NHL All-time Goals Leaders

Last Modified Mar 19, 2025 19:26 GMT
NHL All-time Goals Leaders
2017 Scotiabank NHLWayne Gretzky during Centennial Classic - Detroit Red Wings v Toronto Maple Leafs

The National Hockey League (NHL) is a professional ice hockey league in North America. The league consists of 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada. It was founded on November 26, 1917, in Montreal, replacing the National Hockey Association (NHA). The league expanded to the U.S. in 1924, and its most famous era, the "Original Six" (1942–1967), consisted of only six teams.

The NHL season runs from October to April, with teams playing 82 games. The top 16 teams qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs, which conclude in June. The Stanley Cup, awarded to the playoff champion, is North America's oldest professional sports trophy. The Montreal Canadiens hold the most NHL titles with 25 championships. The Florida Panthers are the defending champions, having defeated the Edmonton Oilers in the 2024 Stanley Cup Finals.

List of NHL All-time Goals Leaders

As per the official website of the NHL, Wayne Gretzky holds the record for the most goals in NHL history with 894 goals in 1,487 games, as of March 19, 2025. Alexander Ovechkin is second with 887 goals and is still active, making him the closest player to potentially surpass Gretzky's record.

Other legendary players in the top five include Gordie Howe (801 goals), Jaromir Jagr (766 goals), and Brett Hull (741 goals). The list includes retired Hall of Famers and active players like Sidney Crosby, Steven Stamkos, and Evgeni Malkin, who continue to climb the rankings.

Here's a table summarizing the top 50 NHL All-time goal leaders, as per the NHL's official website:

RankPlayerGoalsGPHHOF
1Wayne Gretzky8941,4871999
2Alexander Ovechkin8871,477Active
3Gordie Howe8011,7671972
4Jaromir Jagr7661,733Active (ELH)
5Brett Hull7411,2692009
6Marcel Dionne7311,3481992
7Phil Esposito7171,2821984
8Mike Gartner7081,4322001
9Mark Messier6941,7562007
10Steve Yzerman6921,5142009
11Mario Lemieux6909151997
12Teemu Selanne6841,4512017
13Luc Robitaille6681,4312009
14Brendan Shanahan6561,5242013
15Dave Andreychuk6401,6392017
16Joe Sakic6251,3782012
Jarome Iginla6251,5542020
18Sidney Crosby6131,336Active
19Bobby Hull6101,0631983
20Dino Ciccarelli6081,2322010
21Jari Kurri6011,2512001
22Mark Recchi5771,6522017
23Steven Stamkos5761,145Active
24Mike Bossy5737521991
25Patrick Marleau5661,779
26Joe Nieuwendyk5641,2572011
Mats Sundin5641,3462012
28Mike Modano5611,4992014
29Guy Lafleur5601,1261988
30Johnny Bucyk5561,5401981
31Ron Francis5491,7312007
32Michel Goulet5481,0891998
33Maurice Richard5449781961
34Stan Mikita5411,3961983
35Keith Tkachuk5381,201
36Frank Mahovlich5331,1811981
37Marian Hossa5251,3092020
38Bryan Trottier5241,2791997
39Pat Verbeek5221,424
40Dale Hawerchuk5181,1882001
41Pierre Turgeon5151,2942023
42Jeremy Roenick5131,3632024
43Gilbert Perreault5121,1911990
44Evgeni Malkin5111,201Active
45Jean Beliveau5071,1251972
46Peter Bondra5031,081
47Joe Mullen5021,0622000
48Lanny McDonald5001,1111992
49Glenn Anderson4981,1292008
50Jean Ratelle4911,2801985

FAQs on NHL

A. The NHL was founded on November 26, 1917.

A. The NHL has 32 teams—25 in the United States and 7 in Canada.

A. The Florida Panthers won their first Stanley Cup in the 2023–24 season.

A. The Montreal Canadiens hold the record with 25 championships.

A. The first NHL season took place in 1917–18.

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