Last Sunday was a historic moment for hockey. Alex Ovechkin, the Washington Capitals icon, became the NHL`s all-time leading scorer, surpassing Wayne Gretzky with his 895th goal against the New York Islanders. This achievement highlights Ovechkin`s legendary career, as he broke Gretzky`s long-standing record that many thought was impossible to reach.
While Ovechkin, at 39, has achieved the all-time goal record, numerous other NHL records seem unbreakable, including several held by Gretzky. Let`s examine some of hockey`s most likely permanent records, many of which belong to “The Great One”.
- Alex Ovechkin`s 895 Goals (and Counting)
- Wayne Gretzky`s 2,857 Career Points
- 92 Goals in 80 Games – Gretzky
- 163 Assists, 215 Points in 80 Games – Gretzky
- 10 Points in One Game – Darryl Sittler (Feb. 7, 1976)
- 76 Goals by a Rookie – Teemu Selanne (1992-93)
- 139 Points by a Defenseman – Bobby Orr (1970-71)
- 502 Consecutive Games by a Goaltender – Glenn Hall
- 691 Wins by a Goaltender – Martin Brodeur
- 11 Stanley Cup Wins – Henri Richard
Alex Ovechkin`s 895 Goals (and Counting)
After matching Wayne Gretzky`s record of 894 goals, Ovechkin definitively claimed the top spot on Sunday. He scored his 895th goal during a power play in the second period against the New York Islanders. Ovechkin received congratulations from Gretzky himself, solidifying his place as the NHL`s leading scorer.
With five games remaining in the 2024-25 season, Ovechkin could potentially reach 900 career goals before the season ends. Looking ahead, he might even have a chance at 1,000 career goals if he continues playing into his forties.
Wayne Gretzky`s 2,857 Career Points
Although Gretzky no longer holds the all-time goal record, his NHL record for career points is likely to remain unchallenged. Gretzky accumulated 2,857 points (894 goals and 1,963 assists), a total far exceeding any other player in league history. Jaromir Jagr is second with 1,921 points, and Sidney Crosby leads active players with 1,682. For context, Ovechkin has 1,619 career points after Sunday`s game against the Islanders.
92 Goals in 80 Games – Gretzky
A significant portion of Gretzky`s previous goal record came from his exceptional 1981-82 season with the Edmonton Oilers, where he scored 92 goals in 80 games. No player in the 21st century has come close to this, and no one has even surpassed 70 goals in a season since then. Auston Matthews holds the highest single-season goal count since 2000, scoring 69 goals in the 2023-24 season.
During the 1981-82 season, Gretzky also became the fastest player to reach 50 goals in a season, achieving this in just 39 games.
163 Assists, 215 Points in 80 Games – Gretzky
Following his 92-goal season, Gretzky set another seemingly unbreakable record during the 1985-86 season: most assists and points in a single season. Gretzky recorded 163 assists and 215 points (52 goals, 163 assists) in 80 games. This was another remarkable statistical season during a period when Gretzky and the Edmonton Oilers won four Stanley Cups.
10 Points in One Game – Darryl Sittler (Feb. 7, 1976)
The only instance of a player scoring double-digit points in a single NHL game occurred on February 7, 1976. Darryl Sittler of the Toronto Maple Leafs scored 10 points (six goals, four assists) in an 11-4 victory over the Boston Bruins. This broke the previous record of eight points in a game, initially set by Maurice Richard in 1944 and matched by Bert Olmstead in 1954.
76 Goals by a Rookie – Teemu Selanne (1992-93)
Teemu Selanne`s rookie season in 1992-93 signaled his future stardom. “The Finnish Flash” scored 76 goals (132 points), establishing the all-time record for rookie goals in the NHL. Selanne was drafted 10th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 1988 but played in Finland before making his historic NHL debut.
Selanne received the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL`s best rookie and went on to have a Hall of Fame career over 21 years. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017 and named one of the NHL`s 100 Greatest Players that same year.
Selanne`s rookie record has a slight footnote. Gretzky had 137 points (51 goals, 86 assists) in 79 games in 1979-80, but the NHL didn`t consider Gretzky a rookie due to his World Hockey Association experience with the Indianapolis Racers.
139 Points by a Defenseman – Bobby Orr (1970-71)
Bobby Orr`s 1970-71 season remains the greatest ever for an NHL defenseman, standing for over half a century. Orr achieved an unprecedented 139 points (37 goals, 102 assists) and set a record for plus-minus (+124) for any position. Paul Coffey is the only player to have come close to Orr`s record, and no other defenseman has surpassed 110 points in a season.
502 Consecutive Games by a Goaltender – Glenn Hall
Glenn Hall is arguably the most remarkable iron man among NHL goalies. From 1955 to 1963, Hall played 502 consecutive games. This is even more impressive considering the limited protective gear available to goalies at that time, including the absence of masks and helmets.
Hall was not only incredibly durable but also a top goalie of his era. He is credited with developing the butterfly style of goalkeeping and earned the nickname “Mr. Goalie.” Hall won two Stanley Cups and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1975.
691 Wins by a Goaltender – Martin Brodeur
Another seemingly unbreakable NHL goaltending record belongs to Martin Brodeur. He retired with 691 wins in 1,266 games. Brodeur spent almost his entire career with the New Jersey Devils, winning three Stanley Cups and two Olympic gold medals for Team Canada.
11 Stanley Cup Wins – Henri Richard
It is highly unlikely that any NHL player will ever match Henri Richard`s record of 11 Stanley Cup wins. Richard won 11 championships with the Montreal Canadiens dynasty, including five consecutive wins from 1955-56 to 1959-60. “Pocket Rocket” holds the record for the most championships by an individual player in North American sports, tied with NBA legend Bill Russell.
