The career of hockey legend Gordie Howe, long known as "Mr. Hockey," spanned decades and included numerous scoring records and awards. Here's a look at Howe's remarkable career statistics, and where he ranks among the other greats of the game.
Points
Howe ranks fourth behind Wayne Gretzky, Mark Messier and Jaromir Jagr in career regular-season points with 1,850. That includes 801 goals -- which places him second behind Gretzky -- and 1,049 assists, placing him ninth.
He did it all in 1,767 games -- the most games ever played in the league -- topping Messier's 1,756.
Team
Howe spent 25 years with the Detroit Red Wings, beginning in 1946 until his first retirement from the NHL in 1971.
He holds numerous franchise records, including games played for the team (1,687), goals (786), and points (1,809).
Age
When Howe returned for a final NHL season nine years after he retired, the then-52-year-old set the record for oldest player to ever suit up in the league. The only other player to come close to that record is defenceman Chris Chelios, who retired from pro hockey at age 48.
Howe was also the only NHLer to play on the same team as his children. The roster for the 1973 Houston Aeros team of the now-defunct World Hockey Association included his sons Marty and Mark.
During his first season with the Aeros, the 46-year-old Howe recorded 100 points, led Houston to the first of back-to-back WHA championships, and was named league MVP.
Awards
Howe's scoring prowess earned him six Art Ross trophies as the NHL's leading scorer, and six Hart trophies as league MVP. He played on 23 All-Star teams, and won the Stanley Cup with Detroit four times.
He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 and was the NHL’s first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award winner, in 2008.
Detroit Vipers
It's unlikely that any player will match Howe's amazing feat of playing professional hockey in six decades. In 1997, the Detroit Vipers of the International Hockey League signed Howe to a one-game contract.
He was nearly 70 years of age when he took to the ice for a single shift.
