Who has the most goals in NHL history at the end of the 2022-23 season? These superstars were brilliant on the ice and earned their place in the record books.
Most Goals in NHL History
We take a look at the most remarkable goal-scoring numbers with the top ten goal scorers ever in the National Hockey League.
10. Steve Yzerman – 692 goals
Steve Yzerman spent his entire 22-year career with the Detroit Red Wings. The longtime captain was a fan favorite and helped the Red Wings to three Stanley Cups with his clutch performances.
Yzerman had a laser shot and was an excellent playmarker. He scored 692 goals and had 1,063 assists from 1,514 games, though it could have been more had it not been for some nasty injuries during his career.
9. Mark Messier – 694 goals
Mark Messier was known for his leadership and led the Edmonton Oilers to five Stanley Cup championships. He also led the New York Rangers to the 1994 championship, helping end a 54-year championship drought.
Messier was an all-around excellent player with a fierce fighting spirit. He retired as the second all-time for points scored with 1,887 points from 1,756 games played. Messier is also ninth on the list of most goals in NHL history with 694.
8. Mike Gartner – 708 goals
Known for his blazing speed Mike Gartner was always a goal-scoring threat. His ability to handle the puck, pass it and score at full flight made him one of the most deadliest forwards in the game.
Gartner scored 708 goals in his career, scoring at least 30 goals in 17 of his 19 seasons in the NHL.
7. Phil Esposito – 717 goals
Phil Esposito was one of the pioneers who paved the way for record goal-scoring and was the first player to crack the 100-point mark in a single season, doing so in 1968-69 and achieving it six times during his career.
Esposito dominated during his era as a 10-time All-Star. He scored 717 goals in 1,282 games, and he won two Stanley Cups with the Boston Bruins.
6. Marcel Dionne – 731 goals
When Marcel Dionne retired in 1989, he had the second most goals in NHL history with 731 goals. Dionne now sits in sixth place, and the 1,771 points he scored is the most by any player who had failed to win a Stanley Cup.
Throughout his 18-year career, Dionne was as crafty as any player. Despite being relatively undersized, he was powerful and able to play himself into excellent scoring positions.
5. Brett Hull – 741 goals
One of the greatest ever players is Brett Hull and his 741 goals scored is fifth most goals in NHL history. At the time of his retirement, only Wayne Gretzky and Gordie Howe had scored more goals.
Hull was a dangerous sniper from range, with an extremely accurate shot and excellent scoring instincts. He managed to win two Stanley Cup titles during his career with the Dallas Stars in 1999 and in 2002 with the Detroit Red Wings.
4. Jaromir Jagr – 766 goals
Jaromir Jagr starred for nine teams in 24 seasons in the NHL. After Wayne Gretzky, Jagr has the second most points ever with 1,921, and the fourth most goals in NHL history with 766 goals to his name.
Jagr was able to reinvent himself, a major reason for his longevity at the highest level. He began his career as a speedy winger and was able to transform into a physically imposing unit later on in his career.
During a 20-year stretch, Jagr had three 120-point seasons, more than the rest of the league combined who had only two in total.
3. Gordie Howe – 801 goals
Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux agree between them that Gordie Howe was the best player in NHL history. Like Steve Yzerman, Howe played his entire career at the Detroit Red Wings.
In his 26 seasons, he scored 801 goals and won six Stanley Cups. Despite his powerful strength, Howe was extremely agile and is considered one of the greatest all-around players ever.
Howe held the record for most goals in NHL history until 1994, with Wayne Gretzky overtaking Howe with his 802nd goal.
2. Alex Ovechkin – 822 goals
Alex Ovechkin is second only to Wayne Gretzky for most goals in NHL history. At the conclusion of the 2022-23 season, Ovechkin has scored 822 goals as he hunts down Gretzky’s record.
Ovechkin’s played his career with perseverance and is one of the toughest players of his generation. He’s been able to generate a high number of scoring opportunities with his excellent decision making of either attacking the net or knowing when to shoot the puck.
1. Wayne Gretzky – 894 goals
Wayne Gretzky is considered by most to be the best NHL player ever. He won four Stanley Cups, is the all-time leader in assists, points, and he has the most goals in NHL history with 894 goals.
Gretzky retired with 61 NHL records to his name with many still in place to this day. He played with a level of freak athleticism and intelligence unmatched by no other.
His combination of vision, finesse, and an uncanny ability to find the back of the net set the standard for generations to come and he’s the only player ever to record a 200 point season.
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