List of NHL players with 500 goals

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As of completion of the 2022–23 season – the 105th 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 March 25, 2024.

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
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 Canada Wayne Gretzky 894 1,487 0.60 November 22, 1986 Edmonton Oilers 575 (empty Canucks net) 1999 [3]
2 Russia Alexander Ovechkin 848 1,414 0.60 January 10, 2016 Washington Capitals 801 Andrew Hammond (Senators) Active [4]
3 Canada Gordie Howe 801 1,767 0.45 March 14, 1962 Detroit Red Wings 1,045 Gump Worsley (Rangers) 1972 [5]
4 Czech Republic Jaromír Jágr 766 1,733 0.44 February 4, 2003 Washington Capitals 928 John Grahame (Lightning) Active (ELH) [6]
5 CanadaUnited States Brett Hull 741 1,269 0.58 December 22, 1996 St. Louis Blues 693 Stephane Fiset (Kings) 2009 [7]
6 Canada Marcel Dionne 731 1,348 0.54 December 14, 1982 Los Angeles Kings 887 Al Jensen (Capitals) 1992 [8]
7 Canada Phil Esposito 717 1,282 0.56 December 22, 1974 Boston Bruins 803 Jim Rutherford (Red Wings) 1984 [9]
8 Canada Mike Gartner 708 1,432 0.49 October 14, 1991 New York Rangers 936 Mike Liut (Capitals) 2001 [10]
9 Canada Mark Messier 694 1,756 0.40 November 6, 1995 New York Rangers 1,141 Rick Tabaracci (Flames) 2007 [11]
10 Canada Steve Yzerman 692 1,514 0.46 January 17, 1996 Detroit Red Wings 906 Patrick Roy (Avalanche) 2009 [12]
11 Canada Mario Lemieux 690 915 0.75 October 26, 1995 Pittsburgh Penguins 605 Tommy Soderstrom (Islanders) 1997 [13]
12 Finland Teemu Selanne 684 1,451 0.47 November 22, 2006 Anaheim Ducks 982 Jose Theodore (Avalanche) 2017 [14]
13 Canada Luc Robitaille 668 1,431 0.47 January 7, 1999 Los Angeles Kings 928 Dwayne Roloson (Sabres) 2009 [15]
14 Canada Brendan Shanahan 656 1,524 0.43 March 23, 2002 Detroit Red Wings 1,100 Patrick Roy (Avalanche) 2013 [15]
15 Canada Dave Andreychuk 640 1,639 0.39 March 15, 1997 New Jersey Devils 1,070 Bill Ranford (Capitals) 2017 [16]
16 Canada Joe Sakic 625 1,378 0.45 December 11, 2002 Colorado Avalanche 1,044 Dan Cloutier (Canucks) 2012 [17]
Canada Jarome Iginla 625 1,554 0.40 January 7, 2012 Calgary Flames 1,149 Niklas Backstrom (Wild) 2020 [18]
18 Canada Bobby Hull 610 1,063 0.57 February 21, 1970 Chicago Blackhawks 861 Eddie Giacomin (Rangers) 1983 [19]
19 Canada Dino Ciccarelli 608 1,232 0.49 January 8, 1994 Detroit Red Wings 946 Kelly Hrudey (Kings) 2010 [20]
20 Finland Jari Kurri 601 1,251 0.48 October 17, 1992 Los Angeles Kings 833 (empty Bruins net) 2001 [21]
21 Canada Sidney Crosby 584 1,260 0.46 February 15, 2022 Pittsburgh Penguins 1,077 Carter Hart (Flyers) Active [22]
22 Canada Mark Recchi 577 1,652 0.35 January 26, 2007 Pittsburgh Penguins 1,303 Marty Turco (Stars) 2017 [23]
23 Canada Mike Bossy 573 752 0.76 January 2, 1986 New York Islanders 647 (empty Bruins net) 1991 [24]
24 Canada Patrick Marleau 566 1,779 0.32 February 2, 2017 San Jose Sharks 1,463 Ryan Miller (Canucks) Eligible 2024 [25]
