NHL Record for Most Assists in a Season

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

Updated Oct 20, 5:55 PM ET after records.nhl.com

Top of the list

Most Assists, 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
12	Bobby OrrBOS	102	1970-71	78	37	139
14	Connor McDavidEDM · active	100	2023-24	76	32	132
14	Nikita KucherovTBL · active	100	2023-24	81	44	144

The full top 50

Most Assists, 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
12	Bobby OrrBOS	102	1970-71	78	37	139
14	Connor McDavidEDM · active	100	2023-24	76	32	132
14	Nikita KucherovTBL · active	100	2023-24	81	44	144
16	Mario LemieuxPIT	98	1987-88	77	70	168
17	Adam OatesBOS	97	1992-93	84	45	142
18	Joe ThorntonBOS,SJS	96	2005-06	81	29	125
19	Doug GilmourTOR	95	1992-93	83	32	127
19	Pat LaFontaineBUF	95	1992-93	84	53	148
21	Mario LemieuxPIT	93	1985-86	79	48	141
21	Peter StastnyQUE	93	1981-82	80	46	139
23	Mario LemieuxPIT	92	1995-96	70	69	161
23	Ron FrancisPIT	92	1995-96	77	27	119
23	Wayne GretzkyLAK	92	1993-94	81	38	130
23	Joe ThorntonSJS	92	2006-07	82	22	114
27	Mario LemieuxPIT	91	1992-93	60	69	160
28	Adam OatesSTL	90	1990-91	61	25	115
28	Bobby OrrBOS	90	1973-74	74	32	122
28	Wayne GretzkyLAK	90	1991-92	74	31	121
28	Paul CoffeyEDM	90	1985-86	79	48	138
28	Steve YzermanDET	90	1988-89	80	65	155
28	Connor McDavidEDM · active	90	2025-26	82	48	138
34	Bobby ClarkePHI	89	1975-76	76	30	119
34	Bobby ClarkePHI	89	1974-75	80	27	116
34	Bobby OrrBOS	89	1974-75	80	46	135
34	Connor McDavidEDM · active	89	2022-23	82	64	153
34	Nathan MacKinnonCOL · active	89	2023-24	82	51	140
39	Mario LemieuxPIT	87	1991-92	64	44	131
39	Bobby OrrBOS	87	1969-70	76	33	120
39	Bryan TrottierNYI	87	1978-79	76	47	134
39	Denis SavardCHI	87	1981-82	80	32	119
39	Denis SavardCHI	87	1987-88	80	44	131
39	Jaromir JagrPIT	87	1995-96	82	62	149
39	Nikita KucherovTBL · active	87	2018-19	82	41	128
46	Nikita KucherovTBL · active	86	2025-26	76	44	130
46	Denis SavardCHI	86	1982-83	78	35	121
46	Wayne GretzkyEDM	86	1979-80	79	51	137
46	Paul CoffeyEDM	86	1983-84	80	40	126
46	Peter ForsbergCOL	86	1995-96	82	30	116

Top 50 of 12,869 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 assists in a season?

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

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

Connor McDavid is the highest active player on the list at 100, rank 14 all time.