As of completion of the 2023–24 season – the 106th regular season of play of the National Hockey League (NHL) – 47 different ice hockey players have scored at least 500 regular season goals in their NHL career.
A 500-goal career was first achieved in the 44th year of the NHL (1957–58), when Maurice Richard scored his 500th goal in his 938th game.
Season achievements
The 2006–07 season saw the largest number of players (five) achieve their 500th goal (Teemu Selanne, Mike Modano, Mark Recchi, Mats Sundin and Peter Bondra). A total of four players scored their 500th goal in 1995–96 (Mario Lemieux, Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier and Dale Hawerchuk)
The longest stretch between 500 goal scorers was the eight seasons between Gordie Howe (second to achieve the mark), in 1961–62, and Bobby Hull, in 1969–70.
Player achievements
The 47 players to score 500 goals consist of 34 Canadians[note 1], five Americans (Brett Hull, Joe Mullen, Mike Modano, Jeremy Roenick and Keith Tkachuk), three Slovaks (Stan Mikita, Peter Bondra and Marian Hossa)[note 2], two Finns (Jari Kurri and Teemu Selanne), one Czech (Jaromir Jagr), one Swede (Mats Sundin) and one Russian (Alexander Ovechkin). Stan Mikita was the first player not born in Canada to score 500 goals (he was born in the Slovak Republic, but represented Canada internationally); Jari Kurri was the first 500-goal scorer who never played for the Canadian national team.
The fewest NHL games required to reach the mark is 575, set by Wayne Gretzky. Second-quickest is Mario Lemieux, achieving the mark in his 605th game. With Mike Bossy (647) and Brett Hull (693) following, only these four players needed fewer than 800 games to score their first 500 goals.
Of the 47 players to score at least 500 goals in their career, 19 reached the mark in fewer than 1000 career games played.
Of those on the list, Lanny McDonald came closest to not achieving 500 goals; he reached the mark with only four games left in his final NHL season. Similarly, Joe Mullen scored his 500th goal with only ten games left in his final season. Glenn Anderson was the closest player to never reach the mark, retiring in 1996 with 498 career NHL goals.
Four players have scored their 500th goal on an empty net: Mike Bossy, Wayne Gretzky, Jari Kurri and Keith Tkachuk.
Maurice Richard and Peter Bondra are the only players with over 500 goals but fewer than 1,000 points.
Patrick Roy is the only goaltender to concede more than one opponent's 500th career goal: Steve Yzerman in 1996, Joe Mullen in 1997 and Brendan Shanahan in 2002. A contributing factor for this statistical coincidence is Roy playing the second-most games ever by a goaltender, at 1,029.
In 2006, on Hockey Night in Canada, Mats Sundin scored his 500th goal short handed, in overtime, to finish off a hat trick and to win the game for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Team achievements
A total of 20 franchises have had a player score their 500th goal while playing for the franchise. Both the Detroit Red Wings and Chicago Blackhawks have had five players score their 500th goal while playing for the team.
To date, no team has had multiple players reaching 500 goals on the same team in the same season. The 2001–02 Detroit Red Wings were the first team to have three 500+ goal scorers on the roster (Steve Yzerman, Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille), and would finish the season with four players in the club after Brendan Shanahan scored his 500th.
500-goal scorers
This list is current as of the 2023–24 season
- Legend
- Rank – Ranking on all-time goals list
- Goals – Career regular season goals
- GP – Career regular season games played
- G/GP – Mean goals per game played, rounded to two decimal places
- With team – Team for which the player scored their 500th goal
- Game no. – Number of career regular season games played when 500th goal was scored
- HHOF – Year of induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame or eligibility
- Active NHL player
- Active player outside of NHL
Rank | Player | Goals[2] | GP[2] | G/GP | Date of 500th goal[2] | With team[2] | Game no.[2] | Opposing goaltender[2] | HHOF | Ref. | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Wayne Gretzky | 894 | 1,487 | 0.60 | November 22, 1986 | Edmonton Oilers | 575 | (empty Canucks net) | 1999 | [3] | |
2 | Alexander Ovechkin | 853 | 1,426 | 0.60 | January 10, 2016 | Washington Capitals | 801 | Andrew Hammond (Senators) | Active | [4] | |
