Best NHL Duos by Era…The Greatest Pairings Through Hockey History
Every era of the NHL produces stars…but only a few produce duos that define the league.
Rules change. Styles evolve. Goaltending improves. But when two elite players find real chemistry, the entire league shifts around them. There have been many great scoring duos…and in many ways, the top pairings have defined their era of hockey.
Here are my best NHL duos by era…measured by dominance, impact, and how completely they defined their time.
Original Six Era (1942–1967)
Gordie Howe & Alex Delvecchio — Detroit Red Wings
The most complete duo of the Original Six era
If you’re talking Original Six dominance…you start in Detroit.
Howe was power, skill, violence, and scoring rolled into one unstoppable force. Delvecchio was the elite two-way center who made everything work — defensive conscience, playmaker, leader.
Together, they weren’t just productive…they were unavoidable.
•Multiple Stanley Cups• Decades of sustained excellence• A duo that defined what a franchise cornerstone looked like
This pairing doesn’t always get the loudest praise…but it absolutely gets the deepest respect.
Maurice “Rocket” Richard & Elmer Lach — Montreal Canadiens
The league’s first true superstar pairing
Before Howe fully took over the league…this was the blueprint.
Richard brought speed and fury the NHL had never seen. Lach brought composure and elite vision. Together, they elevated the Canadiens from contenders to icons.
Cultural impact. Scoring titles. Championships.
The Rocket ignited the league.
Expansion Era (1967–1979)
Bobby Orr & Phil Esposito — Boston Bruins
No duo in NHL history altered how hockey was played more than this one.
Orr attacked from the blue line like a forward. Esposito owned the crease. Together, they broke positional logic and forced the NHL to rethink what was possible.
This wasn’t just dominance…this was evolution.
Wayne Gretzky & Jari Kurri — Edmonton Oilers
The most dominant duo ever assembled
Gretzky saw plays before they existed. Kurri finished everything. Five Stanley Cups. Point totals that still feel fictional.
Every modern offensive duo is compared to them…none have reached them.
Power & Skill Era (1990s)
Mario Lemieux & Jaromír Jágr — Pittsburgh Penguins
When healthy…it was unfair
Size. Skill. Vision. Power.
Lemieux controlled games at his pace. Jágr bullied defenders and still had elite hands. You couldn’t take the puck away from Jágr.
The window was shorter than others…but the ceiling was as high as any duo in history.
Two-Way Perfection Era (Late 1990s–2000s)
Steve Yzerman & Sergei Fedorov — Detroit Red Wings
Championship hockey perfected
Yzerman evolved into the ultimate leader. Fedorov was an elite two-way force who could dominate anywhere on the ice.
Together, they anchored Detroit’s machine…quietly crushing teams without giving anything back.
Salary-Cap Era (Mid-2000s–Early 2010s)
Sidney Crosby & Evgeni Malkin — Pittsburgh Penguins
Two superstars…one dynasty
Three Stanley Cups. Endless playoff moments. Sustained elite performance in a league built to prevent it.
Most teams can barely build around one generational player. The Penguins built around two…and won anyway.
Skill & Speed Era (2010s)
Jonathan Toews & Patrick Kane — Chicago Blackhawks
Structure meets creativity
Toews handled the hard minutes. Kane handled the magic.
Three Cups. Clutch goals. Big-moment dominance. One of the defining duos of the modern era.
Modern Power-Play Era (2010s–2020s)
Alex Ovechkin & Nicklas Bäckström — Washington Capitals
Everyone knew what was coming…and it didn’t matter
Bäckström found seams. Ovechkin finished from the same spot…over and over and over.
One Stanley Cup. A generation of dominance. A partnership that defined an entire franchise.
Pace & Skill Era (2020s–Present)
Connor McDavid & Leon Draisaitl — Edmonton Oilers
Still being written…already historic
McDavid bends the game. Draisaitl punishes mistakes.
The results…and ultimate legacy…will be decided in the postseason. But talent-wise, this duo already belongs in the conversation.
Joe Sakic & Peter Forsberg — Avalanche
Silk and steel down the middle…two dominant centers who overwhelmed matchups with skill, power, and playoff poise.
Bryan Trottier & Mike Bossy — Islanders
Efficiency at its peak…playmaking precision feeding the most automatic goal scorer of a dynasty.
Nathan MacKinnon & Cale Makar — Avalanche
Speed meets inevitability…one drives the pace, the other ends possessions before opponents can breathe.
Mark Messier & Mike Richter — Rangers
Leadership and last-line defiance…willpower up front backed by a goaltender built for elimination games.
Bobby Clarke & Bernie Parent — Flyers
Snarl and stonewalling…relentless pressure capped by goaltending that crushed hope.
Eric Lindros & John LeClair — Flyers
Power hockey weaponized…size, scoring, and intimidation turned into nightly mismatches.
Aleksander Barkov & Matthew Tkachuk — Panthers
Control meets chaos…elite two-way dominance paired with playoff snarl and clutch scoring.
Any you would like to add?