NHL Record for Most Goals, Center in a Season

Wayne Gretzky holds the NHL record with 92 goals (1981-82).

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

Top of the list

Most Goals, Center, Season: the leaders
Rank	Player	Goals	Season	GP	Assists	Points
1	Wayne GretzkyEDM	92	1981-82	80	120	212
2	Wayne GretzkyEDM	87	1983-84	74	118	205
3	Mario LemieuxPIT	85	1988-89	76	114	199
4	Phil EspositoBOS	76	1970-71	78	76	152
5	Wayne GretzkyEDM	73	1984-85	80	135	208
6	Wayne GretzkyEDM	71	1982-83	80	125	196
7	Mario LemieuxPIT	70	1987-88	77	98	168
7	Bernie NichollsLAK	70	1988-89	79	80	150
9	Mario LemieuxPIT	69	1992-93	60	91	160
9	Mario LemieuxPIT	69	1995-96	70	92	161
9	Auston MatthewsTOR · active	69	2023-24	81	38	107
12	Phil EspositoBOS	68	1973-74	78	77	145
13	Phil EspositoBOS	66	1971-72	76	67	133
14	Steve YzermanDET	65	1988-89	80	90	155
15	Connor McDavidEDM · active	64	2022-23	82	89	153

The full top 58

Most Goals, Center, Season: NHL skater records
Rank	Player	Goals	Season	GP	Assists	Points
1	Wayne GretzkyEDM	92	1981-82	80	120	212
2	Wayne GretzkyEDM	87	1983-84	74	118	205
3	Mario LemieuxPIT	85	1988-89	76	114	199
4	Phil EspositoBOS	76	1970-71	78	76	152
5	Wayne GretzkyEDM	73	1984-85	80	135	208
6	Wayne GretzkyEDM	71	1982-83	80	125	196
7	Mario LemieuxPIT	70	1987-88	77	98	168
7	Bernie NichollsLAK	70	1988-89	79	80	150
9	Mario LemieuxPIT	69	1992-93	60	91	160
9	Mario LemieuxPIT	69	1995-96	70	92	161
9	Auston MatthewsTOR · active	69	2023-24	81	38	107
12	Phil EspositoBOS	68	1973-74	78	77	145
13	Phil EspositoBOS	66	1971-72	76	67	133
14	Steve YzermanDET	65	1988-89	80	90	155
15	Connor McDavidEDM · active	64	2022-23	82	89	153
16	Wayne GretzkyEDM	62	1986-87	79	121	183
16	Steve YzermanDET	62	1989-90	79	65	127
18	Phil EspositoBOS	61	1974-75	79	66	127
19	Auston MatthewsTOR · active	60	2021-22	73	46	106
19	Dennis MarukWSH	60	1981-82	80	76	136
19	Steven StamkosTBL · active	60	2011-12	82	37	97
22	Marcel DionneLAK	59	1978-79	80	71	130
23	Marcel DionneLAK	58	1980-81	80	77	135
23	Pierre TurgeonNYI	58	1992-93	83	74	132
23	Steve YzermanDET	58	1992-93	84	79	137
26	Sam ReinhartFLA · active	57	2023-24	82	37	94
27	Marcel DionneLAK	56	1982-83	80	51	107
27	Sergei FedorovDET	56	1993-94	82	64	120
29	Phil EspositoBOS	55	1972-73	78	75	130
29	Wayne GretzkyEDM	55	1980-81	80	109	164
29	Jimmy CarsonLAK	55	1987-88	80	52	107
29	Leon DraisaitlEDM · active	55	2021-22	80	55	110
33	Mario LemieuxPIT	54	1986-87	63	53	107
33	Pat LaFontaineNYI	54	1989-90	74	51	105
33	Wayne GretzkyLAK	54	1988-89	78	114	168
33	Joe SakicCOL	54	2000-01	82	64	118
37	Pierre LarouchePIT	53	1975-76	76	58	111
37	Marcel DionneLAK	53	1976-77	80	69	122
37	Marcel DionneLAK	53	1979-80	80	84	137
37	Bobby CarpenterWSH	53	1984-85	80	42	95
37	Dale HawerchukWIN	53	1984-85	80	77	130
37	Jeremy RoenickCHI	53	1991-92	80	50	103
37	Nathan MacKinnonCOL · active	53	2025-26	80	74	127
37	Pat LaFontaineBUF	53	1992-93	84	95	148
45	Leon DraisaitlEDM · active	52	2024-25	71	54	106
45	Wayne GretzkyEDM	52	1985-86	80	163	215
45	Leon DraisaitlEDM · active	52	2022-23	80	76	128
45	Vincent LecavalierTBL	52	2006-07	82	56	108
49	Joe NieuwendykCGY	51	1987-88	75	41	92
49	Mike BullardPIT	51	1983-84	76	41	92
49	Joe NieuwendykCGY	51	1988-89	77	31	82
49	Wayne GretzkyEDM	51	1979-80	79	86	137
49	Steve YzermanDET	51	1990-91	80	57	108
49	Sidney CrosbyPIT · active	51	2009-10	81	58	109
49	Joe SakicCOL	51	1995-96	82	69	120
49	Steven StamkosTBL · active	51	2009-10	82	44	95
49	Brayden PointTBL · active	51	2022-23	82	44	95
49	Nathan MacKinnonCOL · active	51	2023-24	82	89	140

Top 58 of 834 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
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Milestones
Who could hit a milestone tonight, and who is close
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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
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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 goals, center in a season?

Wayne Gretzky holds the NHL record for most goals, center in a season with 92 (1981-82).

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

Auston Matthews is the highest active player on the list at 69, rank 9 all time.