Most goals scored in a single NHL season is one of hockey’s cleanest peak-dominance debates. Points can be shaped by assists, teammates and power-play structure, but goals show who actually finished chances at a historic rate.
This is a stats-based tier list, not a subjective greatest-player ranking. The tier placement is based on goals scored in one NHL season. That is why Wayne Gretzky stands alone in Tier 1 with 92 goals in 1981-82, while Gretzky, Brett Hull and Mario Lemieux share the 85-plus tier behind him.
Single-season goals decide the tier placement. The write-ups add context for overall points, assists, shooting era, power-play usage, linemates, team strength, awards, playoff impact and all-time legacy. That distinction matters because a pure goals leaderboard is different from a ranking of the greatest hockey players ever.
The result is a list that mixes Edmonton-era Gretzky explosions, Brett Hull’s St. Louis shooting peak, Mario Lemieux’s absurd Pittsburgh seasons, classic Phil Esposito years and modern history from Auston Matthews and Alex Ovechkin.
Table of Contents
Single-Season NHL Goals Leaderboard Table
Note: This table is ranked by single-season NHL goals. The tiers group seasons by goal range, while the exact rank and total come from the all-time single-season goals leaderboard. Totals are current through the 2025-26 NHL season.
| Rank | Player | Team | Season | GP | G | A | P | Tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Wayne Gretzky | Edmonton Oilers | 1981-82 | 80 | 92 | 120 | 212 | Tier 1 |
| 2 | Wayne Gretzky | Edmonton Oilers | 1983-84 | 74 | 87 | 118 | 205 | Tier 2 |
| 3 | Brett Hull | St. Louis Blues | 1990-91 | 78 | 86 | 45 | 131 | Tier 2 |
| 4 | Mario Lemieux | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1988-89 | 76 | 85 | 114 | 199 | Tier 2 |
| 5 | Phil Esposito | Boston Bruins | 1970-71 | 78 | 76 | 76 | 152 | Tier 4 |
| 6 | Alexander Mogilny | Buffalo Sabres | 1992-93 | 77 | 76 | 51 | 127 | Tier 4 |
| 7 | Teemu Selanne | Winnipeg Jets | 1992-93 | 84 | 76 | 56 | 132 | Tier 4 |
| 8 | Wayne Gretzky | Edmonton Oilers | 1984-85 | 80 | 73 | 135 | 208 | Tier 5 |
| 9 | Brett Hull | St. Louis Blues | 1989-90 | 80 | 72 | 41 | 113 | Tier 5 |
| 10 | Wayne Gretzky | Edmonton Oilers | 1982-83 | 80 | 71 | 125 | 196 | Tier 5 |
| 11 | Jari Kurri | Edmonton Oilers | 1984-85 | 73 | 71 | 64 | 135 | Tier 5 |
| 12 | Mario Lemieux | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1987-88 | 77 | 70 | 98 | 168 | Tier 5 |
| 13 | Bernie Nicholls | Los Angeles Kings | 1988-89 | 79 | 70 | 80 | 150 | Tier 5 |
| 14 | Brett Hull | St. Louis Blues | 1991-92 | 73 | 70 | 39 | 109 | Tier 5 |
| 15 | Mike Bossy | New York Islanders | 1978-79 | 80 | 69 | 57 | 126 | Tier 6 |
| 16 | Mario Lemieux | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1992-93 | 60 | 69 | 91 | 160 | Tier 6 |
| 17 | Mario Lemieux | Pittsburgh Penguins | 1995-96 | 70 | 69 | 92 | 161 | Tier 6 |
| 18 | Auston Matthews | Toronto Maple Leafs | 2023-24 | 81 | 69 | 38 | 107 | Tier 6 |
| 19 | Phil Esposito | Boston Bruins | 1973-74 | 78 | 68 | 77 | 145 | Tier 6 |
| 20 | Mike Bossy | New York Islanders | 1980-81 | 79 | 68 | 51 | 119 | Tier 6 |
| 21 | Jari Kurri | Edmonton Oilers | 1985-86 | 78 | 68 | 63 | 131 | Tier 6 |
| 22 | Phil Esposito | Boston Bruins | 1971-72 | 76 | 66 | 67 | 133 | Tier 6 |
| 23 | Lanny McDonald | Calgary Flames | 1982-83 | 80 | 66 | 32 | 98 | Tier 6 |
| 24 | Steve Yzerman | Detroit Red Wings | 1988-89 | 80 | 65 | 90 | 155 | Tier 6 |
| 25 | Alex Ovechkin | Washington Capitals | 2007-08 | 82 | 65 | 47 | 112 | Tier 6 |
How We Ranked the Most Goals Scored in a Single NHL Season
This list is ranked by single-season NHL goals. The tier cutoffs are based on the scoring ranges shown in the graphic: 90-plus, 85-plus, 80-plus, 75-plus, 70-plus and 65-plus goals.
