Career: 14 seasons (2006-present)

Teams: Los Angeles Kings

NHL highlights: Two-time Stanley Cup champion (2012, 2014), five-time NHL All-Star (2008, 2011, 2015, 2018, 2020), Lady Byng Trophy (2018)

Bottom line: Anze Kopitar became the first Slovenian player to make it to the NHL in 2006.

In 2012, Kopitar led the NHL in playoff points on the way to leading the Los Angeles Kings to a Stanley Cup title.

Kopitar won another Stanley Cup in 2014 and led the NHL in playoff points again in 2016 — the same year he won the Lady Byng Trophy.

23. (Tied) South Korea: Richard Park

NHL players born in South Korea: 2

Born: May 27, 1976

Birthplace: Seoul, South Korea

Position: Right wing

Career: 13 seasons (1994-99, 2001-04, 2005-10)

Teams: Pittsburgh Penguins (1994-97, 2011-12), Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1997-98), Philadelphia Flyers (1998-99), Minnesota Wild (2001-04), Vancouver Canucks (2005-06), New York Islanders (2006-10)

NHL highlights: NHL Draft No. 50 overall (1994)

Bottom line: Richard Park was born in South Korea and moved to Rancho Palos Verdes, California, when he was 3 years old.

He played in the Los Angeles Kings youth hockey system and moved to Ontario, Canada, when he was 13 to continue his career against elite competition.

Park played two more seasons in Sweden after he played his last NHL season in 2011-12.

23. (Tied) Nigeria: Rumun Ndur

NHL players born in Nigeria: 2

Born: July 7, 1975

Birthplace: Zaria, Nigeria

Position: Defense

Career: 4 seasons (1996-2000)

Teams: Buffalo Sabres (1996-99), New York Rangers (1999), Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2000)

NHL highlights: NHL draft No. 69 overall (1994)

Bottom line: Rumun Ndur was the first Nigerian-born NHL player and was raised in the hockey hotbed of Hearst, Ontario.

Ndur, at 6-foot-2 and 245 pounds, was never scared to drop the gloves and earned a reputation as a brawler in his brief NHL career.

In an interesting piece of trivia, Ndur played alongside Wayne Gretzky on the New York Rangers in Gretzky's final NHL game.

23. (Tied) Netherlands: Ed Kea

NHL players born in the Netherlands: 2

Born: Jan. 19, 1948

Birthplace: Weesp, Netherlands

Died: Aug. 31, 1999 (age 51, Six Mile Lake, Ontario, Canada)

Position: Defense

Career: 10 seasons (1973-83)

Teams: Atlanta Flames (1973-79), St. Louis BLues (1979-83)

NHL highlights: 583 games, 175 points

Bottom line: Ed Kea's story is one of the more tragic in NHL history and doesn't paint the league and its leaders in a very good light.

Kea played 46 games with the St. Louis Blues in 1982-83, and while on a brief stint with the Blues' CHL affiliate in Salt Lake City, Utah, he was left severely mentally and physically disabled after hitting his head on the ice. Because Kea was playing in the minors when he suffered the injury, the NHL did not pay out disastrous injury benefits.

Kea struggled for the rest of his life — he was not able to hold a job — and he died in a drowning accident in 1999.

23. (Tied) Japan: Ryan O'Marra

NHL players born in Japan: 2

Born: June 9, 1987

Birthplace: Tokyo, Japan

Position: Center

Career: 3 seasons (2009-12)

Teams: Edmonton Oilers (2009-12), Anaheim Ducks (2012)

NHL highlights: NHL draft No. 15 overall (2009)

Bottom line: Ryan O'Marra was born in Japan to Irish-Canadian parents and, in 2009, became the first NHL player who was born in Japan. But O'Marra's career didn't amount to much despite being the No. 15 overall pick in the 2009 NHL draft by the New York Islanders.

An early sign of trouble was that the Islanders shipped O'Marra to the Oilers before he even made it out of their minor league system. Elite prospects in hockey don't get traded in the minors too often.

