Jari Kurri was one of the best goal-scorers of his generation—and he had one heck of a career. Now, he’s naming the five best players he ever played with, and it’s tough to argue with his choices.
Kurri was the first Finnish player inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, and he absolutely deserved it. He made his NHL debut in 1980 and quickly found himself paired with Wayne Gretzky, the greatest player in hockey history. Together, they became one of the most prolific scoring duos the league has ever seen. Over his legendary career, Kurri scored 601 goals—364 of them assisted by Gretzky.
Until early 2025, Kurri ranked second in points in Edmonton Oilers franchise history, and his No. 17 is retired by the team. He also played for the LA Kings, New York Rangers, Mighty Ducks of Anaheim, and Colorado Avalanche. Across his 17 NHL seasons, he shared the ice with many all-time greats.
Jari Kurri names his best teammates
Recently, Kurri sat down with The Hockey Beast to discuss his storied career, and when asked to name the best players he ever played with, his answer didn’t disappoint.
In goal, he picked the legendary Grant Fuhr. On defense, he chose Paul Coffey, as expected, but also made the surprising selection of Reijo Ruotsalainen, who played 446 NHL games and recorded 344 points.
Kurri, of course, took the right-wing spot on his team. Joining him? The one and only Wayne Gretzky—and Esa Tikkanen. Talk about legends everywhere!
READ MORE: Jari Kurri’s hilarious take on McDavid passing him in points