Goals are not the only way to judge a player season, but they reveal something important. A player has to finish chances, dominate shooting opportunities, beat elite goaltenders and stay hot across a full season to reach this kind of number.
Era context matters too. Phil Esposito’s 1970s scoring years came in a different offensive environment than Auston Matthews’ 2023-24 run. Gretzky and Lemieux combined goal scoring with huge assist totals. Brett Hull brought one of the purest shooting peaks ever. The totals decide the tiers, but the write-ups explain why each season mattered.
For a broader hockey-history ranking that weighs all-around scoring, peak dominance, awards, championships and career legacy more heavily, check out our other NHL rankings and hockey history breakdowns.
Tier 1: 90+ Goals
Tier 1 includes Wayne Gretzky with 92 goals in 1982.
Tier 1 belongs to one player only. Wayne Gretzky’s 92-goal season remains the highest-scoring goal campaign in NHL history.
Wayne Gretzky — 1981-82
Season stats/accolades: 92 goals, Edmonton Oilers, 120 assists, 212 points, Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, NHL single-season goals record.
Wayne Gretzky’s 1981-82 season is still the gold standard for goal scoring. The 92 goals are ridiculous on their own, but the full stat line is even crazier because he also had 120 assists.
This was not just a player finishing rebounds or living on the power play. Gretzky controlled the entire game. He scored, created, manipulated defensive coverage and produced at a pace that still feels almost impossible to repeat.
Tier 2: 85+ Goals
Tier 2 includes Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, and Mario Lemieux with 85+ goals.
Tier 2 is still absurd. Any 85-goal season would be untouchable in most eras, and this tier has three of the greatest scoring peaks hockey has ever seen.
Wayne Gretzky — 1983-84
Season stats/accolades: 87 goals, Edmonton Oilers, 118 assists, 205 points, Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Stanley Cup season.
Gretzky appears again because his 92-goal season was not a one-off. In 1983-84, he scored 87 goals and still added 118 assists, which is the kind of stat line that barely feels real.
This season also came during Edmonton’s rise into a championship powerhouse. Gretzky was not just stacking numbers. He was driving one of the most explosive teams in NHL history.
Brett Hull — 1990-91
Season stats/accolades: 86 goals, St. Louis Blues, 45 assists, 131 points, Hart Trophy, Lester B. Pearson Award, NHL goal leader.
Brett Hull’s 1990-91 season is one of the greatest pure shooting seasons ever. Hull had an elite release, perfect scoring instincts and the ability to find soft ice before defenders could react.
He was not Gretzky-style playmaking everything from everywhere. He was a finishing machine. Eighty-six goals is the signature season of one of the best goal scorers the sport has ever seen.
Mario Lemieux — 1988-89
Season stats/accolades: 85 goals, Pittsburgh Penguins, 114 assists, 199 points, Art Ross Trophy, NHL goal leader.
Mario Lemieux’s 1988-89 season was almost unfair. He scored 85 goals and still had 114 assists, giving him one of the most complete offensive seasons in league history.
Lemieux combined size, reach, hands, vision and finishing ability in a way few players ever have. When he was healthy and rolling, he could dominate a game at Gretzky-level scale, just with a completely different style.
Tier 3: 80+ Goals
Tier 3 covers the 80+ goal range.
Tier 3 is empty, and that makes the top of this list even more interesting. Nobody shown lands between 80 and 84 goals.
That gap tells the story well. Once a player reaches the mid-80s, he is entering a level that has only been touched by Gretzky, Hull and Lemieux. Even the 76-goal seasons below look far away from that top group.
Tier 4: 75+ Goals
Tier 4 includes Phil Esposito, Alexander Mogilny, and Teemu Selanne with 76 goals.