23. (Tied) Brazil: Robyn Regehr

NHL players born in Brazil: 2

Born: April 19, 1980

Birthplace: Recife, Brazil

Position: Defense

Career: 16 seasons (1999-2004, 2004-15)

Teams: Calgary Flames (1999-2004, 2005-11), Buffalo Sabres (2011-13), Los Angeles Kings (2013), Los Angeles Kings (2013-15)

NHL highlights: Stanley Cup champion (2014), Calgary Flames Humanitarian Award (2000), Calgary Flames McCaig Award (2006)

Bottom line: Robyn Regehr's parents were Canadian missionaries working in Brazil when he was born.

Regehr lived in Indonesia until he was 7 years old — where younger brother and fellow NHLer Richie Regehr was born. Robyn Regehr famously broke his legs in an automobile accident and recovered in time to make his NHL debut just four months later.

Regehr, who played 1,089 career games, won a Stanley Cup with the Los Angeles Kings in 2014.

21. (Tied) Yugoslavia: Ivan Boldirev

NHL players born in Yugoslavia: 3

Born: Aug. 15, 1949

Birthplace: Zrenjanin, Yugoslavia

Position: Center

Career: 15 seasons (1970-85)

Teams: Boston Bruins (1970-71), California Golden Seals (1971-74), Chicago Blackhawks (1974-79), Atlanta Flames (1979-80), Vancouver Canucks (1980-83), Detroit Red Wings (1983-85)

NHL highlights: NHL All-Star (1978), NHL draft No. 11 overall (1969)

Bottom line: Ivan Boldirev's family emigrated from Yugoslavia to Canada when he was just 2 years old. He made an All-Star game in 1978 and racked up 1,052 career NHL games, but his name will always be tied to an odd piece of Stanley Cup trivia.

Boldirev was called up to the Boston Bruins at the end of the 1969-70 season for the playoffs but never actually played in a game while the Bruins won their first Stanley Cup since 1941. Boldirev got his name engraved on the Stanley Cup despite not playing — a rule the NHL changed the next season.

21. (Tied) Italy: Luca Sbisa

NHL players born in Italy: 3

Born: Jan. 30, 1990

Birthplace: Ozieri, Italy

Position: Defense

Career: 12 seasons (2008-present)

Teams: Philadelphia Flyers (2008-09), Anaheim Ducks (2009-14), Vancouver Canucks (2014-17), Vegas Golden Knights (2017-18), New York Islanders (2018-19), Winnipeg Jets (2019-present)

NHL highlights: NHL draft No. 19 overall (2008)

Bottom line: Luca Sbisa was born in Italy and moved with his parents to Switzerland when he was just 1 year old.

He eventually competed with the Swiss national team in the 2010 Winter Olympics after he broke into the NHL with the Philadelphia Flyers in 2008-09.

Since then, Sbisa has been a journeyman and through the 2020 season had played for six teams in 12 seasons.

20. Ireland: Jim McFadden

NHL players born in Ireland: 5

Born: April 15, 1920

Birthplace: Belfast, Northern Ireland

Died: Aug. 22, 2002 (age 82, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada)

Position: Center

Career: 9 seasons (1946-54)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings (1946-51), Chicago Blackhawks (1951-54)

NHL highlights: Stanley Cup champion (1950), Calder Trophy (1948), NHL All-Star (1950)

Bottom line: Jim McFadden is one of just a handful of NHL players born in Ireland.

He won the Calder Trophy as the NHL Rookie of the Year in 1948 and won his only Stanley Cup with the Detroit Red Wings in 1950.

McFadden, who also made the All-Star team in 1950, was traded to the Chicago Blackhawks, and his career was relatively short at just nine seasons.

19. Latvia: Sandis Ozolinsh

NHL players born in Latvia: 7

Born: Aug. 3, 1972

Birthplace: Sigulda, Latvia

Position: Defense

Career: 15 seasons (1992-2004, 2005-08)

Teams: San Jose Sharks (1992-96), Colorado Avalanche (1996-2000), Carolina Hurricanes (2000-02), Florida Panthers (2002-03), Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (2002-04, 2005-06), New York Rangers (2006-07), San Jose Sharks (2007-08)

NHL highlights: Stanley Cup champion (1996), Norris Trophy finalist (1997), seven-time NHL All-Star (1994, 1997, 1998, 2000-03)

Bottom line: If you're in Latvia, make sure you namedrop Sandis Ozolinsh when you're hanging out with the locals — he's the most popular athlete in the country's history.

