It's high praise and high regard.
But it's not the sort of label anyone really wants.
For example, it's a fair bet Joe Thornton would trade his six All-Star Game appearances and an all-but-guaranteed Hall of Fame enshrinement for one silver chalice:
The Stanley Cup.
So being considered among the greatest players to never hoist the greatest trophy in professional sports is dubious praise for a career well received, but still lacking.
Nevertheless, now that the 2023-24 season is off and running, the B/R hockey team members took it upon themselves to compile a list of the 10 players during Thornton's Era—for these purposes, essentially 2000-present—for whom that label fits.