25 Canada Joe Nieuwendyk 564 1,257 0.45 January 17, 2003 New Jersey Devils 1,094 Kevin Weekes (Hurricanes) 2011 [26]
Sweden Mats Sundin 564 1,346 0.42 October 14, 2006 Toronto Maple Leafs 1,162 Miikka Kiprusoff (Flames) 2012 [27]
27 United States Mike Modano 561 1,499 0.37 March 13, 2007 Dallas Stars 1,225 Antero Niittymaki (Flyers) 2014 [28]
28 Canada Guy Lafleur 560 1,126 0.50 December 20, 1983 Montreal Canadiens 918 Glenn Resch (Devils) 1988 [29]
29 Canada Johnny Bucyk 556 1,540 0.36 October 30, 1975 Boston Bruins 1,370 Yves Belanger (Blues) 1981 [30]
30 Canada Ron Francis 549 1,731 0.32 January 2, 2002 Carolina Hurricanes 1,533 Byron Dafoe (Bruins) 2007 [31]
31 Canada Michel Goulet 548 1,089 0.50 February 16, 1992 Chicago Blackhawks 951 Jeff Reese (Flames) 1998 [32]
32 Canada Maurice Richard 544 978 0.56 October 19, 1957 Montreal Canadiens 863 Glenn Hall (Black Hawks) 1961 [33]
Canada Steven Stamkos 544 1,071 0.51 January 18, 2023 Tampa Bay Lightning 965 Spencer Martin (Canucks) Active [34]
34 CanadaSlovakia Stan Mikita 541 1,396 0.39 February 27, 1977 Chicago Blackhawks 1,221 Cesare Maniago (Canucks) 1983 [35]
35 United States Keith Tkachuk 538 1,201 0.45 April 6, 2008 St. Louis Blues 1,055 (empty Blue Jackets net) [36]
36 Canada Frank Mahovlich 533 1,181 0.45 March 21, 1973 Montreal Canadiens 1,105 Dunc Wilson (Canucks) 1981 [37]
37 Slovakia Marian Hossa 525 1,309 0.40 October 18, 2016 Chicago Blackhawks 1,240 Michal Neuvirth (Flyers) 2020 [38]
38 CanadaUnited States Bryan Trottier 524 1,279 0.41 February 13, 1990 New York Islanders 1,104 Rick Wamsley (Flames) 1997 [39]
39 Canada Pat Verbeek 522 1,424 0.37 March 22, 2000 Detroit Red Wings 1,285 Fred Brathwaite (Flames) [40]
40 Canada Dale Hawerchuk 518 1,188 0.44 January 31, 1996 St. Louis Blues 1,103 Felix Potvin (Maple Leafs) 2001 [41]
41 Canada Pierre Turgeon 515 1,294 0.40 November 8, 2005 Colorado Avalanche 1,229 Vesa Toskala (Sharks) 2023 [42]
42 United States Jeremy Roenick 513 1,363 0.38 November 10, 2007 San Jose Sharks 1,267 Alex Auld (Coyotes) [43]
43 Canada Gilbert Perreault 512 1,191 0.43 March 9, 1986 Buffalo Sabres 1,159 Alain Chevrier (Devils) 1990 [44]
44 Canada Jean Beliveau 507 1,125 0.45 February 11, 1971 Montreal Canadiens 1,101 Gilles Gilbert (North Stars) 1972 [45]
45 Slovakia Peter Bondra 503 1,081 0.47 December 22, 2006 Chicago Blackhawks 1,050 Jean-Sebastien Aubin (Maple Leafs) [46]
46 United States Joe Mullen 502 1,062 0.47 March 14, 1997 Pittsburgh Penguins 1,052 Patrick Roy (Avalanche) 2000 [47]
47 Canada Lanny McDonald 500 1,111 0.45 March 21, 1989 Calgary Flames 1,107 Mark 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. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 69
  32. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 26
  33. ^ Cameron 2013, p. 156
  34. ^ "Steven Stamkos stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2023-11-09.
  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.