3 | Gordie Howe | 801 | 1,767 | 0.45 | March 14, 1962 | Detroit Red Wings | 1,045 | Gump Worsley (Rangers) | 1972 | [5] | |
4 | Jaromír Jágr | 766 | 1,733 | 0.44 | February 4, 2003 | Washington Capitals | 928 | John Grahame (Lightning) | Active (ELH) | [6] | |
5 | Brett Hull | 741 | 1,269 | 0.58 | December 22, 1996 | St. Louis Blues | 693 | Stéphane Fiset (Kings) | 2009 | [7] | |
6 | Marcel Dionne | 731 | 1,348 | 0.54 | December 14, 1982 | Los Angeles Kings | 887 | Al Jensen (Capitals) | 1992 | [8] | |
7 | Phil Esposito | 717 | 1,282 | 0.56 | December 22, 1974 | Boston Bruins | 803 | Jim Rutherford (Red Wings) | 1984 | [9] | |
8 | Mike Gartner | 708 | 1,432 | 0.49 | October 14, 1991 | New York Rangers | 936 | Mike Liut (Capitals) | 2001 | [10] | |
9 | Mark Messier | 694 | 1,756 | 0.40 | November 6, 1995 | New York Rangers | 1,141 | Rick Tabaracci (Flames) | 2007 | [11] | |
10 | Steve Yzerman | 692 | 1,514 | 0.46 | January 17, 1996 | Detroit Red Wings | 906 | Patrick Roy (Avalanche) | 2009 | [12] | |
11 | Mario Lemieux | 690 | 915 | 0.75 | October 26, 1995 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 605 | Tommy Soderstrom (Islanders) | 1997 | [13] | |
12 | Teemu Selanne | 684 | 1,451 | 0.47 | November 22, 2006 | Anaheim Ducks | 982 | Jose Theodore (Avalanche) | 2017 | [14] | |
13 | Luc Robitaille | 668 | 1,431 | 0.47 | January 7, 1999 | Los Angeles Kings | 928 | Dwayne Roloson (Sabres) | 2009 | [15] | |
14 | Brendan Shanahan | 656 | 1,524 | 0.43 | March 23, 2002 | Detroit Red Wings | 1,100 | Patrick Roy (Avalanche) | 2013 | [15] | |
15 | Dave Andreychuk | 640 | 1,639 | 0.39 | March 15, 1997 | New Jersey Devils | 1,070 | Bill Ranford (Capitals) | 2017 | [16] | |
16 | Joe Sakic | 625 | 1,378 | 0.45 | December 11, 2002 | Colorado Avalanche | 1,044 | Dan Cloutier (Canucks) | 2012 | [17] | |
Jarome Iginla | 625 | 1,554 | 0.40 | January 7, 2012 | Calgary Flames | 1,149 | Niklas Backstrom (Wild) | 2020 | [18] | ||
18 | Bobby Hull | 610 | 1,063 | 0.57 | February 21, 1970 | Chicago Blackhawks | 861 | Eddie Giacomin (Rangers) | 1983 | [19] | |
19 | Dino Ciccarelli | 608 | 1,232 | 0.49 | January 8, 1994 | Detroit Red Wings | 946 | Kelly Hrudey (Kings) | 2010 | [20] | |
20 | Jari Kurri | 601 | 1,251 | 0.48 | October 17, 1992 | Los Angeles Kings | 833 | (empty Bruins net) | 2001 | [21] | |
21 | Sidney Crosby | 592 | 1,272 | 0.47 | February 15, 2022 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1,077 | Carter Hart (Flyers) | Active | [22] | |
22 | Mark Recchi | 577 | 1,652 | 0.35 | January 26, 2007 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1,303 | Marty Turco (Stars) | 2017 | [23] | |
23 | Mike Bossy | 573 | 752 | 0.76 | January 2, 1986 | New York Islanders | 647 | (empty Bruins net) | 1991 | [24] | |
24 | Patrick Marleau | 566 | 1,779 | 0.32 | February 2, 2017 | San Jose Sharks | 1,463 | Ryan Miller (Canucks) | — | [25] | |
25 | Joe Nieuwendyk | 564 | 1,257 | 0.45 | January 17, 2003 | New Jersey Devils | 1,094 | Kevin Weekes (Hurricanes) | 2011 | [26] | |
Mats Sundin | 564 | 1,346 | 0.42 | October 14, 2006 | Toronto Maple Leafs | 1,162 | Miikka Kiprusoff (Flames) | 2012 | [27] | ||
27 | Mike Modano | 561 | 1,499 | 0.37 | March 13, 2007 | Dallas Stars | 1,225 | Antero Niittymaki (Flyers) | 2014 | [28] | |
28 | Guy Lafleur | 560 | 1,126 | 0.50 | December 20, 1983 | Montreal Canadiens | 918 | Glenn Resch (Devils) | 1988 | [29] | |
29 | Johnny Bucyk | 556 | 1,540 | 0.36 | October 30, 1975 | Boston Bruins | 1,370 | Yves Belanger (Blues) | 1981 | [30] | |
30 | Steven Stamkos | 555 | 1,082 | 0.51 | January 18, 2023 | Tampa Bay Lightning | 965 | Spencer Martin (Canucks) | Active | [31] | |
31 | Ron Francis | 549 | 1,731 | 0.32 | January 2, 2002 | Carolina Hurricanes | 1,533 | Byron Dafoe (Bruins) | 2007 | [32] | |
32 | Michel Goulet | 548 | 1,089 | 0.50 | February 16, 1992 | Chicago Blackhawks | 951 | Jeff Reese (Flames) | 1998 | [33] | |
33 | Maurice Richard | 544 | 978 | 0.56 | October 19, 1957 | Montreal Canadiens | 863 | Glenn Hall (Black Hawks) | 1961 | [34] | |
34 | Stan Mikita | 541 | 1,396 | 0.39 | February 27, 1977 | Chicago Blackhawks | 1,221 | Cesare Maniago (Canucks) | 1983 | [35] | |
35 | Keith Tkachuk | 538 | 1,201 | 0.45 | April 6, 2008 | St. Louis Blues | 1,055 | (empty Blue Jackets net) | — | [36] | |
36 | Frank Mahovlich | 533 | 1,181 | 0.45 | March 21, 1973 | Montreal Canadiens | 1,105 | Dunc Wilson (Canucks) | 1981 | [37] | |
