Top 5 players in NHL history to switch positions during their career

Players in the National Hockey League get there with their own path. Some have elite talent, some wait forever for an opportunity, and others grind their way up the ladder.

What happens when they get there? Do these players become successful by their talent alone? Can some of them be changed by a trade or release?

There are an elite number of players who have had success in the NHL with their talent alone but others have made changes to find success. How? By changing positions. For some, this occurred after they were drafted, because of a shortage at a position, or simply because the player requested it.

Either way, players have found more success after the change as the switch gave them more freedom on the ice. There are some who put so much work into both positions before they make the full-time switch. It is crazy to see these things happen.

The NHL has had a lot of players that have switched positions.

The transition can take time to get used to but some have had the switch go rather smoothly. This is not a thing that has come onto the scene in the modern era as this has been going on since the early days of the NHL.

Most of these switches have been a player going from forward to defense but there have been occasions with a defenseman going to the forward position.

It gives a different look to the lines as well as special teams. This kind of change does not happen as much on a regular shift anymore, but we have seen forwards used at the quarterback position on the power play to get more offense.

With that being said, below are the top five players who have made career-changing decisions to make the team better and their careers a bit easier as well: