NHL Record for Most Goals, Defenseman in a Season

Paul Coffey holds the NHL record with 48 goals (1985-86).

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

Top of the list

Most Goals, Defenseman, Season: the leaders
Rank	Player	Goals	Season	GP	Assists	Points
1	Paul CoffeyEDM	48	1985-86	79	90	138
2	Bobby OrrBOS	46	1974-75	80	89	135
3	Paul CoffeyEDM	40	1983-84	80	86	126
4	Doug WilsonCHI	39	1981-82	76	46	85
5	Bobby OrrBOS	37	1971-72	76	80	117
5	Bobby OrrBOS	37	1970-71	78	102	139
5	Paul CoffeyEDM	37	1984-85	80	84	121
8	Kevin HatcherWSH	34	1992-93	83	45	79
9	Bobby OrrBOS	33	1969-70	76	87	120
10	Bobby OrrBOS	32	1973-74	74	90	122
11	Mike GreenWSH	31	2008-09	68	42	73
11	Denis PotvinNYI	31	1978-79	73	70	101
11	Phil HousleyBUF	31	1983-84	75	46	77
11	Denis PotvinNYI	31	1975-76	78	67	98
11	Ray BourqueBOS	31	1983-84	78	65	96

The full top 55

Most Goals, Defenseman, Season: NHL skater records
Rank	Player	Goals	Season	GP	Assists	Points
1	Paul CoffeyEDM	48	1985-86	79	90	138
2	Bobby OrrBOS	46	1974-75	80	89	135
3	Paul CoffeyEDM	40	1983-84	80	86	126
4	Doug WilsonCHI	39	1981-82	76	46	85
5	Bobby OrrBOS	37	1971-72	76	80	117
5	Bobby OrrBOS	37	1970-71	78	102	139
5	Paul CoffeyEDM	37	1984-85	80	84	121
8	Kevin HatcherWSH	34	1992-93	83	45	79
9	Bobby OrrBOS	33	1969-70	76	87	120
10	Bobby OrrBOS	32	1973-74	74	90	122
11	Mike GreenWSH	31	2008-09	68	42	73
11	Denis PotvinNYI	31	1978-79	73	70	101
11	Phil HousleyBUF	31	1983-84	75	46	77
11	Denis PotvinNYI	31	1975-76	78	67	98
11	Ray BourqueBOS	31	1983-84	78	65	96
16	Paul CoffeyPIT	30	1988-89	75	83	113
16	Denis PotvinNYI	30	1977-78	80	64	94
16	Cale MakarCOL · active	30	2024-25	80	62	92
19	Bobby OrrBOS	29	1972-73	63	72	101
19	Phil HousleyBUF	29	1987-88	74	37	66
19	Paul CoffeyEDM	29	1981-82	80	60	89
19	Paul CoffeyEDM	29	1982-83	80	67	96
19	Paul CoffeyPIT	29	1989-90	80	74	103
19	Brent BurnsSJS · active	29	2016-17	82	47	76
25	Al MacInnisCGY	28	1993-94	75	54	82
25	Cale MakarCOL · active	28	2021-22	77	58	86
25	Al MacInnisCGY	28	1990-91	78	75	103
25	Al MacInnisCGY	28	1989-90	79	62	90
25	Guy LapointeMTL	28	1974-75	80	47	75
25	Reijo RuotsalainenNYR	28	1984-85	80	45	73
31	Ray BourqueBOS	27	1980-81	67	29	56
31	Ron GreschnerNYR	27	1980-81	74	41	68
31	Reed LarsonDET	27	1980-81	78	31	58
31	Brent BurnsSJS · active	27	2015-16	82	48	75
35	Phil HousleyBUF	26	1988-89	72	44	70
35	Sergei GoncharWSH	26	2001-02	76	33	59
35	Jakob ChychrunWSH · active	26	2025-26	80	34	60
35	Sandis OzolinshSJS	26	1993-94	81	38	64
35	Sheldon SourayMTL	26	2006-07	81	38	64
40	Jeff BrownSTL	25	1992-93	71	53	78
40	Guy LapointeMTL	25	1976-77	77	51	76
40	Brad ParkNYR	25	1973-74	78	57	82
40	Steve DuchesneLAK	25	1988-89	79	50	75
40	Denis PotvinNYI	25	1976-77	80	55	80
40	Al MacInnisCGY	25	1987-88	80	58	83
40	Al IafrateWSH	25	1992-93	81	41	66
40	Erik KarlssonSJS · active	25	2022-23	82	76	101
48	Denis PotvinNYI	24	1981-82	60	37	61
48	Mark HoweHFD	24	1979-80	74	56	80
48	Brad ParkNYR	24	1971-72	75	49	73
48	Carol VadnaisOAK	24	1969-70	76	20	44
48	Paul CoffeyPIT	24	1990-91	76	69	93
48	Mark HowePHI	24	1985-86	77	58	82
48	Ron GreschnerNYR	24	1977-78	78	48	72
48	Kevin HatcherWSH	24	1990-91	79	50	74

Top 55 of 512 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 goals, defenseman in a season?

Paul Coffey holds the NHL record for most goals, defenseman in a season with 48 (1985-86).

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

Cale Makar is the highest active player on the list at 30, rank 16 all time.