Ozolinsh is one of the more accomplished players on the list as a Stanley Cup champion, Norris Trophy finalist and seven-time All-Star.

He's also an entrepreneur in various sporting ventures and brought the first 18-hole golf course to Latvia in 2002.

16. (Tied) Poland: Mariusz Czerkawski

NHL players born in Poland: 8

Born: April 13, 1972

Birthplace: Radomsko, Poland

Position: Right wing

Career: 11 seasons (1993-2002, 2003-04, 2005-06)

Teams: Boston Bruins (1993-96, 2006), Edmonton Oilers (1996-97), New York Islanders (1997-2002, 2003-04), Toronto Maple Leafs (2005-06)

NHL highlights: NHL All-Star (2000), NHL draft No. 106 overall (1991)

Bottom line: Mariusz Czerkawski was the first player born and trained in Poland to make it to the NHL. He represented his country in the 1992 Winter Olympics.

Czerkawski's first wife, Izabella Scorupco, played Bond girl Natalya Simonova in the 1995 film "GoldenEye," which made a staggering $352.1 million at the box office.

16. (Tied) Norway: Mats Zuccarello

NHL players born in Norway: 8

Born: Sept. 1, 1987

Birthplace: Oslo, Norway

Position: Right wing

Career: 10 seasons (2010-present)

Teams: New York Rangers (2010-19), Dallas Stars (2019), Minnesota Wild (2019-present)

NHL highlights: Stanley Cup Final (2014)

Bottom line: Mats Zuccarello made it to the NHL despite being undrafted and made history in 2014 when he became the first Norwegian-born player to play in the Stanley Cup Final, and his New York Rangers lost to the Los Angeles Kings.

Zuccarello played out a four-year, $18 million contract with the Rangers, then signed a five-year, $30 million contract with the Minnesota Wild in 2019.

16. (Tied) Ukraine: Peter Bondra

NHL players born in Ukraine: 8

Born: Feb. 7, 1968

Birthplace: Bakivtsi, Lutsk Raion, Ukrainian SSR

Position: Right wing

Career: 17 seasons (1990-2004, 2005-07)

Teams: Washington Capitals (1990-2004), Ottawa Senators (2004-05), Atlanta Thrashers (2005-06), Chicago Blackhawks (2006-07)

NHL highlights: Five-time NHL All-Star (1993, 1996-99)

Bottom line: Peter Bondra is a two-time winner of the NHL Fastest Skater Competition, in 1997 and 1999, and has a pretty unique distinction in NHL history.

Bondra is one of only 45 NHL players with 500 career goals and finished his career with 892 points.

Unfortunately for Bondra, he was never able to win a Stanley Cup in 16 seasons.

15. Austria: Thomas Vanek

NHL players born in Austria: 9

Born: Jan. 19, 1984

Birthplace: Baden bei Wien, Austria

Position: Left wing

Career: 14 seasons (2005-19)

Teams: Buffalo Sabres (2005-13), New York Islanders (2013-14), Montreal Canadiens (2014), Minnesota Wild (2014-16), Detroit Red Wings (2016-17, 2019), Florida Panthers (2017), Vancouver Canucks (2017-18), Columbus Blue Jackets (2018-19)

NHL highlights: NHL draft No. 5 overall (2003), NHL All-Star (2009), NHL Plus-Minus Award (2007)

Bottom line: Thomas Vanek was picked No. 5 overall by the Buffalo Sabres in 2005, becoming the highest-drafted Austrian ever.

Vanek was a college hockey star at the University of Minnesota, where he led the Gophers to the 2003 national championship and scored game-winning goals in both the semifinal win over Michigan and the championship game win over New Hampshire.

Vanek played for eight teams in 14 NHL seasons.

14. Kazakhstan: Nikolai Antropov

Nik Antropov became a Canadian citizen in 2007 after playing for Kazakhstan in the 2006 Winter Olympics.

