Single season goals vs points vs fastest to 50 g

[Silky mitts]

I think the chase to score 50 goals in fewer than 39 games would be a story on a greater scale than if someone was at 85 goals or 205 points with a few games left and the playoffs looming, but maybe I’m in the minority on this and it’s too opaque a record

 

[tabness]

I think points but I remember Gretzky saying his hardest record to beat was 50 in 39, not his goals or points.

Plus you never know if they increase games in a season a lot, so maybe it makes sense.

In any case Bedard will break all three in the next few years

 

[bobholly39]

Most points and most goals is an actual record. 50 goals in 39 games is amazing, but it's not quite the same.

As for 215 vs 92 - I'll go 215.

Honestly - I could see 92 goals falling under the right circumstances, even in today's NHL. Matthews has come close to flirting with a goal per game twice, and injuries hurt him both years I think. For the right player, in perfect circumstances, hitting a goal per game or slightly beyond seems more reasonable than 215 points.

 

[Midnight Judges]

They're all pretty flawed since scoring has fluctuated so dramatically over the years.

Wayne Gretzky playing in 1956 or 1965 or 2015 or 2002 would have zero chance at any of these records relative to Wayne Gretzky in the 1980s.

 

[byrath]

If someone broke the 50 in 39, half of the talk would be about whether they can beat 92

 

[Toby91ca]

Most points and most goals is an actual record. 50 goals in 39 games is amazing, but it's not quite the same.

As for 215 vs 92 - I'll go 215.

Honestly - I could see 92 goals falling under the right circumstances, even in today's NHL. Matthews has come close to flirting with a goal per game twice, and injuries hurt him both years I think. For the right player, in perfect circumstances, hitting a goal per game or slightly beyond seems more reasonable than 215 points.

Sure Matthews has flirted with goalies game pace but not over an entire season and a goal per game pace is not nearly enough, you’d still be 10 goals short. You can argue 215 is more difficult but it’s probably about the same. Gretzky’s 212 season was even more impressive in my mind though as he did that in 74 games

 

[Caps8112]

think depends on scoring in the league at the time. if everyone is around 70+ goals and 200 points, meh. if one guy gets to those numbers, thats pretty impressive. maybe 50 goals is the answer because surely there will never be more than one player taking a run at it in one season or that we have seen so far

 

[bobholly39]

Sure Matthews has flirted with goalies game pace but not over an entire season and a goal per game pace is not nearly enough, you’d still be 10 goals short. You can argue 215 is more difficult but it’s probably about the same. Gretzky’s 212 season was even more impressive in my mind though as he did that in 74 games

I think you have Gretzky's seasons confused

He hit 205 points in 1984 in 74 games. Also 87 goals.
In 1982 - he hit 212 points (and 92 goals). Played all 80 games

To me those are his 2 best seasons, with 215 coming in #3 (though the 163 assists that year is the hardest of his individual season record to beat).

Matthews flirted twice with goals per game pace. Injury hurt him in 2022, and I think he had an injury too at end of 2024 (or just a cold streak?). The bar was pretty close for a goal per game...and yes you need ~10 more goals to hit 92. It's a huge number - I just think it's somewhat more attainable than 215.

If you put a Matthews or Ovechkin like goal-scorer on a same line as a peak McDavid or Crosby, I could see someone make a run at ~85-90+ goals again in a perfect storm of a season. Meanwhile - McDavid wouldn't go near 200 points no matter who his linemates were.

 

[King Woodballs]

While I don’t think any of the 3 will ever get beat.
I say 50 in 39.

There is going to be 1 50 goal scorer this season.
Imagine doing that in half a season?

 

[Crossfire Hurricane]

Single season points is one of those records that puts you into the GOAT conversation. I don't think the others do.

 

[Toby91ca]

I think you have Gretzky's seasons confused

He hit 205 points in 1984 in 74 games. Also 87 goals.
In 1982 - he hit 212 points (and 92 goals). Played all 80 games

To me those are his 2 best seasons, with 215 coming in #3 (though the 163 assists that year is the hardest of his individual season record to beat).

Matthews flirted twice with goals per game pace. Injury hurt him in 2022, and I think he had an injury too at end of 2024 (or just a cold streak?). The bar was pretty close for a goal per game...and yes you need ~10 more goals to hit 92. It's a huge number - I just think it's somewhat more attainable than 215.