Tier 4 is the 76-goal tier. Phil Esposito set a new standard in the early 1970s, while Alexander Mogilny and Teemu Selanne both hit 76 during the wild 1992-93 scoring season.
Phil Esposito — 1970-71
Season stats/accolades: 76 goals, Boston Bruins, 76 assists, 152 points, Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, NHL goal leader.
Phil Esposito’s 1970-71 season was historic because it pushed goal scoring into a new statistical universe. Before Gretzky changed everything, Esposito’s 76 goals looked like the kind of record that could last forever.
He was a net-front monster, a volume shooter and the finishing center of a loaded Bruins attack. The combination of 76 goals and 152 points made this one of the defining seasons of the pre-Gretzky era.
Alexander Mogilny — 1992-93
Season stats/accolades: 76 goals, Buffalo Sabres, 51 assists, 127 points, NHL goal leader.
Alexander Mogilny’s 1992-93 season was pure offensive explosion. He had speed, skill and a lethal scoring touch that made him one of the most dangerous forwards in hockey.
Mogilny does not always get the same all-time spotlight as some names on this list, but a 76-goal season speaks loudly. For one year, he was right at the top of the NHL goal-scoring mountain.
Teemu Selanne — 1992-93
Season stats/accolades: 76 goals, Winnipeg Jets, 56 assists, 132 points, Calder Trophy, NHL rookie goal record.
Teemu Selanne’s rookie season is still one of the greatest debut seasons in sports history. Seventy-six goals as a rookie is almost impossible to process.
Selanne brought speed, flair, finishing and confidence to Winnipeg immediately. The glove-throwing celebration became iconic, but the record itself is the real legacy. No rookie goal season has ever come close.
Tier 5: 70+ Goals
Tier 5 includes Wayne Gretzky, Brett Hull, Jari Kurri, Mario Lemieux, and Bernie Nicholls with 70+ goals.
Tier 5 is the 70-goal group. In modern hockey, even getting close to 70 is headline news. This tier shows how special that number really is.
Wayne Gretzky — 1984-85
Season stats/accolades: 73 goals, Edmonton Oilers, 135 assists, 208 points, Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Stanley Cup season.
Gretzky’s 1984-85 season was another reminder that he could dominate without needing to chase only goals. He scored 73 and still piled up 135 assists.
Most players would treat 73 goals as the best season of their lives. For Gretzky, it was part of a larger offensive masterpiece and another championship-caliber Oilers season.
Brett Hull — 1989-90
Season stats/accolades: 72 goals, St. Louis Blues, 41 assists, 113 points, NHL goal leader.
Brett Hull’s 1989-90 season was the start of his most famous goal-scoring run. His release was quick, heavy and perfectly timed, especially from dangerous shooting spots.
Hull did not need endless puck possession to score. Give him one clean look and the puck was usually gone before the goalie fully read it.
Wayne Gretzky — 1982-83
Season stats/accolades: 71 goals, Edmonton Oilers, 125 assists, 196 points, Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy.
Gretzky appears yet again because the early 1980s were basically his personal scoring lab. In 1982-83, he scored 71 goals and nearly reached 200 points.
The incredible part is how balanced the damage was. Gretzky could score at an all-time rate while still being the best passer in the league. That dual threat made defending him almost hopeless.
Jari Kurri — 1984-85
Season stats/accolades: 71 goals, Edmonton Oilers, 64 assists, 135 points, Stanley Cup season.
Jari Kurri’s 1984-85 season showed how deadly he was next to Gretzky. He was not just a passenger, either. Kurri had elite hockey sense, finishing touch and defensive responsibility.
Seventy-one goals on a championship team is ridiculous. Kurri gave Edmonton another elite scoring weapon and helped make the Oilers nearly impossible to match up against.
Mario Lemieux — 1987-88
Season stats/accolades: 70 goals, Pittsburgh Penguins, 98 assists, 168 points, Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy.
Mario Lemieux’s 1987-88 season was the year he fully broke through as the league’s dominant individual force. He scored 70, won the scoring title and showed he could challenge Gretzky’s grip on the sport.
Lemieux’s mix of size and skill made him almost impossible to defend one-on-one. He could beat goalies from distance, deke through traffic or create a tap-in out of nothing.
Bernie Nicholls — 1988-89
Season stats/accolades: 70 goals, Los Angeles Kings, 80 assists, 150 points.
