The National Hockey League (NHL) stands as a premier professional ice hockey league spanning North America, with 33 teams, including 26 in the United States (with Arizona operation currently inactive) and 7 in Canada. Played on ice rinks by two teams of six players, its popularity spans the globe, with over a million registered players engaging in leagues worldwide.
In the National Hockey League (NHL), points serve a dual purpose: personal and team statistics. Individually, players earn points for each goal scored or assist made, with the Art Ross Trophy awarded to the league's top point scorer. Meanwhile, teams accumulate points in standings to determine rankings, with various systems employed across leagues to assess victories, ties, and losses.
Who is NHL’s All-Time Points Leader?
Wayne Gretzky is the undisputed king of NHL point production, amassing a staggering 2,857 points over his illustrious career with the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and the New York Rangers. His average of 1.92 points per game remains unmatched.
The ageless Jaromir Jagr is behind Gretzky, who showcased his brilliance for over two decades across nine different teams, accumulating 1,921 points in 1,733 games, averaging 1.11 points per game. Moreover, Mark Messier, Gordie Howe, and Ron Francis round out the top five, each leaving a lasting mark on the league with their skills and longevity.
The following table showcases NHL’s All-Time points leader across years:
| Rank | Name | GP | Pts | PPG |
| 1 | Wayne Gretzky | 1,487 | 2,857 | 1.92 |
| 2 | Jaromir Jagr | 1,733 | 1,921 | 1.11 |
| 3 | Mark Messier | 1,756 | 1,887 | 1.07 |
| 4 | Gordie Howe | 1,767 | 1,850 | 1.05 |
| 5 | Ron Francis | 1,731 | 1,798 | 1.04 |
| 6 | Marcel Dionne | 1,348 | 1,771 | 1.31 |
| 7 | Steve Yzerman | 1,514 | 1,755 | 1.16 |
| 8 | Mario Lemieux | 915 | 1,723 | 1.88 |
| 9 | Joe Sakic | 1,378 | 1,641 | 1.19 |
| 10 | Phil Esposito | 1,282 | 1,590 | 1.24 |
| 11 | Ray Bourque | 1,612 | 1,579 | 0.98 |
| 12 | Joe Thornton | 1,714 | 1,539 | 0.90 |
| 13 | Mark Recchi | 1,652 | 1,533 | 0.93 |
| 14 | Paul Coffey | 1,409 | 1,531 | 1.09 |
| 15 | Sidney Crosby | 1,190 | 1,502 | 1.26 |
| 16 | Alexander Ovechkin | 1,347 | 1,485 | 1.10 |
| 17 | Stan Mikita | 1,394 | 1,467 | 1.05 |
| 18 | Teemu Selanne | 1,451 | 1,457 | 1.00 |
| 19 | Bryan Trottier | 1,279 | 1,425 | 1.11 |
| 20 | Adam Oates | 1,337 | 1,420 | 1.06 |
| 21 | Doug Gilmour | 1,474 | 1,414 | 0.96 |
| 22 | Dale Hawerchuk | 1,188 | 1,409 | 1.19 |
| 23 | Jari Kurri | 1,251 | 1,398 | 1.12 |
| 24 | Luc Robitaille | 1,431 | 1,394 | 0.97 |
| 25 | Brett Hull | 1,269 | 1,391 | 1.10 |
| 26 | Mike Modano | 1,499 | 1,374 | 0.92 |
| 27 | Johnny Bucyk | 1,540 | 1,369 | 0.89 |
| 28 | Brendan Shanahan | 1,524 | 1,354 | 0.89 |
| 29 | Guy Lafleur | 1,126 | 1,353 | 1.20 |
| 30 | Mats Sundin | 1,346 | 1,349 | 1.00 |
| 31 | Dave Andreychuk | 1,639 | 1,338 | 0.82 |
| 32 | Denis Savard | 1,196 | 1,338 | 1.12 |
| 33 | Mike Gartner | 1,432 | 1,335 | 0.93 |
| 34 | Pierre Turgeon | 1,294 | 1,327 | 1.03 |
