In the 2023-24 iteration of the NHL, Auston Matthews, who is the alternate captain of the Toronto Maple Leafs, scored the most goals, with 69 being registered in total. Sam Reinhart and Zach Hyman, players for the Florida Panthers and the Edmonton Oilers would finish second and third, putting up 57 and 54 goals, respectively.
While these numbers are hugely impressive, particularly on the part of Auston Matthews, the 69-goal total doesn’t quite earn him entry into the top 10 list for the most goals in an NHL season. In this article, we share these statistics, while also looking at the most goals scored in a National Hockey League period.
Has any NHL player scored 70 goals in a season?
While it’s rare, there are plenty of NHL players who have managed to achieve 70 goals in a single season. Interestingly, the top 10 is filled with players that have done exactly that, including Alexander Mogilny, who hit this mark with 76 goals during the 1992-93 season. More recently, Alexander Ovechkin scored 72 goals in the 2007-2008 season.
What are the most goals scored in an NHL season?
The record for the most goals scored in an NHL season is held by Wayne Gretzky, with an incredible 92 goals scored during the 1981-82 season. Brett Hull comes second, netting 86 goals during the 1990-91 iteration of the National Hockey League.
With the first NHL season taking place in 1917-18, and Wayne Gretzky being so far ahead of the competition, it truly shows how dominant his performances were throughout his career. For example, he also netted 87 times in the 1983-84 season and 73 times in 1984-85.
Who are the top goal scorers in NHL history?
Following Wayne Gretzky and Brett Hull is Mario Lemieux, a Canadian player with a historic career in his own right. He spent his entire career at the Pittsburgh Penguins, immortalising himself in club history after scoring 85 goals in the 1988-1989 season.
As for the full list of top 10 goal scorers in NHL history, you can find them below, with Wayne Gretzky and Brett Hull both making more than one appearance!
| Player | Number of Goals | Season |
| Wayne Gretzky | 92 | 1981-82 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 87 | 1983-84 |
| Brett Hull | 86 | 1990-91 |
| Mario Lemieux | 85 | 1988-89 |
| Alexander Mogilny | 76 | 1992-93 |
| Teemu Selanne | 76 | 1992-93 |
| Phil Esposito | 76 | 1970-71 |
| Wayne Gretzky | 73 | 1984-85 |
| Brett Hull | 72 | 1989-90 |
| Jari Kurri | 71 | 1984-85 |
What is the most goals scored in an NHL Period?
The most goals scored in a single period in NHL history is 10, which occurred on March 19, 1921, during a game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Toronto St. Patricks. Both teams combined to achieve this total, making it the highest-scoring period ever recorded in an NHL game. Nowadays, the Toronto St. Patricks are known as the Toronto Maple Leafs, while the Montreal Canadiens still compete under the same name!
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