Who Has the Most NHL Goals?

A comprehensive list of the top 50 goal scorers in NHL history.

The NHL’s Top Goal Scorers of All Time

When it comes to scoring goals, there are few players who can match the talent and skill of the players on this list. These are the NHL’s top goal scorers of all time.

Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Gretzky is widely regarded as the greatest player in NHL history and holds nearly every significant scoring record. His 894 goals are 133 more than anyone else has scored, and his 1,963 assists are 359 more than second-place. In 2,857 games played, Gretzky averaged an astounding 1.9 goals and 1.1 assists per game. He played 20 seasons in the NHL, 10 of them with the Edmonton Oilers, where he helped lead the team to four Stanley Cups in the 1980s. He scored 50 goals or more in a season 12 times (including an astonishing eight straight seasons from 1979-80 to 1986-87), and he reached the 100-point mark 15 times (including a record 10 straight seasons).

Gordie Howe

Gordie Howe is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player. He played for the Detroit Red Wings of the National Hockey League (NHL) from 1946 to 1971. He is often referred to as “Mr. Hockey” and has been called the greatest hockey player of all time. A 23-time NHL All-Star, he holds many of the sport’s career scoring records.

Howe’s production declined in his later years, but he continued to be a significant presence on the ice until his retirement at age 52 in 1980. He scored 15 goals in his final season, which was a Stanley Cup winning year for the New Hampshire Whalers of the World Hockey Association (WHA). His total of 1,850 points is ranked seventh all-time in NHL history and his 801 goals are ninth-best. Howe is one of only ten players to have played in more than 1,500 NHL games. He retired as the NHL’s all-time leader in games played with 1,767 and was second only to Terry Sawchuk in career wins with 801.

Howe is a member of several exclusive clubs: he is one of only five players to have played for five decades; he is one of only two players (the other being Jean Beliveau) to have scored over 50 goals in a season at age 50 or older; and he is one of only two players (the other being Mark Messier) to have recorded over 100 points in a season at age 50 or older. In 2017, Howe was named one of the “100 Greatest NHL Players” in history.

Jaromir Jagr

1. Jaromir Jagr – 766 goals
Jaromir Jagr is a Czech former professional ice hockey player. He played in the National Hockey League (NHL) for 24 seasons, across four teams. He is one of only eight players in NHL history to score 750 or more goals and is second all-time in points with 1,155.

2. Wayne Gretzky – 894 goals
Wayne Gretzky is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He played 20 seasons in the NHL for four teams from 1979 to 1999. He is widely considered the greatest player of all time and holds many NHL records, including most goals scored in a season and most career goals, assists and points.

3. Gordie Howe – 801 goals
Gordon “Gordie” Howe was a Canadian professional ice hockey player who played 26 seasons in the NHL for the Detroit Red Wings, Hartford Whalers and Philadelphia Flyers. He is known as “Mr. Hockey” and is considered one of the greatest players of all time. Howe was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972 and the United States Hockey Hall of Fame in 1973.

4. Brett Hull – 741 goals
Brett Andrew Hull is a retired Canadian-American ice hockey player who is currently the co-general manager of the St. Louis Blues of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played for six teams in his 27-year NHL career and is one of five players to score 50 goals in 50 games, doing so twice: once while on team Canada and once while on team St. Louis Blues . He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2009 following his election by the Hall’s Selection Committee earlier that year under the category “Player”, making him just the seventh American-born player to be so honored.

The NHL’s Most Prolific Goal Scorers of the Modern Era

Since the 2005-06 NHL season, there have been only four 50-goal scorers in a single season. In fact, only 12 players have reached the 40-goal plateau in that span. In the 1990s and early 2000s, it seemed like 50-goal scorers were a dime a dozen. So, who are the NHL’s most prolific goal scorers of the modern era?

Alexander Ovechkin

Alexander Ovechkin is one of the most prolific goal scorers in NHL history. He has played in the NHL for 14 seasons, and during that time he has scored 706 goals. He is currently the league’s all-time leading goal scorer, and he shows no signs of slowing down.

Ovechkin was born in Russia in 1985, and he began his professional career with the Russian Superleague team HC Dynamo Moscow. He made his NHL debut with the Washington Capitals in 2005, and he quickly established himself as one of the league’s best players. He has won the Calder Trophy (rookie of the year), Hart Trophy (MVP), and Ted Lindsey Award (players’ MVP) three times each. He has also been named to the First All-Star Team eight times.

Ovechkin is a powerful winger who is known for his slap shot and physical play. He scored a career-high 65 goals in 2007-08, and he has topped the 60-goal mark four times in his career. He is also a gifted passer, and he has reached the 100-point mark eight times.

Ovechkin has helped lead the Washington Capitals to nine consecutive playoff appearances, and he has led them to the Stanley Cup Finals once (in 2018). He is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of his generation, and he shows no signs of slowing down.

Jarome Iginla

Jarome Iginla is one of the most prolific goal scorers of the modern NHL era. The former Calgary Flames captain is sixth all-time in goals scored with 625, and he’s done it all while playing in a tough Western Conference.

