NHL Record for Most Assists, Defenseman in a Season

Bobby Orr holds the NHL record with 102 assists (1970-71).

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

Top of the list

Most Assists, Defenseman, Season: the leaders
Rank	Player	Assists	Season	GP	Goals	Points
1	Bobby OrrBOS	102	1970-71	78	37	139
2	Bobby OrrBOS	90	1973-74	74	32	122
2	Paul CoffeyEDM	90	1985-86	79	48	138
4	Bobby OrrBOS	89	1974-75	80	46	135
5	Bobby OrrBOS	87	1969-70	76	33	120
6	Paul CoffeyEDM	86	1983-84	80	40	126
7	Paul CoffeyEDM	84	1984-85	80	37	121
8	Paul CoffeyPIT	83	1988-89	75	30	113
9	Bobby OrrBOS	80	1971-72	76	37	117
9	Brian LeetchNYR	80	1991-92	80	22	102
11	Phil HousleyWIN	79	1992-93	80	18	97
12	Sergei ZubovNYR	77	1993-94	78	12	89
13	Erik KarlssonSJS · active	76	2022-23	82	25	101
14	Al MacInnisCGY	75	1990-91	78	28	103
14	Paul CoffeyLAK,DET	75	1992-93	80	12	87

The full top 56

Most Assists, Defenseman, Season: NHL skater records
Rank	Player	Assists	Season	GP	Goals	Points
1	Bobby OrrBOS	102	1970-71	78	37	139
2	Bobby OrrBOS	90	1973-74	74	32	122
2	Paul CoffeyEDM	90	1985-86	79	48	138
4	Bobby OrrBOS	89	1974-75	80	46	135
5	Bobby OrrBOS	87	1969-70	76	33	120
6	Paul CoffeyEDM	86	1983-84	80	40	126
7	Paul CoffeyEDM	84	1984-85	80	37	121
8	Paul CoffeyPIT	83	1988-89	75	30	113
9	Bobby OrrBOS	80	1971-72	76	37	117
9	Brian LeetchNYR	80	1991-92	80	22	102
11	Phil HousleyWIN	79	1992-93	80	18	97
12	Sergei ZubovNYR	77	1993-94	78	12	89
13	Erik KarlssonSJS · active	76	2022-23	82	25	101
14	Al MacInnisCGY	75	1990-91	78	28	103
14	Paul CoffeyLAK,DET	75	1992-93	80	12	87
14	Quinn HughesVAN · active	75	2023-24	82	17	92
17	Paul CoffeyPIT	74	1989-90	80	29	103
17	Evan BouchardEDM · active	74	2025-26	82	21	95
19	Ray BourqueBOS	73	1990-91	76	21	94
19	Roman JosiNSH · active	73	2021-22	80	23	96
21	Bobby OrrBOS	72	1972-73	63	29	101
21	Ray BourqueBOS	72	1986-87	78	23	95
21	Brian LeetchNYR	72	1990-91	80	16	88
24	Ray BourqueBOS	71	1993-94	72	20	91
25	Denis PotvinNYI	70	1978-79	73	31	101
25	Gary SuterCGY	70	1987-88	75	21	91
25	Brian LeetchNYR	70	1995-96	82	15	85
28	Quinn HughesVAN,MIN · active	69	2025-26	74	7	76
28	Paul CoffeyPIT	69	1990-91	76	24	93
28	Cale MakarCOL · active	69	2023-24	77	21	90
28	Quinn HughesVAN · active	69	2022-23	78	7	76
32	Randy CarlylePIT	67	1980-81	76	16	83
32	Denis PotvinNYI	67	1975-76	78	31	98
32	Paul CoffeyEDM	67	1982-83	80	29	96
32	Brent BurnsSJS · active	67	2018-19	82	16	83
36	Ray BourqueBOS	66	1984-85	73	20	86
36	Borje SalmingTOR	66	1976-77	76	12	78
36	Larry RobinsonMTL	66	1976-77	77	19	85
36	Erik KarlssonOTT · active	66	2015-16	82	16	82
36	Lane HutsonMTL · active	66	2025-26	82	12	78
41	Ray BourqueBOS	65	1989-90	76	19	84
41	Ray BourqueBOS	65	1983-84	78	31	96
41	Victor HedmanTBL · active	65	2021-22	82	20	85
44	Randy CarlylePIT	64	1981-82	73	11	75
44	Ray BourqueBOS	64	1987-88	78	17	81
44	Denis PotvinNYI	64	1977-78	80	30	94
44	Nicklas LidstromDET	64	2005-06	80	16	80
44	Evan BouchardEDM · active	64	2023-24	81	18	82
49	Phil HousleyWIN	63	1991-92	74	23	86
49	Denis PotvinNYI	63	1983-84	78	22	85
49	Larry RobinsonMTL	63	1985-86	78	19	82
49	Ray BourqueBOS	63	1992-93	78	19	82
49	Adam FoxNYR · active	63	2021-22	78	11	74
49	Victor HedmanTBL · active	63	2023-24	78	13	76
49	Paul CoffeyDET	63	1993-94	80	14	77
49	Larry MurphyPIT	63	1992-93	83	22	85

Top 56 of 3,355 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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Every hat trick this season and the leaders since 2017-18
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Frequently asked questions

What is the NHL record for most assists, defenseman in a season?

Bobby Orr holds the NHL record for most assists, defenseman in a season with 102 (1970-71).

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

Erik Karlsson is the highest active player on the list at 76, rank 13 all time.