Bernie Nicholls’ 1988-89 season is one of the biggest one-year scoring explosions in NHL history. Playing in Los Angeles, he finished with 70 goals and 150 points.
Nicholls does not always get grouped with the biggest all-time names, but this season absolutely belongs here. A 70-goal, 150-point year is a monster campaign by any standard.
Brett Hull — 1991-92
Season stats/accolades: 70 goals, St. Louis Blues, 39 assists, 109 points, NHL goal-scoring superstar peak.
Brett Hull appears again because his scoring peak stretched across multiple seasons. In 1991-92, he hit 70 goals for the third straight season in the 70-plus range.
That consistency is what separates Hull from ordinary great shooters. Teams knew where he wanted the puck, knew how dangerous he was and still could not stop the release.
Tier 6: 65+ Goals
Tier 6 includes Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux, Auston Matthews, Phil Esposito, and Jari Kurri with 65+ goals.
Tier 6 Part 2 includes Phil Esposito, Lanny McDonald, Steve Yzerman, and Alex Ovechkin with 65+ goals.
Tier 6 is the 65-goal tier, and it is so deep the graphic continues it on a second row. Every season here is elite. In many eras, 65 goals would be a generational scoring year.
Mike Bossy — 1978-79
Season stats/accolades: 69 goals, New York Islanders, 57 assists, 126 points.
Mike Bossy was one of the purest goal scorers hockey has ever seen, and his 1978-79 season showed exactly why. His shot was accurate, quick and dangerous from almost anywhere in the offensive zone.
Bossy’s career was shortened by injuries, but his scoring rate was unbelievable. Sixty-nine goals in one season is a perfect snapshot of that finishing talent.
Mario Lemieux — 1992-93
Season stats/accolades: 69 goals, Pittsburgh Penguins, 91 assists, 160 points, Art Ross Trophy.
Mario Lemieux’s 1992-93 season is legendary because of the circumstances. He missed time while dealing with serious health issues, came back and still finished with 69 goals and 160 points.
That season might be one of the greatest “what could have been even bigger” campaigns in NHL history. Lemieux’s scoring pace was outrageous.
Mario Lemieux — 1995-96
Season stats/accolades: 69 goals, Pittsburgh Penguins, 92 assists, 161 points, Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy.
Lemieux appears again because his peak kept producing video-game numbers. In 1995-96, he scored 69 goals and won the scoring title with 161 points.
His ability to return from time away and still dominate the league says everything about his talent. Few players have ever made elite defenders look so helpless.
Auston Matthews — 2023-24
Season stats/accolades: 69 goals, Toronto Maple Leafs, 38 assists, 107 points, Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.
Auston Matthews’ 2023-24 season is the great modern entry on this graphic. In an era where 50 goals is already huge, Matthews pushed all the way to 69.
His release, balance, slot timing and ability to score at even strength made the season special. Matthews did not hit 70, but 69 goals in the modern NHL is still a massive achievement.
Phil Esposito — 1973-74
Season stats/accolades: 68 goals, Boston Bruins, 77 assists, 145 points, Art Ross Trophy.
Phil Esposito’s 1973-74 season was another monster year in Boston. He was still the center of one of the league’s most dangerous attacks and kept piling up goals from high-danger areas.
Esposito’s scoring profile was built on positioning, strength and volume. He knew where goals came from, and he lived there.
Mike Bossy — 1980-81
Season stats/accolades: 68 goals, New York Islanders, 51 assists, 119 points, Stanley Cup season.
Mike Bossy’s 1980-81 season came during the Islanders’ dynasty run, which makes the production even more impressive. He was scoring at an elite rate while playing on a championship machine.
Bossy did not need extra flash. His release, timing and finishing instincts did the damage. Sixty-eight goals on a Cup-winning team is serious work.
Jari Kurri — 1985-86
Season stats/accolades: 68 goals, Edmonton Oilers, 63 assists, 131 points.
Jari Kurri’s second appearance shows how dangerous he was during Edmonton’s peak years. He could finish Gretzky setups, but he also had the hockey IQ and shot quality to stand as an elite scorer on his own.
Kurri’s 68-goal season gave the Oilers another absurd scoring weapon. When one team has multiple players on a list like this, the offense was obviously unfair.
Phil Esposito — 1971-72
Season stats/accolades: 66 goals, Boston Bruins, 67 assists, 133 points.
