Last Sunday was a historic day for hockey as Alex Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals became the NHL`s all-time leading goal scorer. He surpassed Wayne Gretzky by netting his 895th career goal against the New York Islanders. This achievement highlights Ovechkin`s Hall of Fame career, especially because he broke Gretzky`s long-standing record, which many thought was impossible to reach.
While Ovechkin, at 39, has achieved the all-time goal record, numerous other NHL records appear to be untouchable, including some held by Gretzky. Let`s examine some of hockey`s most enduring records, many of which are still held by “The Great One.”
Alex Ovechkin`s Incredible Goal Record
After matching Wayne Gretzky`s record of 894 goals, Ovechkin made history on Sunday by scoring his 895th goal in a power play against the New York Islanders. Ovechkin received congratulations from Gretzky himself and now stands alone as the NHL`s top scorer.
With five games remaining in the 2024-25 season, Ovechkin could reach 900 career goals before the season ends. He might even have a chance at 1,000 career goals if he continues playing into his forties.
Wayne Gretzky`s Unmatched Point Total
Although Gretzky has lost the all-time goals record to Ovechkin, his record for career points is likely to remain unchallenged. Gretzky accumulated 2,857 points (894 goals and 1,963 assists), far surpassing any other player in NHL history. Jaromir Jagr is second with 1,921 points, and Sidney Crosby leads active players with 1,682. Ovechkin has 1,619 career points as of Sunday`s game.
Gretzky`s 92 Goals in a Season
A significant portion of Gretzky`s career goal record came from his remarkable 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, with no one even exceeding 70 goals in a season. The highest single-season goal count since 2000 is Auston Matthews` 69 goals in the 2023-24 season.
In the 1981-82 season, Gretzky also became the fastest player to score 50 goals in a season, achieving this in just 39 games.
Gretzky`s Single-Season Assists and Points Records
After his 92-goal season, Gretzky set another record that is unlikely to be broken. In the 1985-86 season, he set single-season records for assists and points with 163 assists and 215 points (52 goals, 163 assists) in 80 games. This was another incredible statistical season during which Gretzky won four Stanley Cups with the Oilers.
Darryl Sittler`s 10 Points in a Single Game
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, set by Maurice Richard in 1944 and matched by Bert Olmstead in 1954.
Teemu Selanne`s Rookie Goal Record
Teemu Selanne`s rookie season in 1992-93 indicated his future greatness. “The Finnish Flash” scored 76 goals (132 points), setting the record for most goals by an NHL rookie. Selanne was drafted 10th overall by the Winnipeg Jets in 1988 but played in Finland before making his historic NHL debut.
Selanne won the Calder Memorial Trophy as the NHL`s best rookie and had a Hall of Fame career spanning 21 years. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017 and named one of the NHL`s 100 Greatest Players the same year.
It`s worth noting that Gretzky had 137 points (51 goals, 86 assists) in 79 games in 1979-80 as a rookie, but he wasn`t officially considered a rookie by the NHL due to his prior experience in the World Hockey Association.
Bobby Orr`s Dominant Season for a Defenseman
Bobby Orr`s 1970-71 season remains the greatest ever for an NHL defenseman. Orr scored an incredible 139 points (37 goals, 102 assists) and set a record for plus-minus (+124) for any position player. 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.
Glenn Hall`s Consecutive Games Played by a Goaltender
Glenn Hall is known as one of the most durable goaltenders in NHL history. From 1955 to 1963, Hall played 502 consecutive games. This is especially impressive considering the limited protective gear available to goalies during that time, including the absence of masks and helmets.
Hall was not only 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.
Martin Brodeur`s Wins Record for a Goaltender
Another seemingly unbreakable record for an NHL goalie belongs to Martin Brodeur. He finished his career 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.
Henri Richard`s Unprecedented Stanley Cup Wins
It`s highly unlikely that any NHL player will ever match Henri Richard`s record of 11 Stanley Cup wins. Richard won these 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 in North American sports, sharing this record with NBA legend Bill Russell.
Elton Marrow