Edgehalla

NHL Record for Most Game-winning Goals, Defenseman in a Career

Ray Bourque holds the NHL record with 60 gwg (1979-80 to 2000-01).

Top of the list

Most Game-Winning Goals, Defenseman, Career: the leaders
RankPlayerGWGSeasonGPGoalsAssists
1Ray BourqueBOS,COL601979-80 to 2000-011,6124101,169
2Phil HousleyBUF,WIN,STL,CGY,NJD,WSH,CHI,TOR491982-83 to 2002-031,495338894
3Brent BurnsMIN,SJS,CAR,COL · active472003-04 to 2026-271,588273675
4Denis PotvinNYI441973-74 to 1987-881,060310742
4Al MacInnisCGY,STL441981-82 to 2003-041,416340934
6Paul CoffeyEDM,PIT,LAK,DET,PHI,HFD,CHI,CAR,BOS431980-81 to 2000-011,4093961,135

The full top 53

Most Game-Winning Goals, Defenseman, Career: NHL skater records
RankPlayerGWGSeasonGPGoalsAssists
1Ray BourqueBOS,COL601979-80 to 2000-011,6124101,169
2Phil HousleyBUF,WIN,STL,CGY,NJD,WSH,CHI,TOR491982-83 to 2002-031,495338894
3Brent BurnsMIN,SJS,CAR,COL · active472003-04 to 2026-271,588273675
4Denis PotvinNYI441973-74 to 1987-881,060310742
4Al MacInnisCGY,STL441981-82 to 2003-041,416340934
6Paul CoffeyEDM,PIT,LAK,DET,PHI,HFD,CHI,CAR,BOS431980-81 to 2000-011,4093961,135
7Rob BlakeLAK,COL,SJS411989-90 to 2009-101,270240537
8Scott NiedermayerNJD,ANA391991-92 to 2009-101,263172568
9Roman JosiNSH · active382011-12 to 2026-271,038204584
9Erik KarlssonOTT,SJS,PIT · active382009-10 to 2026-271,169216731
9Brian LeetchNYR,TOR,BOS381987-88 to 2005-061,205247781
12Justin FaulkCAR,STL,DET · active372011-12 to 2026-271,066148355
12Kevin HatcherWSH,DAL,PIT,NYR,CAR371984-85 to 2000-011,157227450
14Dougie HamiltonBOS,CGY,CAR,NJD · active362012-13 to 2026-27920164380
14Oliver Ekman-LarssonPHX,ARI,VAN,FLA,TOR · active362010-11 to 2026-271,147156383
14Kris LetangPIT · active362006-07 to 2026-271,245178632
14Mathieu SchneiderMTL,NYI,TOR,NYR,DET,LAK,ANA,ATL,VAN,PHX361987-88 to 2009-101,289223520
14Larry MurphyLAK,WSH,MNS,PIT,TOR,DET361980-81 to 2000-011,615288929
19Shea WeberNSH,MTL352005-06 to 2020-211,038224365
19Sergei GoncharWSH,BOS,PIT,OTT,DAL,MTL351994-95 to 2014-151,301220591
19Nicklas LidstromDET351991-92 to 2011-121,564264878
19Zdeno CharaNYI,OTT,BOS,WSH351997-98 to 2021-221,680209471
23John CarlsonWSH,ANA,TBL · active342009-10 to 2026-271,167172617
23Drew DoughtyLAK · active342008-09 to 2026-271,285165545
23Scott StevensWSH,STL,NJD341982-83 to 2003-041,635196712
26Dustin ByfuglienCHI,ATL,WPG332005-06 to 2018-19787160331
26Alex PietrangeloSTL,VGK · active332008-09 to 2024-251,087148489
28Chris CheliosMTL,CHI,DET,ATL311983-84 to 2009-101,651185763
29Steve DuchesneQUE,OTT,STL,PHI,LAK,DET301986-87 to 2001-021,113227525
29Victor HedmanTBL · active302009-10 to 2026-271,172173641
31Aaron EkbladFLA · active292014-15 to 2026-27811122287
31Dan BoyleFLA,TBL,SJS,NYR291998-99 to 2015-161,093163442
31Larry RobinsonMTL,LAK291972-73 to 1991-921,384208750
34Cale MakarCOL · active282019-20 to 2026-27478139377
34Pavel KubinaTOR,ATL,TBL,PHI281997-98 to 2011-12970110276
34Dion PhaneufCGY,TOR,OTT,LAK282005-06 to 2018-191,048137357
34Brad ParkNYR,BOS,DET281968-69 to 1984-851,113213683
38King ClancySEN,TOR271921-22 to 1936-37592137150
38Red KellyDET271947-48 to 1959-60846162310
38Chris ProngerHFD,STL,EDM,ANA,PHI271993-94 to 2011-121,167157541
41Bobby OrrBOS,CHI261966-67 to 1978-79657270645
41John KlingbergDAL,ANA,MIN,TOR,EDM,SJS262014-15 to 2025-2670092351
41Sandis OzolinshSJS,COL,FLA,CAR,ANA,NYR261992-93 to 2007-08875167397
41Ed JovanovskiFLA,VAN,PHX261995-96 to 2013-141,128137363
41Mark GiordanoCGY,SEA,TOR262005-06 to 2023-241,148158419
46Jared SpurgeonMIN · active252010-11 to 2026-271,018124319
47Baldy NorthcottMMR,CHI241928-29 to 1938-39448133112
47George BoucherSEN,MMR,CHI241917-18 to 1931-3245011887
47Jakob ChychrunARI,OTT,WSH · active242016-17 to 2026-27629123204
47Christian EhrhoffSJS,VAN,BUF,PIT,LAK,CHI242003-04 to 2015-1678974265
47Sami SaloOTT,VAN,TBL241998-99 to 2013-1487899240
47Bryan McCabeNYI,VAN,CHI,TOR,FLA,NYR241995-96 to 2010-111,135145383
47Eric DesjardinsMTL,PHI241988-89 to 2005-061,143136439

Top 53 of 264 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.

More NHL records and milestones

  • All NHL records

    Every official record list by category

  • Milestones

    Who could hit a milestone tonight, and who is close

  • Streaks

    Active point and goal streaks and droughts, with the luck behind them

  • Hat tricks

    Every hat trick this season and the leaders since 2017-18

  • Gordie Howe hat tricks

    Goal, assist and a fight in one game

  • Game highs

    Most shots, saves, hits and goals in one game this season

  • Rookies

    Rookie leaders, points pace and the Calder race

  • Awards

    Trophy winners and this season's award races with odds

  • Head to head

    All-time records between any two teams

Frequently asked questions

What is the NHL record for most game-winning goals, defenseman in a career?

Ray Bourque holds the NHL record for most game-winning goals, defenseman in a career with 60 (1979-80 to 2000-01).

Who is the active leader for most game-winning goals, defenseman in a career?

Brent Burns is the highest active player on the list at 47, rank 3 all time.