Chasing Wayne Gretzky's NHL record for most goals scored

Starr Cards Infographic: Chasing Wayne Gretzky’s NHL record for most goals scored

For hockey fans the leader in goals scored each season is no less noteworthy as the home run king in baseball, or the quarterback with the most touchdown passes in football. And the all-time leaders in those categories are even more hallowed…

WAYNE GRETZKY: MOST GOALS SCORED

Wayne Gretzky not only passed his idol Gordie Howe to become the NHL’s all-time goals leader, but finished his career in 1999 having found the net 93 more times than his fellow Hall-of-Fame inductee.

Gretzky’s point total (goals plus assists) is perhaps even more impressive at 2857 — more than 900 in excess of second-place holder Jaromir Jagr.

UPDATED December 1, 2022

NHL CAREER GOALS LEADERS

Wayne Gretzky, 894 Goals — 100%

Gordie Howe, 801 Goals — 89.6%

Alex Ovechkin, 793 Goals – 88.7%

Jaromir Jagr, 766 Goals — 85.7%

Brett Hull, 741 Goals — 82.9%

Marcel Dionne, 731 Goals — 81.8%

Phil Esposito, 717 Goals — 80.2%

Mark Gartner, 708 Goals — 79.2%

Mark Messier, 694 Goals — 77.6%

Steve Yzerman, 692 Goals — 77.4%

Mario Lemieux, 690 Goals — 77.2%

Teemu Selanne, 684 Goals — 76.5%

Luc Robitaille, 668 Goals — 74.7%

Brendan Shanahan, 656 Goals — 73.4%

Dave Andreychuk, 640 Goals — 71.6%

Jarome Iginla, 625 Goals — 69.9%

Joe Sakic, 625 Goals — 69.9%

Bobby Hull, 610 Goals — 68.2%

Dino Ciccarelli, 608 Goals — 68.0%

Jari Kurri, 601 Goals — 67.2%

If anyone can pass Gretzky’s goal total, it may be Washington Capitals star Alex Ovechkin. but it will be no cakewalk.

OVECHKIN IN PURSUIT

In addition to winning his first Stanley Cup in 2018, Ovechkin notched his 600th goal at 32 years of age. In the subsequent seasons he’s found the net another hundred times to become the eighth player in league history to join the 700 Club.