NHL players born in Kazakhstan: 10

Born: Feb. 18, 1980 (Oskemen, Kazakh SSR)

Position: Center

Career: 14 seasons (1999-2013)

Teams: Toronto Maple Leafs (1999-2009), New York Rangers (2009), Atlanta Thrashers (2009-11), Winnipeg Jets (2011-13)

NHL highlights: NHL Draft No. 10 overall (1998)

Bottom line: Nik Antropov joined the Toronto Maple Leafs at just 19 years old and played for the team for 10 seasons before a trade to the New York Rangers in 2009.

Antropov represented Kazakhstan — yes, that's where Borat is from — in the 2006 Winter Olympics before officially becoming a Canadian citizen in 2007.

Antropov played two more seasons of pro hockey in Kazakhstan following his final NHL season in 2013.

12. (Tied) Belarus: Ruslan Salei

NHL players born in Belarus: 12

Born: Nov. 2, 1974

Birthplace: Minsk, Belarus SSR

Died: Sept. 7, 2011 (age 36, Yaroslavi, Russia)

Position: Defense

Career: 14 seasons (1996-2004, 2005-11)

Teams: Mighty Ducks of Anaheim (1996-2004, 2005-06), Florida Panthers (2006-08), Colorado Avalanche (2008-10), Detroit Red Wings (2010-11)

NHL highlights: NHL Draft No. 9 overall (1996)

Bottom line: Ruslan Salei started playing pro hockey in Belarus when he was just 16 years old and broke into the NHL in 1996 with the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim.

He played 14 seasons in the NHL and represented Belarus three times in the Winter Olympics. Salei died in a plane crash on Sept. 7, 2011, that killed almost the entire Lokomotiv Yaroslaval hockey team upon takeoff.

Salei was just 36 years old.

12. (Tied) France: Cristobal Huet

NHL players born in France: 12

Born: Sept. 3, 1975

Birthplace: Saint-Martin-d'Heres, France

Position: Goaltender

Career: 7 seasons (2002-04, 2005-10)

Teams: Los Angeles Kings (2002-04), Montreal Canadiens (2005-08), Washington Capitals (2008), Chicago Blackhawks (2008-10)

NHL highlights: Stanley Cup champion (2010), NHL All-Star (2007)

Bottom line: Cristobal Huet became the first French-born player in NHL history and the first Frenchman to win the Stanley Cup in 2010 with the Chicago Blackhawks.

But that was the same year Huet was replaced as the Blackhawks' starter by Antti Niemi and only played 20 minutes in the entire Stanley Cup playoffs.

Huet played another eight seasons of pro hockey in Switzerland after his NHL career was over.

11. Denmark: Lars Eller

NHL players born in Denmark: 16

Born: May 8, 1989

Birthplace: Rodovre, Denmark

Position: Center

Career: 11 seasons (2009-present)

Teams: St. Louis Blues (2009-10), Montreal Canadiens (2010-16), Washington Capitals (2016-present)

NHL highlights: Stanley Cup champion (2018)

Bottom line: Not only did Lars Eller become the first NHL player born in Denmark to win the Stanley Cup, but he also scored the Stanley-Cup winning goal in the process.

Eller's father, Olaf Eller, was a professional hockey player in international competitions, then a sports broadcaster in their native Denmark.

Lars Eller actually played professional hockey for six seasons before breaking through to the NHL in 2009 with the St. Louis Blues.

9. (Tied) Germany: Leon Draisaitl

NHL players born in Germany: 35

Born: Oct. 27, 1995

Birthplace: Cologne, Germany

Position: Center/left wing

Career: 6 seasons (2014-present)

Teams: Edmonton Oilers

NHL highlights: Hart Trophy (2020), two-time NHL All-Star (2019, 2020), NHL All-Star Game Skills Competition Premiere Passer (2019), Art Ross Trophy winner (2020)

Bottom line: Leon Draisaitl became the first German-born player to win the Hart Trophy as the NHL's MVP in 2020.

Draisaitl comes from German hockey royalty as his father, Peter Draisaitl, represented West Germany and Germany in international competition for 146 games and played in the Winter Olympics three times.

While the Oilers arguably have the game's two most exciting young players on their roster in Connor McDavid and Draisaitl, they still don't have a Stanley Cup Final appearance to show for it.

