List of NHL players with 500 goals

For ice hockey players in the National Hockey League (NHL), scoring 500 regular season goals is considered a highly significant achievement.

As of the completion of the 2020–21 NHL season — the 103rd regular season of play of the National Hockey League — a total of 45 players have scored at least 500 regular season goals in their NHL career.

A 500-goal career was first achieved in 1957–58, the 41st season of the NHL, when Maurice Richard scored his 500th goal in his 863rd game played. The most recent player to score 500 goals is Sidney Crosby who did so on February 15, 2022.

Season achievements

The 2006–07 NHL 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 the 1995–96 season (Mario Lemieux, Steve Yzerman, Mark Messier, and Dale Hawerchuk).

Starting with Maurice Richard's achievement in the 1957–58 NHL season, the greatest stretch between 500 goal scorers was the eight seasons between Gordie Howe in the 1961–62 season and Bobby Hull in the 1969–70 season.

Player achievements

The 45 players to score 500 goals consist of 32 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 45 players to score at least 500 goals in their career, 18 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 1000 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 joined them.

500-goal scorers

Updated as of April 30, 2022.

Legend
Rank - Ranking on all-time goals list
Goals – Career regular season goals
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
GP – Career regular season games played
HHOF – Year of induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame or eligibility
  Active NHL player
  Active player outside of NHL
Rank Country Player Goals[2] GP[2] Date of 500th goal[2] With team[2] Game no.[2] Opposing goaltender[2] HHOF Ref.
1 Wayne Gretzky 894 1487 November 22, 1986 Edmonton Oilers 575 (empty Canucks net) 1999 [3]
2 Gordie Howe 801 1767 March 14, 1962 Detroit Red Wings 1045 Gump Worsley (Rangers) 1972 [4]
3 Alexander Ovechkin 780 1274 January 10, 2016 Washington Capitals 801 Andrew Hammond (Senators) Active [5]
4 Jaromir Jagr 766 1733 February 4, 2003 Washington Capitals 928 John Grahame (Lightning) Not yet eligible [6]
5 Brett Hull 741 1269 December 22, 1996 St. Louis Blues 693 Stephane Fiset (Kings) 2009 [7]
6 Marcel Dionne 731 1348 December 14, 1982 Los Angeles Kings 887 Al Jensen (Capitals) 1992 [8]
7 Phil Esposito 717 1282 December 22, 1974 Boston Bruins 803 Jim Rutherford (Red Wings) 1984 [9]
8 Mike Gartner 708 1432 October 14, 1991 New York Rangers 936 Mike Liut (Capitals) 2001 [10]
9 Mark Messier 694 1756 November 6, 1995 New York Rangers 1141 Rick Tabaracci (Flames) 2007 [11]
10 Steve Yzerman 692 1514 January 17, 1996 Detroit Red Wings 906 Patrick Roy (Avalanche) 2009 [12]
11 Mario Lemieux 690 915 October 26, 1995 Pittsburgh Penguins 605 Tommy Soderstrom (Islanders) 1997 [13]
12 Teemu Selanne 684 1451 November 22, 2006 Anaheim Ducks 982 Jose Theodore (Avalanche) 2017 [14]
13 Luc Robitaille 668 1431 January 7, 1999 Los Angeles Kings 928 Dwayne Roloson (Sabres) 2009 [15]
14 Brendan Shanahan 656 1524 March 23, 2002 Detroit Red Wings 1100 Patrick Roy (Avalanche) 2013 [15]
15 Dave Andreychuk 640 1639 March 15, 1997 New Jersey Devils 1070 Bill Ranford (Capitals) 2017 [16]
16 (tie) Joe Sakic 625 1378 December 11, 2002 Colorado Avalanche 1044 Dan Cloutier (Canucks) 2012 [17]
16 (tie) Jarome Iginla 625 1554 January 7, 2012 Calgary Flames 1149 Niklas Backstrom (Wild) 2020 [18]
18 Bobby Hull 610 1063 February 21, 1970 Chicago Blackhawks 861 Eddie Giacomin (Rangers) 1983 [19]
19 Dino Ciccarelli 608 1232 January 8, 1994 Detroit Red Wings 946 Kelly Hrudey (Kings) 2010 [20]
20 Jari Kurri 601 1251 October 17, 1992 Los Angeles Kings 833 (empty Bruins net) 2001 [21]
21 Mark Recchi 577 1652 January 26, 2007 Pittsburgh Penguins 1303 Marty Turco (Stars) 2017 [22]
22 Mike Bossy 573 752 January 2, 1986 New York Islanders 647 (empty Bruins net) 1991 [23]
23 Patrick Marleau 566 1779 February 2, 2017 San Jose Sharks 1463 Ryan Miller (Canucks) Active [24]
24 (tie) Mats Sundin 564 1346 October 14, 2006 Toronto Maple Leafs 1162 Miikka Kiprusoff (Flames) 2012 [25]
24 (tie) Joe Nieuwendyk 564 1257 January 17, 2003 New Jersey Devils 1094 Kevin Weekes (Hurricanes) 2011 [26]
26 Mike Modano 561 1499 March 13, 2007 Dallas Stars 1225 Antero Niittymaki (Flyers) 2014 [27]
27 Guy Lafleur 560 1126 December 20, 1983 Montreal Canadiens 918 Glenn Resch (Devils) 1988 [28]
28 Johnny Bucyk 556 1540 October 30, 1975 Boston Bruins 1370 Yves Belanger (Blues) 1981 [29]
29 Ron Francis 549 1731 January 2, 2002 Carolina Hurricanes 1533 Byron Dafoe (Bruins) 2007 [30]
30 Michel Goulet 548 1089 February 16, 1992 Chicago Blackhawks 951 Jeff Reese (Flames) 1998 [31]
31 Maurice Richard 544 978 October 19, 1957 Montreal Canadiens 863 Glenn Hall (Black Hawks) 1961 [32]
32 Stan Mikita 541 1396 February 27, 1977 Chicago Blackhawks 1221 Cesare Maniago (Canucks) 1983 [33]
33 Keith Tkachuk 538 1201 April 6, 2008 St. Louis Blues 1055 (empty Blue Jackets net) Eligible [34]
34 Frank Mahovlich 533 1181 March 21, 1973 Montreal Canadiens 1105 Dunc Wilson (Canucks) 1981 [35]
35 Marian Hossa 525 1309 October 18, 2016 Chicago Blackhawks 1240 Michal Neuvirth (Flyers) 2020 [36]
36 Bryan Trottier 524 1279 February 13, 1990 New York Islanders 1104 Rick Wamsley (Flames) 1997 [37]
37 Pat Verbeek 522 1424 March 22, 2000 Detroit Red Wings 1285 Fred Brathwaite (Flames) Eligible [38]
38 Dale Hawerchuk 518 1188 January 31, 1996 St. Louis Blues 1103 Felix Potvin (Maple Leafs) 2001 [39]
39 Sidney Crosby 517 1108 February 15, 2022 Pittsburgh Penguins 1077 Carter Hart (Flyers) Active [40]
40 Pierre Turgeon 515 1294 November 8, 2005 Colorado Avalanche 1229 Vesa Toskala (Sharks) Eligible [41]
41 Jeremy Roenick 513 1363 November 10, 2007 San Jose Sharks 1267 Alex Auld (Coyotes) Eligible [42]
42 Gilbert Perreault 512 1191 March 9, 1986 Buffalo Sabres 1159 Alain Chevrier (Devils) 1990 [43]
43 Jean Beliveau 507 1125 February 11, 1971 Montreal Canadiens 1101 Gilles Gilbert (North Stars) 1972 [44]
44 Peter Bondra 503 1081 December 22, 2006 Chicago Blackhawks 1050 Jean-Sebastien Aubin (Maple Leafs) Eligible [45]
45 Joe Mullen 502 1062 March 14, 1997 Pittsburgh Penguins 1052 Patrick Roy (Avalanche) 2000 [46]
46 Lanny McDonald 500 1111 March 21, 1989 Calgary Flames 1107 Mark Fitzpatrick (Islanders) 1992 [36]

