How fast do hockey players skate? Exploring the quickness of NHL's top athletes

Over the years, observant NHL fans have seen the pace of the game get progressively faster. As technological changes give way to more advanced skates, and sports training gives rise to stronger and faster players, the pace of play has continued on an upward trajectory. According to Exploratorium.edu, NHL players can reach speeds over 20 miles per hour (32 kilometers per hour) during games.

While advances in equipment play a factor in the average speed of skaters, skating mechanics and leg strength are what separate fast skaters, from the fastest skaters. For example, a player who never skips leg day is able to accelerate with longer, more powerful strides than a player who is lean with a well-developed upper body.

According to Rezztek.com, which took a look at NHL Edge data, during the 2023-24 season, Owen Tippett of the Philadelphia Flyers is the fastest player in the league. The Flyers standout skated at 24.21 miles per hour (38.97 kilometers per hour), with Luke Hughes of the New Jersey Devils just behind him at 24.19 mph (38.93 kph).

Some other notable names on the list of the top ten fastest skaters in the league are Brandon Tanev of the Seattle Kraken, who was clocked at 23.8 mph (38.31 kph), and Connor McDavid, whose top speed was 24.05 mpg (38.7 kph).

A look at the fastest skaters of NHL All-Star weekend

Back in 1990, the NHL added an event to All-Star weekend with the goal of determining the fastest skater in the league. While it's known that players can reach speeds in excess of 20 miles per hour, the league wanted to see how fast players could complete a full lap around the rink.

Hall of Famer Mike Gartner, who played 19 seasons in the NHL during the 80s and 90s won the first-ever fastest skater competition, posting 28.1 seconds around the rink.

In 1993, Gartner set a new record with 13.51 seconds, and again, Gartner broke his own record several years later in 1996, with a time of 13.36 seconds. That record stood for 20 years, until Dylan Larkin set the new fastest-time record with 13.172 seconds.

The record didn't stand for long, however, with Connor McDavid then setting a new record in 2017 with a time of 13.02 seconds, a record that still stands to this day. McDavid not only won the fastest skater competition in 2017, he went on to three-peat, winning the competition in 2018 and 2019.

Most recently, after three years of other players winning the competition, McDavid reclaimed his place as the fastest man in the league last year with a speed of 13.408 seconds at All-Star weekend.

With the NHL taking a year off from the All-Star Game in 2025 to showcase the new 4 Nations Face-Off tournament, fans will have to wait until 2026 to see who will hold the title of fastest skater in the league.