The 20 Greatest American NHL Players

This high school All-State right winger from Warroad, Minn. begins our countdown of great NHL players who grew up in the U.S. and learned or developed their games there. Thus, no Brett Hull, a Canadian-born-and-raised with dual citizenship who cut his hockey teeth in Penticton, BC. Christian starred at North Dakota and recorded eight assists in seven games for the 1980 Olympic Miracle on Ice team. Drafted 40th overall by Winnipeg in 1979, he spent 16 seasons in the NHL, topping 20 goals in a season 10 times while compiling 340 and 773 points. He was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2001.