If all goes according to plan, the NHL could have a new leader atop the all-time Games Played list. Patrick Marleau is on the verge of history as Gordie Howe’s NHL record 1,767 games played is within striking distance.

Marleau has suited up in 1,765 games thus far, and if he manages to suit up Friday, Saturday, and Monday, he’ll sit alone atop the list. Knock on wood, but we think he’s got a pretty good shot at doing it considering he’s one of the league’s current Ironmen.

Marleau trails only Keith Yandle (909) in consecutive games played. His mark of 895 stretches all the way back to the 2008-09 season. A lot of the guys coming into the league right now were around 7 years old.

To put the streak into perspective, we’ve gathered a list of NHL legends that have played in fewer TOTAL games than Marleau has CONSECUTIVE games. Yandle has played a handful more than Patty, but Marleau is a longevity legend on the verge of greatest so we're focusing on him.

 

Tony Esposito: 886 Games

Goalies are a little bit different than players, because nobody expects them to play a full slate of games in a season. Still, nobody thinks of Espositos career as one that was “cut short,” and he even led the league in goalie appearances four different seasons.

 

Mike Bossy: 752 Games

While Esposito’s career wasn’t thought of as cut short, Mike Bossy’s definitely was. He spent 10 years in the league, including nine of which he scored at least 50 goals, but he eventually had back problems that caused an early end to his career. Despite 10 seasons of lighting the lamp at a ridiculous pace, he falls way short of Marleau’s Ironman streak.

 

Pat LaFontaine: 865 Games

Pat LaFontaine spent 15 YEARS in the NHL. He was also forced into retirement, due to concussion issues, but he definitely had a fair amount of mileage before hanging them up. His 1.17 points per game mark the most of any American-born player.

 

Dit Clapper: 835 Games

This isn’t Clapper’s fault, as he played in an era where there were between 44 and 60 games per season. What makes this one interesting is that Clapper was KNOWN for his longevity. He was the first NHLer to play for 20 seasons, but by the end of his two decade-long career, he hadn’t amassed as many games as Marleau has consecutively appeared in. Wow.

 

Grant Fuhr: 868 Games

Once again, we’ve got the goalie handicap. Goalies don’t suit up every night (unlike MARLEAU), but anyone that was a fan of hockey during the 80’s and 90’s knows Fuhr was an absolute staple in the crease. He has the 12th highest games played total amongst goalies, but that’s not enough to overtake Marleau.

 

OTHERS:

Bobby Orr: 657 Games

Peter Forsberg: 708 Games

Pavel Bure: 702 Games

Not surprising. Bobby Orr's legendary career was cut way short with knee issues, but he's also the biggest name to be under Patty Marleau's Ironman benchmark. Forsberg also had nagging injuries that forced an earlier end to his career. Same story for Bure, who split time between Vancouver and Florida, but neither for very long.