The NHL GOAT Series: Hockey Greatness, Adjusted for Era

Goals were easier to score in some decades, and the league was deeper in others. We measured both across every NHL season since 1917, then tested how much of a player’s scoring is opportunity.

1 articles · Updated October 14, 2026

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The research

Skaters

Forwards and defencemen across every era, on one scale.

Verdict: Exploratory13 min read
Who Is the NHL GOAT? Gretzky, Lemieux and McDavid, Adjusted for Era
Raw points flatter the 1980s, and adjusted points ignore how good the league was. We measured both on 108 seasons of NHL data, then tested how much of a player’s scoring is just opportunity. Here is what holds up, and the one assumption that decides McDavid’s case.Updated October 14, 2026

What the GOAT series measures

Raw points flatter high-scoring decades. Standard adjusted points fix that, but they ignore how good the league was. This series measures both, using every NHL season since 1917-18.

We also test opportunity: how much a player’s scoring comes from his linemates, ice time and power-play role. And we say plainly where the data cannot settle the argument.

Start with the flagship piece: Who is the NHL GOAT?

Put the research to work

Frequently asked questions

How do you compare hockey players from different eras?

Two adjustments. First, restate points in one scoring environment (goals per game and how assists were counted). Second, measure league strength by following players whose careers overlap and by the talent pool per NHL job. Most era-adjusted stats only do the first.

Sources and method

Research and analysis, not betting advice. Past results do not guarantee future returns; bet only what you can afford to lose.