List of NHL players with 500 goals

As of completion of the 2023–24 season – the 106th regular season of play of the National Hockey League (NHL) – 46 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

edit

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

edit

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

edit

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

edit
Wayne Gretzky is the NHL's all-time leading goal scorer.
Alexander Ovechkin is the active leader in goalscoring and second all time.

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/GPMean 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
RankPlayerGoals[2]GP[2]G/GPDate of 500th goal[2]With team[2]Game no.[2]Opposing goaltender[2]HHOFRef.
1 Wayne Gretzky8941,4870.60November 22, 1986Edmonton Oilers575(empty Canucks net)1999[3]
2 Alexander Ovechkin8531,4260.60January 10, 2016Washington Capitals801Andrew Hammond (Senators)Active[4]
3 Gordie Howe8011,7670.45March 14, 1962Detroit Red Wings1,045Gump Worsley (Rangers)1972[5]
4 Jaromír Jágr7661,7330.44February 4, 2003Washington Capitals928John Grahame (Lightning)Active (ELH)[6]
5 Brett Hull7411,2690.58December 22, 1996St. Louis Blues693Stéphane Fiset (Kings)2009[7]
6 Marcel Dionne7311,3480.54December 14, 1982Los Angeles Kings887Al Jensen (Capitals)1992[8]
7 Phil Esposito7171,2820.56December 22, 1974Boston Bruins803Jim Rutherford (Red Wings)1984[9]
8 Mike Gartner7081,4320.49October 14, 1991New York Rangers936Mike Liut (Capitals)2001[10]
9 Mark Messier6941,7560.40November 6, 1995New York Rangers1,141Rick Tabaracci (Flames)2007[11]
10 Steve Yzerman6921,5140.46January 17, 1996Detroit Red Wings906Patrick Roy (Avalanche)2009[12]
11 Mario Lemieux6909150.75October 26, 1995Pittsburgh Penguins605Tommy Soderstrom (Islanders)1997[13]
12 Teemu Selanne6841,4510.47November 22, 2006Anaheim Ducks982Jose Theodore (Avalanche)2017[14]
13 Luc Robitaille6681,4310.47January 7, 1999Los Angeles Kings928Dwayne Roloson (Sabres)2009[15]
14 Brendan Shanahan6561,5240.43March 23, 2002Detroit Red Wings1,100Patrick Roy (Avalanche)2013[15]
15 Dave Andreychuk6401,6390.39March 15, 1997New Jersey Devils1,070Bill Ranford (Capitals)2017[16]
16 Joe Sakic6251,3780.45December 11, 2002Colorado Avalanche1,044Dan Cloutier (Canucks)2012[17]
Jarome Iginla6251,5540.40January 7, 2012Calgary Flames1,149Niklas Backstrom (Wild)2020[18]
18 Bobby Hull6101,0630.57February 21, 1970Chicago Blackhawks861Eddie Giacomin (Rangers)1983[19]
19 Dino Ciccarelli6081,2320.49January 8, 1994Detroit Red Wings946Kelly Hrudey (Kings)2010[20]
20 Jari Kurri6011,2510.48October 17, 1992Los Angeles Kings833(empty Bruins net)2001[21]
21 Sidney Crosby5921,2720.47February 15, 2022Pittsburgh Penguins1,077Carter Hart (Flyers)Active[22]
22 Mark Recchi5771,6520.35January 26, 2007Pittsburgh Penguins1,303Marty Turco (Stars)2017[23]
23 Mike Bossy5737520.76January 2, 1986New York Islanders647(empty Bruins net)1991[24]
24 Patrick Marleau5661,7790.32February 2, 2017San Jose Sharks1,463Ryan Miller (Canucks)Eligible 2024[25]
25 Joe Nieuwendyk5641,2570.45January 17, 2003New Jersey Devils1,094Kevin Weekes (Hurricanes)2011[26]
Mats Sundin5641,3460.42October 14, 2006Toronto Maple Leafs1,162Miikka Kiprusoff (Flames)2012[27]
27 Mike Modano5611,4990.37March 13, 2007Dallas Stars1,225Antero Niittymaki (Flyers)2014[28]
28 Guy Lafleur5601,1260.50December 20, 1983Montreal Canadiens918Glenn Resch (Devils)1988[29]
29 Johnny Bucyk5561,5400.36October 30, 1975Boston Bruins1,370Yves Belanger (Blues)1981[30]
30 Steven Stamkos5551,0820.51January 18, 2023Tampa Bay Lightning965Spencer Martin (Canucks)Active[31]
31 Ron Francis5491,7310.32January 2, 2002Carolina Hurricanes1,533Byron Dafoe (Bruins)2007[32]
32 Michel Goulet5481,0890.50February 16, 1992Chicago Blackhawks951Jeff Reese (Flames)1998[33]
33 Maurice Richard5449780.56October 19, 1957Montreal Canadiens863Glenn Hall (Black Hawks)1961[34]
34 Stan Mikita5411,3960.39February 27, 1977Chicago Blackhawks1,221Cesare Maniago (Canucks)1983[35]
35 Keith Tkachuk5381,2010.45April 6, 2008St. Louis Blues1,055(empty Blue Jackets net)[36]
36 Frank Mahovlich5331,1810.45March 21, 1973Montreal Canadiens1,105Dunc Wilson (Canucks)1981[37]
37 Marian Hossa5251,3090.40October 18, 2016Chicago Blackhawks1,240Michal Neuvirth (Flyers)2020[38]
38 Bryan Trottier5241,2790.41February 13, 1990New York Islanders1,104Rick Wamsley (Flames)1997[39]
39 Pat Verbeek5221,4240.37March 22, 2000Detroit Red Wings1,285Fred Brathwaite (Flames)[40]
40 Dale Hawerchuk5181,1880.44January 31, 1996St. Louis Blues1,103Felix Potvin (Maple Leafs)2001[41]
41 Pierre Turgeon5151,2940.40November 8, 2005Colorado Avalanche1,229Vesa Toskala (Sharks)2023[42]
42 Jeremy Roenick5131,3630.38November 10, 2007San Jose Sharks1,267Alex Auld (Coyotes)[43]
43 Gilbert Perreault5121,1910.43March 9, 1986Buffalo Sabres1,159Alain Chevrier (Devils)1990[44]
44 Jean Beliveau5071,1250.45February 11, 1971Montreal Canadiens1,101Gilles Gilbert (North Stars)1972[45]
45 Peter Bondra5031,0810.47December 22, 2006Chicago Blackhawks1,050Jean-Sebastien Aubin (Maple Leafs)[46]
46 Joe Mullen5021,0620.47March 14, 1997Pittsburgh Penguins1,052Patrick Roy (Avalanche)2000[47]
47 Lanny McDonald5001,1110.45March 21, 1989Calgary Flames1,107Mark Fitzpatrick (Islanders)1992[38]