| 35 | Gilbert Perreault | 1,191 | 1,326 | 1.11 |
| 36 | Jarome Iginla | 1,554 | 1,300 | 0.84 |
| 37 | Alex Delvecchio | 1,549 | 1,281 | 0.83 |
| 38 | Al MacInnis | 1,416 | 1,274 | 0.90 |
| 39 | Jean Ratelle | 1,281 | 1,267 | 0.99 |
| 40 | Peter Stastny | 977 | 1,239 | 1.27 |
| 41 | Phil Housley | 1,495 | 1,232 | 0.82 |
| 42 | Norm Ullman | 1,410 | 1,229 | 0.87 |
| 43 | Jean Beliveau | 1,125 | 1,219 | 1.08 |
| 44 | Larry Murphy | 1,615 | 1,216 | 0.75 |
| 45 | Jeremy Roenick | 1,363 | 1,216 | 0.89 |
| 46 | Bobby Clarke | 1,144 | 1,210 | 1.06 |
| 47 | Bernie Nicholls | 1,127 | 1,209 | 1.07 |
| 48 | Vincent Damphousse | 1,378 | 1,205 | 0.87 |
| 49 | Dino Ciccarelli | 1,232 | 1,200 | 0.97 |
| 50 | Patrick Marleau | 1,779 | 1,197 | 0.67 |
NHL Regular season: Points per game
When it comes to regular season points per game, Wayne Gretzky again stands in a league of his own with an astonishing average of 1.921 points per game, a testament to his unparalleled skill and dominance on the ice. Following closely behind is another legend, Mario Lemieux, boasting an impressive 1.883 points per game.
Mike Bossy, known for his prolific scoring ability, holds a solid third place with 1.497 points per game, while current superstar Connor McDavid continues to make his mark with an impressive 1.431 points per game, demonstrating his exceptional skill and agility on the ice.
The following table showcases players with most points per game over the years:
| Rank | Name | Points Per Game |
| 1 | Wayne Gretzky | 1.921 |
| 2 | Jaromir Jagr | 1.883 |
| 3 | Mark Messier | 1.497 |
| 4 | Gordie Howe | 1.431 |
| 5 | Ron Francis | 1.393 |
| 6 | Marcel Dionne | 1.314 |
| 7 | Steve Yzerman | 1.272 |
| 8 | Mario Lemieux | 1.268 |
| 9 | Joe Sakic | 1.250 |
| 10 | Phil Esposito | 1.241 |
| 11 | Ray Bourque | 1.240 |
| 12 | Joe Thornton | 1.202 |
| 13 | Mark Recchi | 1.191 |
| 14 | Paul Coffey | 1.186 |
| 15 | Sidney Crosby | 1.171 |
| 16 | Alexander Ovechkin | 1.168 |
| 17 | Stan Mikita | 1.159 |
| 18 | Teemu Selanne | 1.138 |
| 19 | Bryan Trottier | 1.130 |
| 20 | Adam Oates | 1.120 |
| 21 | Doug Gilmour | 1.119 |
| 22 | Dale Hawerchuk | 1.118 |
| 23 | Jari Kurri | 1.114 |
| 24 | Luc Robitaille | 1.113 |
| 25 | Brett Hull | 1.110 |
FAQ's On NHL All-Time Points Leaders
A. Wayne Gretzky holds the title of the NHL's all-time points leader, amassing an incredible 2,857 points over his career with various teams.
A. Jaromir Jagr is the second-highest points scorer in NHL history, accumulating 1,921 points during his time with nine different teams.
A. Wayne Gretzky's average points per game in the regular season is an astonishing 1.921, showcasing his unparalleled skill and dominance on the ice.
A. Mark Messier ranks third in regular season points per game with an impressive average of 1.497, highlighting his significant impact on the game throughout his career.
A. Connor McDavid continues to make his mark on the NHL with an impressive average of 1.431 points per game, solidifying his status as one of the league's top talents.
