Joining players like Wayne Gretzkey and Mario Lemieux, players considered the best of what the NHL has to offer, is a task in and of itself. Here's why the new additions to NHL 13's "Legends Team" measure up...
Doug Gilmour - During his 20 years in the NHL, Gilmour played for 7 different teams: the St. Louis Blues, Toronto Maple Leafs, New Jersey Devils, Chicago Blackhawks, Buffalo Sabres, Montreal Canadiens, and the Calgary Flames, for which he served as captain, and won the Stanley Cup in 1989. During his time with the Leafs, he was voted the best defensive forward in the NHL. He also earned the nickname "Killer" for his on-the-ice intensity.
Jari Kurri - A five time Stanley cup winner, Kurri finished his career as the highest scoring European-born-and-trained player in NHL history, with 601 goals, 797 assists, and 1,398 points. Though many of his records have since been surpassed, he's still the first Finnish player to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. A former Olympian himself, Kurri is currently the General Manager of the Finnish national men's ice hockey team.
Dominikl Hašek - Dominik "the Dominator" Hašek is considered as one of the NHL's finest and most successful goaltenders. He led the Czech national team to its first and only gold medal in the '98 Winter Olympics, and is the first European goaltender to win a Stanley Cup. He holds one of the highest career save percentages of all time at .9223, and at 43, was the oldest active goalie in the NHL, and the second oldest active player in the league, until leaving in 2008. Earlier this summer, it was reported that he is considering comeback to NHL possibly with the Buffalo Sabres, Detroit Red Wings or Tampa Bay Lightning. He's also expected to be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
Angela Ruggiero - A four time Olympian, Ruggiero made her debut on the gold winning US Olympic hockey team, while still in high school. After playing four years of hockey at Harvard where she was considered "Best Female Hockey Player in the World" by The Hockey News, and ranked as one of the Top 16 Female Athletes in the World by ESPN.com, she would return to the play on the Olympics in 2006, and 2001. She's also credited with the game-winning goal that won the 2005 Women's World Ice Hockey Championships for the United States, giving the US its first gold medal ever at the world championship.
Hayley Wickenheiser - Named to Canada's National Women's Team at the age of 15, she's been a member ever since. She was the first woman to play full time professional hockey in a position other than goalie, and in 2003, Wickenheiser became the first woman to score a goal playing in a men's professional league. In addition to hockey, she's also represented Canada in softball at the 2000 Summer Olympics.
NHL 13 is out next week, September 11, for the PS3 and XBox 360.