References

edit
Footnotes
  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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
  1. ^ "Ďalší Slovák do "klubu 500"? Štvrtý člen je zatiaľ v nedohľadne". sport.sk. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d e f Diamond 2014, p. 204
  3. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 72
  4. ^ "Alex Ovechkin stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  5. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 140
  6. ^ "Jaromir Jagr stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  7. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 144
  8. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 64
  9. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 66
  10. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 134
  11. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 90
  12. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 116
  13. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 85
  14. ^ "Teemu Selanne biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  15. ^ a b Cameron 2013, p. 44
  16. ^ "Dave Andreychuk biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  17. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 102
  18. ^ "Jarome Iginla stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  19. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 28
  20. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 130
  21. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 146
  22. ^ "Sidney Crosby stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  23. ^ "Mark Recchi biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  24. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 126
  25. ^ "Patrick Marleau stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  26. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 94
  27. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 111
  28. ^ "Induction showcase – Mike Modano". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  29. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 148
  30. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 16
  31. ^ "Steven Stamkos stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  32. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 69
  33. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 26
  34. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 156
  35. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 91
  36. ^ "Keith Tkachuk biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  37. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 38
  38. ^ a b Cameron 2013, p. 150
  39. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 112
  40. ^ "Pat Verbeek biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  41. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 76
  42. ^ "Pierre Turgeon biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  43. ^ "Jeremy Roenick biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  44. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 97
  45. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 58
  46. ^ "Peter Bondra biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  47. ^ 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.