Eras come and go, but Wayne Gretzky’s dominance was so far above the rest during his NHL career that his place atop the league’s Mount Rushmore is secure.
Not only is Gretzky the NHL’s all-time points leader, but there is a 936-point game between himself and Jaromir Jagr, who is second on the list. That record is almost certainly unbreakable. Some once said the same about his career goals record.
With 894 goals, Gretzky finished his career with 93 more than anyone else. Capitals star Alex Ovechkin has not only worked to close that gap, but he’s on the verge of surpassing the Great One’s record.
Here’s a look back at Gretzky’s record and the day he set it.
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Who scored the most goals in NHL history?
Gretzky is the NHL’s all-time goals leader with 894, but Ovechkin is quickly closing in on the record and is on track to surpass the Hall of Famer either in the final days of the current regular season or the start of next season.
| Rank | Player | Goals |
| 1 | Wayne Gretzky | 894 |
| 2 | Alex Ovechkin | 892 |
| 3 | Gordie Howe | 801 |
| 4 | Jaromir Jagr | 766 |
| 5 | Brett Hull | 741 |
| 6 | Marcel Dionne | 731 |
| 7 | Phil Esposito | 717 |
| 8 | Mike Gartner | 708 |
| 9 | Mark Messier | 694 |
| 10 | Steve Yzerman | 692 |
Before Gretzky, the legendary Gordie Howe was the all-time goals leader with 801. Gretzky not only surged past Howe, but he added 93 more goals to give himself what looked like a comfortable cushion above the rest of the league.
Ovechkin, however, has been relentless as a goal-scorer in his two decades in the NHL, and he’s kept scoring at a high enough pace to roll past Gretzky in the weeks ahead.
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How many games did Wayne Gretzky need to get 894 goals?
Gretzky scored his 894 goals in 1,487 NHL games. Ovechkin is on nearly the exact same pace.
Ovechkin will have played 1,492 games once the current regular season comes to an end, barring injury, so he could break Gretzky’s record with nearly the same number of games played as the Great One.
Gretzky’s career included one lockout-shortened season, while Ovechkin saw what would have been his rookie season cancelled due to a lockout and three more shortened by either lockout or the COVID-19 pandemic.
When did Wayne Gretzky set the NHL goal record?
Gretzky broke Howe’s record with goal No. 802 against the Canucks on March 23, 1994. Canucks G Kirk McLean gave up the goal to the Kings star in a 6-3 L.A. loss.
The goal came on a second period power-play and was assisted by Marty McSorley.
The record-setting night was a highlight in an otherwise forgettable season for the Kings, who acquired Gretzky from the Oilers in 1988. Gretzky was 33 years old at the time, so he still had plenty left in the tank and finished the season with 130 points.
What is the single-season goal record in NHL?
Gretzky still holds the single-season goal record with 92 during the 1981-82 season. That record might also be unbreakable, as no one in the 21st century has even scored 70 goals in a season. The highest single-season goal total since 2000 belongs to Auston Matthews, who scored 69 in 2023-24.
Ovechkin’s career-high is 65 goals, set during the 2007-08 campaign.
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When did Wayne Gretzky retire?
Gretzky spent his final three seasons with the Rangers and announced before New York’s final game in 1999 that he was planning to retire.
The legendary Gretzky played his final NHL game on April 18, 1999, and he stood by his retirement pledge, ending his career after 20 seasons.
26 years after Gretzky played his final game and 31 years after he set what many would consider to be an unbreakable record, Ovechkin is showcasing his own longevity and staring down the all-time goal mark.
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