Fewest games to reach 500 goals

Top 10 Fastest to 500 goals in NHL history
Player No. Date of 500th goal
Wayne Gretzky 575 November 22, 1986
Mario Lemieux 605 October 26, 1995
Mike Bossy 647 January 2, 1986
Brett Hull 693 December 22, 1996
Alex Ovechkin 801 January 10, 2016
Phil Esposito 803 December 22, 1974
Jari Kurri 833 October 17, 1992
Bobby Hull 861 February 21, 1970
Maurice Richard 863 October 19, 1957
Marcel Dionne 887 December 14, 1982

References

Footnotes
  1. Bryan Trottier was born in Canada and played internationally for both Canada and the United States.
  2. Stan Mikita played for Canada internationally, however, being born in Slovakia, 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. Retrieved 12 January 2021.
  2. Diamond 2014, p. 204
  3. Cameron 2013, p. 72
  4. Cameron 2013, p. 140
  5. "Alex Ovechkin stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2022-04-25.
  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. 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. "Mark Recchi biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  23. Cameron 2013, p. 126
  24. "Patrick Marleau stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2021-04-28.
  25. Cameron 2013, p. 111
  26. Cameron 2013, p. 94
  27. "Induction showcase – Mike Modano". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  28. Cameron 2013, p. 148
  29. Cameron 2013, p. 16
  30. Cameron 2013, p. 69
  31. Cameron 2013, p. 26
  32. Cameron 2013, p. 156
  33. Cameron 2013, p. 91
  34. "Keith Tkachuk biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  35. Cameron 2013, p. 38
  36. Cameron 2013, p. 150
  37. Cameron 2013, p. 112
  38. "Pat Verbeek biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  39. Cameron 2013, p. 76
  40. "Sidney Crosby stats". National Hockey League. Retrieved 2022-04-30.
  41. "Pierre Turgeon biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  42. "Jeremy Roenick biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  43. Cameron 2013, p. 97
  44. Cameron 2013, p. 58
  45. "Peter Bondra biography". Hockey Hall of Fame. Retrieved 2020-01-01.
  46. 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.
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