Active Goal Leaders in the NHL
In the National Hockey League (NHL), scoring the most goals in a franchise’s history is an impressive feat that usually requires not only remarkable skill but also dedication, consistency, and length of service with the team. However, for organizations currently in rebuilding phases or recent expansions, the criteria might be less stringent. This shift allows emerging talents to establish themselves as the prominent scorers while newer teams have players with all-time goal records who have already moved on or are no longer active. Currently, only six franchises boast active players at the top of their all-time goal-scorer list.
Summary of Active Goal Leaders
Below is a summary of the active goal leaders across all 32 NHL teams, listed by their goal totals:
- Washington Capitals – Alex Ovechkin, 897 goals
Ovechkin made history in April by breaking the NHL’s record for most regular-season goals. He now sits just 43 goals shy of surpassing Wayne Gretzky’s total when combining regular season and playoff goals, with one year remaining on his contract. - Pittsburgh Penguins – Sidney Crosby, 625 goals
Crosby’s two-year extension kicks off this season and he is 66 goals behind Mario Lemieux’s Penguins record, which he certainly has the opportunity to overtake. - Los Angeles Kings – Anze Kopitar, 440 goals
As the Kings’ leader in games played, Kopitar aims to catch Marcel Dionne’s tally of 550 goals, needing 110 to reach that mark. - Toronto Maple Leafs – Auston Matthews, 401 goals
Matthews is drawing closer to the franchise record with a scoring average of 0.64 goals per game, placing him seventh in NHL history among those with at least 100 goals. - Dallas Stars and Edmonton Oilers – Jamie Benn and Leon Draisaitl, 399 goals each
Benn, nearing the milestone of 400 goals, could reclaim a franchise record if he surpasses Mike Modano’s legacy, while Draisaitl, who bagged the Rocket Richard Trophy recently, remains an offensive powerhouse alongside teammate Connor McDavid. - Boston Bruins – David Pastrnak, 391 goals
Starting off his career at just 29 years old, Pastrnak is on track to overtake Johnny Bucyk, who leads the franchise goal list with 546. - Colorado Avalanche – Nathan MacKinnon, 367 goals
MacKinnon is climbing the ranks in both goals and assists, with potential to make significant strides in franchise history this coming season. - Tampa Bay Lightning – Nikita Kucherov, 357 goals
Kucherov holds records for assists and will need 199 goals to take the top spot from Steven Stamkos as he continues his consistent scoring efforts. - Winnipeg Jets – Mark Scheifele, 336 goals
Scheifele stands as the highest goal scorer for both the Thrashers and the current iteration of the Jets as he marks his place in franchise history. - San Jose Sharks – Logan Couture, 323 goals
Though he announced his retirement this year due to injury, Couture remains a significant figure in the Sharks’ scoring record, leading the team despite his absence from the ice. - Nashville Predators – Filip Forsberg, 318 goals
Acquired from the Capitals in a pivotal trade, Forsberg has solidified his status in the franchise as he continues to expand his lead over previous record holder David Legwand. - New York Islanders – Anders Lee, 289 goals
Having recently taken the active lead after a trade, Lee is climbing steadily up the ranks to challenge Mike Bossy’s record. - Florida Panthers – Aleksander Barkov, 286 goals
With numerous franchise records under his belt, Barkov is a cornerstone player for the Panthers and continues to build a legacy. - Carolina Hurricanes – Sebastian Aho, 283 goals
At 28, Aho remains close to the franchise’s all-time scoring leader and looks poised to shatter that record in coming years. - New York Rangers – Mika Zibanejad, 250 goals
Zibanejad is tied with Mark Messier for regular-season goals and has the potential to climb higher following a few key departures from the team. - Detroit Red Wings – Dylan Larkin, 242 goals
Although Larkin trails behind Gordie Howe’s staggering 786 goals, he leads in current players and is solidifying his position. - Montreal Canadiens – Brendan Gallagher, 239 goals
Gallagher shares a tie with Bob Gainey in terms of all-time goals, leading Nick Suzuki by a notable margin. - Calgary Flames – Mikael Backlund, 215 goals
Having played for 17 seasons with the franchise, Backlund aims to better his position, recognizing the impact of previous players like Jarome Iginla. - Philadelphia Flyers – Sean Couturier, 206 goals
As Couturier chases Rick Tocchet’s franchise record, he remains a significant scoring threat for the Flyers. - Vancouver Canucks – Brock Boeser, 204 goals
After securing a long-term contract, Boeser aims to make his mark by chasing Daniel Sedin’s scoring record as he progresses. - Columbus Blue Jackets – Boone Jenner, 199 goals
Jenner is closing in on Rick Nash’s all-time record, displaying prowess in scoring unique goal types, amassing several tipped and backhand goals. - Ottawa Senators – Brady Tkachuk, 191 goals
Tkachuk is moving up the ranks as he approaches the all-time mark set by Daniel Alfredsson, while shedding light on the franchise’s storied history. - Minnesota Wild – Kirill Kaprizov, 185 goals
Known for his impressive scoring rate, Kaprizov has made an immediate impact in his short career and is a major force on the ice.