9. (Tied) Switzerland: Roman Josi

NHL players born in Switzerland: 35

Born: June 1, 1990

Birthplace: Bern, Switzerland

Position: Defense

Career: 9 seasons (2011-present)

Teams: Nashville Predators

NHL highlights: Norris Trophy winner (2020), three-time NHL All-Star (2016, 2019, 2020)

Bottom line: Roman Josi finished in the top five of voting for the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman twice before finally winning the award in 2020.

Josi was the first player for the Nashville Predators to win the award and did so right after cashing in with a megacontract.

He signed an eight-year, $72.42 million extension with the Predators in October 2019.

8. United Kingdom: Owen Nolan

NHL players born in United Kingdom: 48

Born: Feb. 12, 1972

Birthplace: Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom

Position: Right wing

Career: 18 seasons (1990-2004, 2006-10)

Teams: Quebec Nordiques (1990-95), Colorado Avalanche (1995), San Jose Sharks (1995-2003), Toronto Maple Leafs (2003-04), Phoenix Coyotes (2006-07), Calgary Flames (2007-08), Minnesota Wild (2008-10)

NHL highlights: NHL All-Star (1992, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2002), NHL draft No. 1 overall (1990)

Bottom line: Owen Nolan is one of just a handful of NHL players born in Ireland or Northern Ireland but immigrated to Ontario when he was just 7 months old.

Even living in Canada, Nolan's sports as a child were baseball and soccer, and he didn't even begin skating until he was 9 years old.

Nolan ended up being the No. 1 overall pick in the 1990 NHL draft and played for the Quebec Nordiques until they became the Colorado Avalanche in 1995.

7. Slovakia: Stan Mikita

NHL players born in Slovakia: 86

Born: May 20, 1940

Birthplace: Sokolce, Slovak Republic

Position: Center

Career: 22 seasons (1958-80)

Teams: Chicago Blackhawks

NHL highlights: Stanley Cup champion (1961), two-time Hart Trophy winner (1967, 1968), four-time Art Ross Trophy winner (1964, 1965, 1967, 1968), Lady Byng Trophy winner (1967, 1968), nine-time NHL All-Star (1964, 1967-69, 1971-75)

Bottom line: Stan Mikita helped define the NHL in the 1960s, when he won back-to-back Hart Trophies, and is the first player of Slovakian descent to win the Stanley Cup.

Mikita lived in the Slovak Republic until he was 8 years old, then moved to Ontario and was adopted by his aunt and uncle.

Mikita was also one of the first NHL players to wear a helmet after an errant shot tore off part of his ear, and it had to be stitched back on.

6. Finland: Teemu Selanne

NHL players born in Finland: 217

Born: July 3, 1970

Birthplace: Helsinki, Finland

Position: Right wing

Career: 22 seasons (1992-2014)

Teams: Winnipeg Jets (1992-96), Anaheim Mighty Ducks (1996-2001, 2005-14), San Jose Sharks (2001-03), Colorado Avalanche (2003-04)

NHL highlights: Stanley Cup champion (2007)

Bottom line: One of the fastest skaters of all time, Teemu Selanne won NHL Rookie of the Year in 1993 and was a 10-time All-Star in 22 seasons.

Selanne led the NHL in goal-scoring in 1999 and won the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, named for another one of the NHL's fastest skaters and great goal scorers.

Selanne won one Stanley Cup with the Anaheim Ducks in 2007.

5. Russia: Sergei Fedorov

NHL players born in Russia: 300

Born: Dec. 13, 1969

Birthplace: Pskov, Russian SFSR

Position: Center/defense

Career: 19 seasons (1990-2009)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings (1990-2003), Anaheim Ducks (2003-04, 2005-06), Columbus Blue Jackets (2006-08), Washington Capitals (2007-09)

NHL highlights: Three-time Stanley Cup champion (1997, 1998, 2002), Hart Trophy (1994), six-time NHL All-Star (1992, 1994, 1996, 2001-03)

Bottom line: Sergei Federov was as versatile a player who ever played the game. He could play center, wing or defense and led the Detroit Red Wings to three Stanley Cup titles in 13 years.

Those who saw Federov in his prime can attest to his greatness. Wayne Gretzky once called him the most dominant player he'd ever seen, and teammate Steve Yzerman said he was the best skater he'd ever seen.

