Howe made his NHL debut in 1946 at the age of 18, playing right wing for the Detroit Red Wings. He was put on a line with Sid Abel and Ted Lindsay, and the trio soon became known as "the Production Line" for its scoring proficiency. Gordie quickly established himself as a great goal scorer and a gifted playmaker, and his scoring improved as he spent less time in the penalty box.

Apart from his temperament, Howe's athletic and confident playing style contributed to his longevity. He never wasted energy if he didn't need to, and he often played 45 minutes of a game when the average total was 25. Observers noticed that when his exhausted line returned to the bench, Howe was the first to recover and raise his head, ready for another shift.

Gordie had been in his prime during the 1940s and 1950s, a defensive era when scoring was difficult and checking was tight. In 1967, the league expanded from six teams to twelve, and the number of offensive opportunities grew. For the 1968-69 season, Howe played on a line with Alex Delvecchio and Frank Mahovlich, and the three were dubbed "the Production Line 3." Howe's scoring returned to the levels of his younger days, and he topped 100 points for the first time, scoring 44 goals and adding a career-high 59 assists.

Howe was among the top 10 scorers in 1969-70, but arthritis in his left wrist finally forced him to the sidelines following the 1970-71 season, his 25th in the league. His retirement would be short-lived as a unique opportunity presented itself in 1973. At that time, two of Gordie’s sons, Mark and Marty, were promising young players in junior hockey. The Houston Aeros of the World Hockey Association offered Gordie a chance to play with his boys on the same team, even on the same line. Gordie had an operation to improve his wrist and came out to play again. The Aeros won consecutive championships in the Howes' first two seasons, and Gordie was selected as the WHA's MVP in 1974 for his 100-point revival, while Mark was named Rookie of the Year.

When the Aeros struggled in 1977, Gordie moved with Mark and Marty to the New England Whalers. In 1979, the WHA merged with the NHL and Howe, at age 51, played one final season, competing in all 80 scheduled games. The elder Howe was appointed to the roster for the 1980 NHL All-Star Game. When he skated out onto the ice at Joe Louis Arena in Detroit, he was joined by Phil Esposito and Jean Ratelle, stars at the end of their careers, and one of the youngest to ever play in the game, 19-year-old Wayne Gretzky. Having idolized Howe, Gretzky wore number 99 in honor of his boyhood hero. After playing in All-Star games that spanned five decades, Howe was given a tremendous and heartfelt standing ovation by the Detroit fans.

In a feat unsurpassed by any athlete, in any sport, "Mr. Hockey™" finished in the top five in scoring for 20 straight seasons. Overall, he was selected to 21 NHL All-Star squads, led the NHL in scoring six times to earn the Art Ross Trophy and won the Hart Trophy six times as the league’s Most Valuable Player. During his career in Detroit, he played for four Stanley Cup-winning teams.

Not one for self-praise or accolades, Gordie has received many worthy honors. He was awarded the Order of Canada, the country's highest civil honor, and he received an Honorary Doctorate degree from the University of Regina. He is the first to earn the Lester Patrick Trophy for outstanding service to hockey in the US, and he is a member of 11 different Halls of Fame.

Gordie and his wife of nearly 50 years, Colleen or "Mrs. Hockey,™" have been lauded for their charitable contributions and endeavors. In 1992, the city of Sandusky, Michigan honored Colleen for her remarkable hockey legacy and humanitarian contributions by opening the Colleen J. Howe Arena. As a legendary pioneer and builder of youth hockey in the state, she was a co-founder of the Detroit Junior Red Wings and helped develop the first indoor rink in Michigan. In addition, she and Gordie have helped generate millions of dollars for charities and worthwhile causes. In 1993, they established The Howe Foundation as the genesis of the Howe Tours International Goodwill Visits, a 65-city tour that raised funds for meaningful charities in each of the cities visited in North America.

Today, Gordie continues to serve as a role model and ambassador to generations of fans and players alike. He has remained an unblemished sportsman. Humble, sincere, and approachable, he has inspired the likes of "the Great One," Wayne Gretzky and the fantastic Bobby Orr. He is a hero to many and an icon of our time. He is, and always will be, Mr. Hockey™!