Phil Esposito appears again because his early 1970s scoring run was not a one-year spike. In 1971-72, he followed up his record-setting year with another 66-goal season.
That kind of repeated production helped define him as one of the great pre-Gretzky offensive forces. Esposito’s goal scoring was heavy, consistent and central to Boston’s identity.
Lanny McDonald — 1982-83
Season stats/accolades: 66 goals, Calgary Flames, 32 assists, 98 points.
Lanny McDonald’s 1982-83 season was the great scoring year of his career. The mustache is iconic, but the shot was the real problem for goalies.
McDonald gave Calgary a true finishing star and reached 66 goals in an era where offensive explosions were common, but still not easy. This was an elite goal-scoring campaign.
Steve Yzerman — 1988-89
Season stats/accolades: 65 goals, Detroit Red Wings, 90 assists, 155 points, Lester B. Pearson Award.
Steve Yzerman’s 1988-89 season was the offensive peak before he later became known for two-way leadership and championships. He scored 65 goals and finished with 155 points.
That season is important because it reminds people how explosive Yzerman was before the Red Wings dynasty years. He was not just a captain and winner. He was a superstar scorer.
Alex Ovechkin — 2007-08
Season stats/accolades: 65 goals, Washington Capitals, 47 assists, 112 points, Hart Trophy, Art Ross Trophy, Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy.
Alex Ovechkin’s 2007-08 season is one of the greatest modern goal-scoring seasons. He scored 65 in a league that was far removed from the wild scoring environment of the 1980s and early 1990s.
Ovechkin combined volume shooting, power, one-timers, transition attacks and relentless confidence. His 65-goal season helped define his chase toward becoming the greatest goal scorer in NHL history.
FAQ: Most Goals Scored in a Single NHL Season
Who scored the most goals in a single NHL season?
Wayne Gretzky scored the most goals in a single NHL season with 92 goals for the Edmonton Oilers in 1981-82.
Who is second in single-season NHL goals?
Wayne Gretzky is second as well, with 87 goals for the Edmonton Oilers in 1983-84.
Who has the most goals in a single NHL season besides Wayne Gretzky?
Brett Hull has the top non-Gretzky season with 86 goals for the St. Louis Blues in 1990-91.
Why is Tier 3 empty?
Tier 3 represents the 80-plus goal range. No player shown in the graphic falls between 80 and 84 goals.
Which players scored 76 goals in a season?
Phil Esposito, Alexander Mogilny and Teemu Selanne each scored 76 goals in a single NHL season.
Who has the most goals by a rookie in one NHL season?
Teemu Selanne has the most goals by a rookie in one NHL season with 76 goals in 1992-93.
Which modern players appear on this list?
Auston Matthews and Alex Ovechkin are the modern-era players shown on this single-season goals tier list.
How many times does Wayne Gretzky appear on this list?
Wayne Gretzky appears four times on this graphic: 92 goals in 1981-82, 87 in 1983-84, 73 in 1984-85 and 71 in 1982-83.
What matters most in this tier list?
The tier placement is based on single-season NHL goal totals. The write-ups add context about era, team, scoring style, awards and overall offensive impact.
Conclusion
The most goals scored in a single NHL season list is one of hockey’s best snapshots of peak scoring greatness. Wayne Gretzky still owns the record with 92 goals in 1981-82, and his 87-goal 1983-84 season gives him the top two spots on the leaderboard.
Behind him, Brett Hull’s 86-goal season and Mario Lemieux’s 85-goal season remain two of the greatest finishing campaigns ever. Phil Esposito, Alexander Mogilny, Teemu Selanne, Jari Kurri, Mike Bossy, Auston Matthews and Alex Ovechkin help give the list real era depth.
Single-season goal records are special because they demand consistency, finishing skill and pressure-proof scoring across months of hockey. The players on this list did not just get hot for a few weeks. They built seasons that still define the highest level of NHL goal scoring.
If you want more all-time hockey and NHL tier lists, you can also check out our Top 10 Fastest Players in NHL History rankings and other positional breakdowns across sports history.
More NHL All-Time Rankings
For more NHL history content, check out our other all-time position rankings, franchise legend lists and historical tier lists. This single-season goals ranking is part of a larger all-time NHL rankings series built around player legacy, peak dominance, production and era context. You can also follow SOG Hockey on Instagram for more NHL rankings, debates and hockey history content.