4. Czechoslovakia: Jaromir Jagr

NHL players born in Czechoslovakia: 318

Born: Feb. 15, 1972

Birthplace: Kladno, Czechoslovakia

Position: Right wing

Career: 26 seasons (1991-2004, 2005-18)

Teams: Pittsburgh Penguins (1991-2001), Washington Capitals (2001-04), New York Rangers (2004, 2005-08), Philadelphia Flyers (2011-12), Dallas Stars (2012-13), Boston Bruins (2013), New Jersey Devils (2013-15), Florida Panthers (2015-17), Calgary Flames (2017-18)

NHL highlights: Two-time Stanley Cup champion (1991, 1992), NHL All-Rookie Team (1991), Hart Trophy winner (1999), 13-time NHL All-Star (1992-94, 1996-2004, 2016), five-time Art Ross Trophy winner (1995, 1998-2001)

Bottom line: Jaromir Jagr is second in NHL history for points, behind only Wayne Gretzky.

Jagr was the youngest player in the NHL when he broke in just past his 18th birthday in 1991 and was the oldest player in the league when he played his final season at 45 years old in 2018.

He's also the only player in NHL history to participate in the Stanley Cup as a teenager (in 1991) and in his 40s (in 2013).

3. Sweden: Nicklas Lidstrom

NHL players born in Sweden: 351

Born: April 28, 1970

Birthplace: Krylbo, Sweden

Position: Defense

Career: 20 seasons (1992-2004, 2005-2012)

Teams: Detroit Red Wings

NHL highlights: Four-time Stanley Cup champion (1997, 1998, 2002, 2008), seven-time Norris Trophy winner (2001-03, 2006-08, 2011), Conn Smythe Trophy (2002), 12-time NHL All-Star (1996, 1998, 1999, 2000-04, 2007-09, 2011)

Bottom line: Nicklas Lidstrom's seven Norris Trophies are second only to Bobby Orr.

He became the first European-born player to win the Conn Smythe Trophy as the NHL playoffs MVP in 2002. He's also a four-time Stanley Cup champion.

Lidstrom spent his entire career with the Detroit Red Wings. For good measure, Lidstrom also won an Olympic gold medal with Sweden in 2006.

2. United States: Patrick Kane

NHL players born in United States: 1,294

Born: Nov. 19, 1988

Birthplace: Buffalo, New York

Position: Right wing

Career: 13 seasons (2007-present)

Teams: Chicago Blackhawks

NHL highlights: Three-time Stanley Cup champion (2010, 2013, 2015), Hart Trophy (2016), nine-time NHL All-Star (2009, 2011, 2012, 2015-present), Calder Memorial Trophy (2008), NHL All-Rookie Team (2008), Conn Smythe Trophy (2013)

Bottom line: The greatest American-born NHL player of all time is Patrick Kane, a three-time Stanley Cup champion, Hart Trophy winner and nine-time NHL All-Star.

Kane, who is guaranteed a spot in the Hockey Hall of Fame, has played his entire career with the Chicago Blackhawks so far.

When his current contract runs out in 2023, Kane will have surpassed $130 million in career earnings.

1. Canada: Wayne Gretzky

NHL players born in Canada: 5,245

Born: Jan. 26, 1981

Birthplace: Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Position: Center

Career: 20 seasons (1979-99)

Teams: Edmonton Oilers (1979-88), Los Angeles Kings (1988-96), St. Louis Blues (1996), New York Rangers (1996-99)

NHL highlights: Four-time Stanley Cup champion (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988), nine-time Hart Trophy winner (1980-87, 1989), two-time Conn Smythe Trophy winner (1985, 1988), five-time Lady Byng Trophy winner (1980, 1991, 1992, 1994, 1999), three-time NHL All-Star Game MVP (1983, 1989, 1999), 18-time NHL All-Star (1980-86, 1988-99)

Bottom line: Wayne Gretzky — "The Great One" — is the NHL's career scoring leader and has more goals and assists than any player in history.

Gretzky credits his father, Walter, for much of his success because of his cerebral approach to coaching Wayne at an early age.

It was also Walter who bought a house when Wayne was 7 months old because it had the flattest yard he could find — the perfect surface to put an ice rink on in the winter.