The two players on the list with the longest NHL career, at 26 seasons each, are right winger Gordie Howe and defenceman Chris Chelios.

At the time of the list's publication, six players on it were still active in the NHL (Jaromir Jagr, Duncan Keith, Alexander Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews and Patrick Kane).

[3] The inclusion of Duncan Keith, Jonathan Toews[3][5][6] and Patrick Kane,[3][5][6] all of them then-active players and three-time Stanley Cup champions, was considered controversial.

Evgeni Malkin,[5][6][7] Ed Belfour,[5][7][8] Dale Hawerchuk,[5][7][8] Joe Thornton,[6][7] Jarome Iginla,[6][7] Zdeno Chara,[6][7] Pierre Pilote[6][7] and Michel Goulet[5][8] were considered to be notable players omitted from the list.

Malkin responded to his omission by joking that he could be the 101st best player, and remarked that all who were featured on the list earned the honour.