NHL Reveals First Members of Quarter-Century Team

A handful of NHL legends have been named to a historic squad.

Jon Alfano | May 8, 2025

San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton warms up before the game against the Colorado Avalanche. / Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Earlier this year, the NHL unveiled quarter-century teams for each of its 32 active franchises, showcasing some of the great talent to grace the league over the past 25 years.

Now, the league is taking it a step further with its overall Quarter-Century Team, which fans were able to vote on between Feb. 12-Apr. 1. The league revealed the first six players who made the cut, all of whom made their debuts before 2000, on Thursday afternoon.

Here are all six players selected so far, along with some of their accomplishments in The 21st Century:

Zdeno Chara

Boston Bruins defenseman Zdeno Chara looks on against the Minnesota Wild. / David Berding-Imagn Images

The tallest person to ever play in the NHL at 6-9, Chara played an even bigger game than his massive size would suggest. The Czechoslovakian-born defenseman captained the Boston Bruins from 2006-20, won the Norris Trophy in 2008-09 and the Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2010-11, when he also helped his team win the Stanley Cup.

Jarome Iginla

Calgary Flames right wing Jarome Iginla skates with the puck against St. Louis Blues. / Sergei Belski-Imagn Images

Iginla may not have been drafted by the Calgary Flames, but he's arguably the most iconic player to ever suit up for the team. Calgary's captain from 2003-13, Iginla won two Rocket Richard Awards and an Art Ross Trophy and helped the Flames reach the Stanley Cup Final in 2004. He was also a leader in the locker room and in the community, winning the King Clancy Memorial Trophy in 2004 and Mark Messier Leadership Award in 2009.

Nicklas Lidstrom

Detroit Red Wings defenseman Nicklas Lidstrom during the first period against the Chicago Blackhawks. / Andrew Weber-Imagn Images

One of the best defensemen to ever take the ice, Lidstrom won a whopping seven Norris Trophy's throughout his legendary career, tied for the second-most in NHL history behind the great Bobby Orr. He was also synonymous with the Detroit Red Wings' dominance throughout the 2000s, winning the Conn Smythe Trophy in 2002 and leading the team to another Stanley Cup in 2008, this time as the captain.

Joe Sakic

Colorado Avalanche center Joe Sakic in action against the New York Islanders at Nassau Coliseum. / Lou Capozzola-Imagn Images

Sakic may have been 30 when the calendar turned to 2000, but he continued to play at an extremely-high level for years after that. In 2000-01, he won the Hart Trophy, Lady Byng Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award (known Lester B. Pearson Award at the time) before leading the Colorado Avalanche to their second Stanley Cup. He also won the NHL Foundation Player Award, a defunct award that honored a player's work in the community, in 2006-07.

Teemu Selanne

Anaheim Ducks right wing Teemu Selanne warms up before game seven against the Los Angeles Kings. / Robert Hanashiro-Imagn Images

After a knee injury threatened his career during the 2004-05 lockout, Selanne returned with authority with 90 points (40 goals, 50 assists) for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in 2005-06, winning the Bill Masterton Trophy as a result. He then helped the newly-renamed Anaheim Ducks win the Stanley Cup in 2007, and continued to play until his age-43 season in 2013-14.

Joe Thornton

San Jose Sharks center Joe Thornton looks up at the big screen during the first period against the Dallas Stars. / Stan Szeto-Imagn Images

Thornton won both the Hart Trophy and the Art Ross Trophy after scoring 125 points (29 goals, 96 assists) in 2005-06, during which he was shockingly traded from the Bruins to the San Jose Sharks. After that, he became arguably the face of the franchise, leading the Sharks to the best regular-season record in the NHL over his 15 seasons with them. He last played in 2021-22 with the Florida Panthers, but thanks to his incredible skill and fun personality, he continues to be a modern NHL icon.

Next week, the league will announce the seven skaters who debuted between 2000-10 to make the Quarter-Century Team.

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Published May 8, 2025

JON ALFANO

Jon is a lead writer for Baltimore Ravens On SI and contributes to other sites around the network as well. The Tampa native previously worked with sites such as ClutchPoints and GiveMeSport and earned his journalism degree at the University of Central Florida.