NHL Record for Highest Goals Per Game in a Career

Mike Bossy holds the NHL record with 0.762 goals per game (1977-78 to 1986-87).

Updated Oct 20, 5:56 PM ET after records.nhl.com

Top of the list

Highest Goals Per Game, Career (Minimum: 200 Goals): the leaders
Rank	Player	Goals per game	Season	GP	Goals	Assists
1	Mike BossyNYI	0.762	1977-78 to 1986-87	752	573	553
2	Mario LemieuxPIT	0.754	1984-85 to 2005-06	915	690	1,033
3	Cy DennenySEN,BOS	0.751	1917-18 to 1928-29	329	247	89
4	Babe DyeTSP,HAM,CHI,NYA,TOR	0.746	1919-20 to 1930-31	272	203	49
5	Pavel BureVAN,FLA,NYR	0.623	1991-92 to 2002-03	702	437	342
6	Auston MatthewsTOR · active	0.622	2016-17 to 2026-27	699	435	361
7	Wayne GretzkyEDM,LAK,STL,NYR	0.601	1979-80 to 1998-99	1,487	894	1,963
8	Kirill KaprizovMIN · active	0.591	2020-21 to 2026-27	406	240	250
9	Alex OvechkinWSH · active	0.588	2005-06 to 2026-27	1,581	930	761
10	Brett HullCGY,STL,DAL,DET,PHX	0.584	1986-87 to 2005-06	1,269	741	650
11	Bobby HullCHI,HFD,WIN	0.574	1957-58 to 1979-80	1,063	610	560
12	Tim KerrPHI,NYR,HFD	0.565	1980-81 to 1992-93	655	370	304
13	Rick MartinBUF,LAK	0.561	1971-72 to 1981-82	685	384	317
14	Phil EspositoCHI,BOS,NYR	0.559	1963-64 to 1980-81	1,282	717	873
15	Maurice RichardMTL	0.556	1942-43 to 1959-60	978	544	422

