NHL Record for Most Assists, Center in a Season

Wayne Gretzky holds the NHL record with 163 assists (1985-86).

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

Top of the list

Most Assists, Center, Season: the leaders
Rank	Player	Assists	Season	GP	Goals	Points
1	Wayne GretzkyEDM	163	1985-86	80	52	215
2	Wayne GretzkyEDM	135	1984-85	80	73	208
3	Wayne GretzkyEDM	125	1982-83	80	71	196
4	Wayne GretzkyLAK	122	1990-91	78	41	163
5	Wayne GretzkyEDM	121	1986-87	79	62	183
6	Wayne GretzkyEDM	120	1981-82	80	92	212
7	Wayne GretzkyEDM	118	1983-84	74	87	205
8	Mario LemieuxPIT	114	1988-89	76	85	199
8	Wayne GretzkyLAK	114	1988-89	78	54	168
10	Wayne GretzkyEDM	109	1987-88	64	40	149
10	Wayne GretzkyEDM	109	1980-81	80	55	164
12	Wayne GretzkyLAK	102	1989-90	73	40	142
13	Connor McDavidEDM · active	100	2023-24	76	32	132
14	Mario LemieuxPIT	98	1987-88	77	70	168
15	Adam OatesBOS	97	1992-93	84	45	142

The full top 50

Most Assists, Center, Season: NHL skater records
Rank	Player	Assists	Season	GP	Goals	Points
1	Wayne GretzkyEDM	163	1985-86	80	52	215
2	Wayne GretzkyEDM	135	1984-85	80	73	208
3	Wayne GretzkyEDM	125	1982-83	80	71	196
4	Wayne GretzkyLAK	122	1990-91	78	41	163
5	Wayne GretzkyEDM	121	1986-87	79	62	183
6	Wayne GretzkyEDM	120	1981-82	80	92	212
7	Wayne GretzkyEDM	118	1983-84	74	87	205
8	Mario LemieuxPIT	114	1988-89	76	85	199
8	Wayne GretzkyLAK	114	1988-89	78	54	168
10	Wayne GretzkyEDM	109	1987-88	64	40	149
10	Wayne GretzkyEDM	109	1980-81	80	55	164
12	Wayne GretzkyLAK	102	1989-90	73	40	142
13	Connor McDavidEDM · active	100	2023-24	76	32	132
14	Mario LemieuxPIT	98	1987-88	77	70	168
15	Adam OatesBOS	97	1992-93	84	45	142
16	Joe ThorntonBOS,SJS	96	2005-06	81	29	125
17	Doug GilmourTOR	95	1992-93	83	32	127
17	Pat LaFontaineBUF	95	1992-93	84	53	148
19	Mario LemieuxPIT	93	1985-86	79	48	141
19	Peter StastnyQUE	93	1981-82	80	46	139
21	Mario LemieuxPIT	92	1995-96	70	69	161
21	Ron FrancisPIT	92	1995-96	77	27	119
21	Wayne GretzkyLAK	92	1993-94	81	38	130
21	Joe ThorntonSJS	92	2006-07	82	22	114
25	Mario LemieuxPIT	91	1992-93	60	69	160
26	Adam OatesSTL	90	1990-91	61	25	115
26	Wayne GretzkyLAK	90	1991-92	74	31	121
26	Steve YzermanDET	90	1988-89	80	65	155
26	Connor McDavidEDM · active	90	2025-26	82	48	138
30	Bobby ClarkePHI	89	1975-76	76	30	119
30	Bobby ClarkePHI	89	1974-75	80	27	116
30	Connor McDavidEDM · active	89	2022-23	82	64	153
30	Nathan MacKinnonCOL · active	89	2023-24	82	51	140
34	Mario LemieuxPIT	87	1991-92	64	44	131
34	Bryan TrottierNYI	87	1978-79	76	47	134
34	Denis SavardCHI	87	1981-82	80	32	119
34	Denis SavardCHI	87	1987-88	80	44	131
38	Denis SavardCHI	86	1982-83	78	35	121
38	Wayne GretzkyEDM	86	1979-80	79	51	137
38	Peter ForsbergCOL	86	1995-96	82	30	116
41	Mark MessierEDM	84	1989-90	79	45	129
41	Sidney CrosbyPIT · active	84	2006-07	79	36	120
41	Nathan MacKinnonCOL · active	84	2024-25	79	32	116
41	Marcel DionneLAK	84	1979-80	80	53	137
41	Doug GilmourTOR	84	1993-94	83	27	111
46	Henrik SedinVAN	83	2009-10	82	29	112
47	Peter MahovlichMTL	82	1974-75	80	35	117
47	Kent NilssonCGY	82	1980-81	80	49	131
47	Craig JanneySTL	82	1992-93	84	24	106
50	Peter StastnyQUE	81	1985-86	76	41	122

Top 50 of 1,291 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 most assists, center in a season?

Wayne Gretzky holds the NHL record for most assists, center in a season with 163 (1985-86).

Who is the active leader for most assists, center in a season?

Connor McDavid is the highest active player on the list at 100, rank 13 all time.