Richard won more big games than anyone else, and did so in dramatic style. He was not the best player ever, but was one of the two dominant ones of his time (along with Gordie Howe), but no question he was the most exciting hockey player ever. And I agree with those who believe Gretzky should be on the list. Here's my list:
1. Maurice Richard
2. Wayne Gretzky
3. Bobby Hull
4. Bobby Orr
5. Howie Morenz
6. Guy Lafleur
7. Eddie Shore
8. Mario Lemieux
9. Steve Yzerman
10. Jean Beliveau

Honorable menton (no order of preference):
Gilbert Perrault
Gordie Howe
Henri Richard
Bernard Geoffrion
Bobby Clarke
Patrick Roy
Terry Sawchuck
Paul Coffey
Sidney Crosby
Alex Ovechkin

The reason I haven't mentioned some of the current players outside of Crosby and Ovechkin in honorable mention is because the jury is still out on them as to whether they will evolve into the kinds of players like the guys I have listed. When they can do it on a consistent basis night-in and night-out for duration of career, then they could take their place here.

Of the players on this list, I met Maurice Richard (twice), Hull (twice), Henri Richard, Howe, and Beliveau.

And to top it off, only Maurice Richard became a cultural icon, whose appeal transcended hockey Nobody else did, not even Gretzky, even though he became a household name. Case in point - the 1955 Richard Riot. Suspended for the final three games of the regular season and the entire playoffs for hitting a linesman who held him in a vulnerable position from behind so Boston's Hal Laycoe could punch him (and this was after Richard was hit with high-sticks from Laycoe which required several stitches), this was seen as an insult to French-Canadians everywhere, who viewed Richard as their source of expression. When Campbell dared to show up at the game between the defending Stanley Cup champion Red Wings and the Canadiens at the Monteal Forum, he was assaulted and pelted with everything that one could throw at him, from popcorn and rotten tomatoes to railway lanterns. Richard had to go on TV and radio the next day to ask the fans to calm down and not cause any more trouble. Detroit won the Cup that year.

Also, there was a very good children's book and short animated film by Roch Carrier named "The Sweater", which fully describes Richard's impact on the entire French-Canadian society. Carrier, as a small boy, was like all the other kids at that time, who played hockey wearing the Canadiens Maurice Richard number 9 hockey sweater. When his sweater got too small for him and it started tearing to shreads, his mother ordered a new one from Eaton's. When the sweater arrived, Carrier experienced heartbreak of major proportions when he saw it was a Toronto Maple Leafs sweater. Carrier originally refused to wear it, but his mother forced him to because she refused to send it back to Eaton's. Carrier was ostracized by the rest of the kids and not allowed to play because of the Maple Leafs sweater, and in a fit of frustration, broke his stick on the ice. Then, he had to go to the church on orders of one of the church officials. He prayed for a million moths to eat his Maple Leafs sweater. He was not only trying to get back on good terms with the kids in his town, but also on good terms with Richard - he did not want to wear the Maple Leafs sweater because it was not something he believed Richard would do.

Not long after "The Sweater" was published, Carrier and Richard met for the first time in a CBC Radio interview, where they talked about the book and about Richard's career, and the impact Richard had on everyone not only in Quebec, but in all of Canada.

And, finally, Richard was the subject of a movie, "The Rocket" ("Maurice Richard" was the original title in the original French version), which attempted to show Richard's impact on the entire French-Canadian culture, as well as all of Canada. The movie had several fact errors, such as Babe Siebert being the player Richard carried on his back to score - it was really Earl Seibert, an aging defenseman for the Red Wings in the historic 50 goals in 50 games season for Richard in 1944-45. Babe Siebert was a player for the Canadiens in the 1930s who died a year after Howie Morenz died. But it was the first ever movie done for a NHL hockey player.

Roberto Duran was the greatest fighter that ever lived,better than muhammad ali i hate to say . he had it all ,defence ,punching power and his fierce fire to destroy his opponent.