Iginla was known for his incredible work ethic and his willingness to play through pain. He was also a very durable player, appearing in 1,219 NHL games over his 20-year career.

Iginla was a six-time All-Star and he won the Rocket Richard Trophy as the NHL’s leading goal scorer two times (2001-02 and 2003-04). He also won the King Clancy Trophy for his leadership and humanitarian work off the ice in 2004.

Marian Gaborik

Marian Gaborik is a Slovak professional ice hockey player. He plays right wing for the Ottawa Senators of the National Hockey League (NHL). Gaborik was drafted third overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft by the Minnesota Wild. He is a three-time NHL All-Star and has led the league in goals once, in 2008–09.

Gaborik began his career playing professionally in his native Slovakia for HC Dukla Trenčín of the Slovak Extraliga during the 1999–00 season. He recorded 10 points over 27 games played before he was selected third overall by the Wild in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft. Joining the team for the 2001–02 season, Gaborik struggled to make an impact and scored just eight goals over 61 games played. The following season, he improved to post 19 goals and 26 assists over 79 games as he began to find his scoring touch in the NHL. In 2003–04, Gaborik had a breakout year offensively, scoring 41 goals and 77 points, leading the Wild in both categories. His play helped Minnesota qualify for their first Stanley Cup playoffs appearance in franchise history that year as they went on to lose in the Western Conference Finals to eventual Stanley Cup champions, the Calgary Flames.

During the lockout-cancelled 2004–05 season, Gaborik returned to play in Slovakia for HC Dukla Trenčín. In 2005–06, he rejoined Minnesota and scored 27 goals over 69 games played before suffering a hip injury that sidelined him for much of the latter half of the campaign. Upon his return from injury late in 2006–07, Gaborik erupted for 15 goals and 12 assists over 20 games to finish sixth in team scoring with 27 points; despite missing 32 games due to injury, he still ledMinnesota with 10 power play goals on the season. In 2007–08, Gaborik elevated his game and posted 42 goals and 83 points over 82 games while appearing in his second career NHL All-Star Game. He followed that up with another productive season offensively in 2008–09 as he again led Minnesota with 42 goals while also adding 44 assists for 86 points; his goal total ledthe league that year as he earned first team All-Star honours for his efforts.

In 2009–10, mid-way through his eighth season with Minnesota, amid financial difficulties faced by team ownership which led to uncertainty surrounding payroll going forward,Gaborik was traded at the 2010 NHL trade deadline tothe New York Rangersin exchange for forwards Christopher Higgins and Erik Christensen, defenceman Ryan McDonagh and defenseman Pavel Valentenko . With New York, Gaborik helped leadthe Rangersto their first Eastern Conference Finals appearance since 1997 as they narrowly lost to eventual Stanley Cup champions,the Philadelphia Flyersin seven games. During his lone playoff campaign with New York that year], Gaborik scored 5goalsand 10pointsover 14gamesplayedbefore suffering a separated shoulder which prematurely endedhis playoffs runand left him questionableforGame 7 taking place two nights later which New York ultimatelylost 2–1 indouble overtime 0nMay 14 . The injury occurredinentirely off cameraas replays showed no collision or hit taking place priortoGaborik being escorted offinteary eyed pain clutchinghis left arm close totightly againsthisside body .

In October 2013 Marian was traded from Columbus back to Los Angeles

The NHL’s Most Exciting Goal Scorers

Hockey is a sport that is about more than just goals. It is about checking, passing, skating, and so much more. However, goals are still an important part of the game. They are what get the fans excited and they are what can change the momentum of a game. So, who are the NHL’s most exciting goal scorers?

Patrick Kane

From an early age, Patrick Kane has had a knack for finding the back of the net. Kane grew up in Buffalo, New York, and started playing hockey at the age of 2. He began his junior career with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program before being drafted first overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in 2007.

Kane has since become one of the NHL’s most exciting and dangerous goal scorers. He has won three Stanley Cups with the Blackhawks (2010, 2013, 2015), and he was awarded the Conn Smythe Trophy as playoff MVP in 2013. Kane is also a two-time Olympic medalist, winning silver in 2010 and bronze in 2014.

As of 2021, Kane ranks fourth all-time in goals scored by an American-born player. He is also the Blackhawks’ all-time leader in goals (293), assists (520), and points (813).

Pavel Datsyuk

Pavel Datsyuk is one of the NHL’s most exciting goal scorers. He has scored over 300 goals in his career, and his highlight reel is filled with jaw-dropping moves.

Datsyuk is known for his incredible puck control, which he uses to create space for himself and make defenders look foolish. He also has a great shot, and he isn’t afraid to shoot from anywhere on the ice.

If you’re looking for excitement, then Pavel Datsyuk is the player you want to watch. He has all the skills that you could want in a goal scorer, and he always seems to find a way to score big goals in big moments.

Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby is one of the NHL’s most exciting goal scorers. The Pittsburgh Penguins’ captain has scored 558 goals in his career, which ranks him sixth all-time among active players. He’s also a three-time Stanley Cup champion and a two-time Olympic gold medalist.