The full top 50

Highest Goals Per Game, Career (Minimum: 200 Goals): NHL skater records
Rank	Player	Goals per game	Season	GP	Goals	Assists
1	Mike BossyNYI	0.762	1977-78 to 1986-87	752	573	553
2	Mario LemieuxPIT	0.754	1984-85 to 2005-06	915	690	1,033
3	Cy DennenySEN,BOS	0.751	1917-18 to 1928-29	329	247	89
4	Babe DyeTSP,HAM,CHI,NYA,TOR	0.746	1919-20 to 1930-31	272	203	49
5	Pavel BureVAN,FLA,NYR	0.623	1991-92 to 2002-03	702	437	342
6	Auston MatthewsTOR · active	0.622	2016-17 to 2026-27	699	435	361
7	Wayne GretzkyEDM,LAK,STL,NYR	0.601	1979-80 to 1998-99	1,487	894	1,963
8	Kirill KaprizovMIN · active	0.591	2020-21 to 2026-27	406	240	250
9	Alex OvechkinWSH · active	0.588	2005-06 to 2026-27	1,581	930	761
10	Brett HullCGY,STL,DAL,DET,PHX	0.584	1986-87 to 2005-06	1,269	741	650
11	Bobby HullCHI,HFD,WIN	0.574	1957-58 to 1979-80	1,063	610	560
12	Tim KerrPHI,NYR,HFD	0.565	1980-81 to 1992-93	655	370	304
13	Rick MartinBUF,LAK	0.561	1971-72 to 1981-82	685	384	317
14	Phil EspositoCHI,BOS,NYR	0.559	1963-64 to 1980-81	1,282	717	873
15	Maurice RichardMTL	0.556	1942-43 to 1959-60	978	544	422
16	Cam NeelyVAN,BOS	0.544	1983-84 to 1995-96	726	395	299
17	Marcel DionneDET,LAK,NYR	0.542	1971-72 to 1988-89	1,348	731	1,040
18	Pat LaFontaineNYI,BUF,NYR	0.541	1983-84 to 1997-98	865	468	545
19	Connor McDavidEDM · active	0.518	2015-16 to 2026-27	802	415	828
20	Leon DraisaitlEDM · active	0.51	2014-15 to 2026-27	863	440	627
21	David PastrnakBOS · active	0.504	2014-15 to 2026-27	842	424	521
22	Rick VaiveVAN,TOR,CHI,BUF	0.503	1979-80 to 1991-92	876	441	347
23	Michel GouletQUE,CHI	0.503	1979-80 to 1993-94	1,089	548	605
24	Steven StamkosTBL,NSH · active	0.501	2008-09 to 2026-27	1,254	628	638
25	Nels StewartMMR,BOS,NYA	0.499	1925-26 to 1939-40	650	324	191
26	Guy LafleurMTL,NYR,QUE	0.497	1971-72 to 1990-91	1,126	560	793
27	Mike GartnerWSH,MNS,NYR,TOR,PHX	0.494	1979-80 to 1997-98	1,432	708	627
28	Dino CiccarelliMNS,WSH,DET,TBL,FLA	0.494	1980-81 to 1998-99	1,232	608	592
29	Howie MorenzMTL,CHI,NYR	0.493	1923-24 to 1936-37	550	271	205
30	Blaine StoughtonPIT,TOR,HFD,NYR	0.491	1973-74 to 1983-84	526	258	191
31	Eric LindrosPHI,NYR,TOR,DAL	0.49	1992-93 to 2006-07	760	372	493
32	Pierre LarouchePIT,MTL,HFD,NYR	0.487	1974-75 to 1987-88	812	395	427
33	Charlie ConacherTOR,DET,NYA	0.486	1929-30 to 1940-41	461	224	172
34	Ziggy PalffyNYI,LAK,PIT	0.481	1993-94 to 2005-06	684	329	384
35	Jari KurriEDM,LAK,NYR,ANA,COL	0.48	1980-81 to 1997-98	1,251	601	797
36	Charlie SimmerCGS,CLE,LAK,BOS,PIT	0.48	1974-75 to 1987-88	712	342	369
37	Bill CookNYR	0.48	1926-27 to 1936-37	475	228	138
38	Ilya KovalchukATL,NJD,LAK,WSH,MTL	0.478	2001-02 to 2019-20	926	443	433
39	Alexander MogilnyBUF,VAN,NJD,TOR	0.478	1989-90 to 2005-06	990	473	559
40	Kent NilssonAFM,CGY,MNS,EDM	0.477	1979-80 to 1994-95	553	264	422
41	Syl AppsTOR	0.475	1936-37 to 1947-48	423	201	231
42	Joe MullenSTL,CGY,PIT,BOS	0.473	1981-82 to 1996-97	1,062	502	561
43	Teemu SelanneWIN,ANA,SJS,COL	0.471	1992-93 to 2013-14	1,451	684	773
44	Kyle ConnorWPG · active	0.471	2016-17 to 2026-27	703	331	354
45	Luc RobitailleLAK,PIT,NYR,DET	0.467	1986-87 to 2005-06	1,431	668	726
46	Jason RobertsonDAL · active	0.466	2019-20 to 2026-27	464	216	281
47	Peter BondraWSH,OTT,ATL,CHI	0.465	1990-91 to 2006-07	1,081	503	389
48	Bill BarberPHI	0.465	1972-73 to 1983-84	903	420	463
49	Roy ConacherBOS,DET,CHI	0.461	1938-39 to 1951-52	490	226	201
50	Peter StastnyQUE,NJD,STL	0.461	1980-81 to 1994-95	977	450	789

Top 50 of 576 lines on the NHL's list, ties kept. Source: NHL Records.

About these records

Every record list comes from the NHL's official records database (records.nhl.com): 808 regular-season and playoff records for skaters, goalies and teams. We keep the top 50 of each list, with ties, and refresh lists with active players daily, so career climbs like Alex Ovechkin's goal total update the morning after a game.

Records cover the league's whole history, so eras matter: scoring was far higher in the 1980s, goalie stats like saves and save percentage start in 1955-56 or later, and time on ice, hits and blocks start in 2005-06. Each list notes its own limits.

Active players are flagged, so you can see who is climbing a list this season. For the milestones those players are chasing tonight, see the milestone watch.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the NHL record for highest goals per game in a career?

Mike Bossy holds the NHL record for highest goals per game in a career with 0.762 (1977-78 to 1986-87).

Who is the active leader for highest goals per game in a career?

Auston Matthews is the highest active player on the list at 0.622, rank 6 all time.