37 | Marian Hossa | 525 | 1,309 | 0.40 | October 18, 2016 | Chicago Blackhawks | 1,240 | Michal Neuvirth (Flyers) | 2020 | [38] | |
38 | Bryan Trottier | 524 | 1,279 | 0.41 | February 13, 1990 | New York Islanders | 1,104 | Rick Wamsley (Flames) | 1997 | [39] | |
39 | Pat Verbeek | 522 | 1,424 | 0.37 | March 22, 2000 | Detroit Red Wings | 1,285 | Fred Brathwaite (Flames) | — | [40] | |
40 | Dale Hawerchuk | 518 | 1,188 | 0.44 | January 31, 1996 | St. Louis Blues | 1,103 | Felix Potvin (Maple Leafs) | 2001 | [41] | |
41 | Pierre Turgeon | 515 | 1,294 | 0.40 | November 8, 2005 | Colorado Avalanche | 1,229 | Vesa Toskala (Sharks) | 2023 | [42] | |
42 | Jeremy Roenick | 513 | 1,363 | 0.38 | November 10, 2007 | San Jose Sharks | 1,267 | Alex Auld (Coyotes) | 2024 | [43] | |
43 | Gilbert Perreault | 512 | 1,191 | 0.43 | March 9, 1986 | Buffalo Sabres | 1,159 | Alain Chevrier (Devils) | 1990 | [44] | |
44 | Jean Beliveau | 507 | 1,125 | 0.45 | February 11, 1971 | Montreal Canadiens | 1,101 | Gilles Gilbert (North Stars) | 1972 | [45] | |
45 | Peter Bondra | 503 | 1,081 | 0.47 | December 22, 2006 | Chicago Blackhawks | 1,050 | Jean-Sebastien Aubin (Maple Leafs) | — | [46] | |
46 | Joe Mullen | 502 | 1,062 | 0.47 | March 14, 1997 | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1,052 | Patrick Roy (Avalanche) | 2000 | [47] | |
47 | Lanny McDonald | 500 | 1,111 | 0.45 | March 21, 1989 | Calgary Flames | 1,107 | Mark Fitzpatrick (Islanders) | 1992 | [38] |
References
- Footnotes
- ^ Bryan Trottier was born in Canada and played internationally for both Canada and the United States, as allowed under the Jay Treaty#American Indian rights provisions.
- ^ Stan Mikita played for Canada internationally, however, being born in the Slovak Republic that existed during WWII, he is widely regarded to be one of three Slovaks that have reached the 500 goal mark[1]
- Citations
- ^ "Ďalší Slovák do "klubu 500"? Štvrtý člen je zatiaľ v nedohľadne". sport.sk. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f Diamond 2014, p. 204
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 72
- ^ "Alex Ovechkin stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 140
- ^ "Jaromir Jagr stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 144
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 64
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 66
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 134
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 90
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 116
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 85
- ^ "Teemu Selanne biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ a b Cameron 2013, p. 44
- ^ "Dave Andreychuk biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 102
- ^ "Jarome Iginla stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 28
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 130
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 146
- ^ "Sidney Crosby stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ^ "Mark Recchi biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 126
- ^ "Patrick Marleau stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 94
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 111
- ^ "Induction showcase – Mike Modano". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 148
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 16
- ^ "Steven Stamkos stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 69
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 26
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 156
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 91
- ^ "Keith Tkachuk biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 38
- ^ a b Cameron 2013, p. 150
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 112
- ^ "Pat Verbeek biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 76
- ^ "Pierre Turgeon biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ "Jeremy Roenick biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 97
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 58
- ^ "Peter Bondra biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
- ^ Cameron 2013, p. 152
- General
- Cameron, Steve, ed. (2013), Hockey Hall of Fame Book of Players, Richmond Hill, Ontario: Firefly Books, ISBN 978-1-77085-224-2
- Diamond, Dan, ed. (2014). National Hockey League Guide and Record Book 2015. Triumph Books. p. 204. ISBN 978-1-62937-011-8.