Counting stats
NHL Shots on Goal per Game Leaders: Forwards
2025-26All situationsThrough 82 team games
Nathan MacKinnon (COL) leads NHL forwards with a SOG/GP of 4.38 in 2025-26, ahead of 
Auston Matthews (TOR) (3.78).
Showing 2025-26 · 2026-27 becomes the default after ~10 games per team2026-27 so far →
Leaders: Shots on Goal per Game: forwards, 2025-26
- 1stNathan MacKinnonCOL · 80 GP4.38
- 2ndAuston MatthewsTOR · 60 GP3.78
3rdCutter GauthierANA · 76 GP3.75
4thJack HughesNJD · 61 GP3.74
5thConnor McDavidEDM · 82 GP3.73
The full ranked table, with filters, follows.
What Shots on Goal per Game: forwards measures
This board ranks NHL forwards by shots on goal per game played, all situations, this season. Players under the minimum sample are hidden, and every row shows the games or minutes behind the number. Shots on Goal per game played, all situations, this season.
Rates settle faster than totals but need games or minutes: early in the season, part-time players swing the most. A row needs at least 33 games to qualify, a bar that rises as the season goes on, so early leaders with a handful of games do not crowd the top.
Forwards only, so they are not buried under the defensemen. Per game puts players who missed games on equal footing with those who played them all. Shots on goal count every shot that the goalie saved or that went in. Volume shooters with power-play time lead the league; shots are the most repeatable scoring stat a skater has. In 2025-26, 429 forwards qualify for this board; the median is 1.49 and Nathan MacKinnon leads at 4.38.
Shots on Goal per Game: forwards leaderboard
| # | Player | Team | SOG/GP | GP | SOG | Pctl | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nathan MacKinnonFCOL | COL | 4.38 | 80 | 350 | 100 | 100% |
| 2 | Auston MatthewsFTOR | TOR | 3.78 | 60 | 227 | 100 | 99% |
| 3 | Cutter GauthierFANA | ANA | 3.75 | 76 | 285 | 100 | 98% |
| 4 | Jack HughesFNJD | NJD | 3.74 | 61 | 228 | 99 | 99% |
| 5 | Connor McDavidFEDM | EDM | 3.73 | 82 | 306 | 99 | 100% |
| 6 |  Brady TkachukFOTT | OTT | 3.68 | 60 | 221 | 99 | 100%▲1 |
| 7 |  Jason RobertsonFDAL | DAL | 3.59 | 82 | 294 | 99 | 99% |
| 8 |  Jack EichelFVGK | VGK | 3.51 | 74 | 260 | 98 | 100% |
| 9 |  Alex DeBrincatFDET | DET | 3.50 | 82 | 287 | 98 | 100%▲1 |
| 10 |  Macklin CelebriniFSJS | SJS | 3.50 | 82 | 287 | 98 | 100% |
| 11 |  Timo MeierFNJD | NJD | 3.49 | 77 | 269 | 98 | 75%▼2.5 |
| 12 |  Kirill KaprizovFMIN | MIN | 3.45 | 78 | 269 | 97 | 98% |
| 13 |  David PastrnakFBOS | BOS | 3.39 | 77 | 261 | 97 | 100% |
| 14 |  Tage ThompsonFBUF | BUF | 3.36 | 81 | 272 | 97 | 100% |
| 15 |  Matt BoldyFMIN | MIN | 3.34 | 76 | 254 | 97 | 100% |
| 16 |  Kyle ConnorFWPG | WPG | 3.34 | 82 | 274 | 96 | 99% |
| 17 |  Bo HorvatFNYI | NYI | 3.32 | 68 | 226 | 96 | 94%▲1.2 |
| 18 |  Connor BedardFCHI | CHI | 3.28 | 69 | 226 | 96 | 98%▲0.7 |
| 19 |  Cole CaufieldFMTL | MTL | 3.19 | 81 | 258 | 96 | 100% |
| 20 |  Seth JarvisFCAR | CAR | 3.15 | 71 | 224 | 96 | 94%▲1.1 |
| 21 |  Dylan LarkinFDET | DET | 3.09 | 74 | 229 | 95 | 93%▼1.7 |
| 22 |  Dylan GuentherFUTA | UTA | 3.06 | 79 | 242 | 95 | 100% |
| 23 |  Brandon HagelFTBL | TBL | 3.01 | 71 | 214 | 95 | 100% |
| 24 |  Filip ForsbergFNSH | NSH | 3.00 | 82 | 246 | 95 | 99%▼0.6 |
| 25 |  Nikita KucherovFTBL | TBL | 3.00 | 77 | 231 | 95 | 100% |
Minimum sample: 33 games (it scales with games played). 186 below the minimum are hidden.
Frequently asked questions
Who leads the NHL in Shots on Goal per Game: forwards in 2025-26?
Nathan MacKinnon leads with 4.38. The median of the 429 qualified forwards is 1.49.
How is Shots on Goal per Game: forwards calculated?
Shots on Goal per game played, all situations, this season. Regular season only, from the NHL's official game data.
How reliable is Shots on Goal per Game: forwards?
Rates settle faster than totals but need games or minutes: early in the season, part-time players swing the most.
Why are some players missing from the board?
Rows below the minimum sample (33 games) are hidden; 186 are below it right now. The minimum grows with the number of games teams have played.