If you put a Matthews or Ovechkin like goal-scorer on a same line as a peak McDavid or Crosby, I could see someone make a run at ~85-90+ goals again in a perfect storm of a season. Meanwhile - McDavid wouldn't go near 200 points no matter who his linemates were.

Yes, I didn't bother looking it up....but I got the right season, just the wrong point total....205pts in 74 games ~ 222 pace over 82games.....so not bad.

 

[Toby91ca]

Single season points is one of those records that puts you into the GOAT conversation. I don't think the others do.

To be honest, the most difficult to beat is probably 2,857.

 

[JohanFranzenstein]

50 in 39 is an insane record. Was always the most impressive of Gretzkys record to me.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

Pretty easy to say that the points record is by far Gretzkys hardest and probably record that will never be touched.

It would take an actual shift if the way the game is played for anyone to touch that number. Offense would have to revert back to the 80’s on its rules/play. Which we know isn't going to happen in the future.

It would take 143 points a season for 20 years to get to that number. It would only take 45 goals a year for 20 years to get to 895.

For comparison: Taking the past 5 full seasons of play.

Players with 45 goals: 29

Players with 143 points: 2

Its simply never going to happen. The goals one was the first one to go as it was the easiest. We have seen guys be on pace and now have beaten it.

The points record, there hasn't been a single soul on pace or even close to it.

 

[Crossfire Hurricane]

To be honest, the most difficult to beat is probably 2,857.

That was the other record I had in mind. But if a player like McDavid, Kucherov, Mackinnon, or Draisaitl absolutely went off next year and scored 220, you could at least make a peak vs prime argument against Grrtzky.

 

[blundluntman]

Most assists may be the hardest one out of all these at 163.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

That was the other record I had in mind. But if a player like McDavid, Kucherov, Mackinnon, or Draisaitl absolutely went off next year and scored 220, you could at least make a peak vs prime argument against Grrtzky.

McDavids peak was 153 points. That’s only about 70% of the way there. He would need to play 118 games at his PEAK play. And sadly it looks like McDavid is veering away from ever seeing 153 points again.

It’s simply not possible in todays NHL to ever get that high.

 

[psycat]

McDavids peak was 153 points. That’s only about 70% of the way there. He would need to play 118 games at his PEAK play. And sadly it looks like McDavid is veering away from ever seeing 153 points again.

It’s simply not possible in todays NHL to ever get that high.

But people said we won't see 150 pts or whatever in todays league either just 5, or so, ago? Honestly I don't see it as impossible that a player who's simply better than McDavid comes along, all it takes is one that is able to put up an extra assist every 4th game or so.

Now it might be unlikely but could it just be that McDavid is more of a Jagr tier talent than a Lemieux tier one? Looking at them play that's atleast my opinion(Although to be clear I have McDavid, ever so, slightly ahead of Jagr in terms of peak). Sure current scoring enviorment might prevent single season record from being broken but I could envision "a McDavid" with slightly better hockey iq putting up 180pts.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

But people said we won't see 150 pts or whatever in todays league either just 5, or so, ago? Honestly I don't see it as impossible that a player who's simply better than McDavid comes along, all it takes is one that is able to put up an extra assist every 4th game or so.

Now it might be unlikely but could it just be that McDavid is more of a Jagr tier talent than a Lemieux tier one? Looking at them play that's atleast my opinion(Although to be clear I have McDavid, ever so, slightly ahead of Jagr in terms of peak). Sure current scoring enviorment might prevent single season record from being broken but I could envision "a McDavid" with slightly better hockey iq putting up 180pts.

Even if someone came along and got 180 points, SOMEHOW, in a year.

They would then have to do it again for 15 years to get to 2,852. It’s simply impossible in todays NHL.

 

[psycat]

Even if someone came along and got 180 points, SOMEHOW, in a year.

They would then have to do it again for 15 years to get to 2,852. It’s simply impossible in todays NHL.

Just questioning the hypothesis that 153pts(or whatever) is the absolute max possible in todays NHL.

Gretzky's career record is safe unless they increase number of games, widen the nets, make 4on4 standard or players, with advancements in stuff like medicine and biotech start playing well into their mid/late 40s.

 

[authentic]

50 in 39 is an insane record. Was always the most impressive of Gretzkys record to me.

I think the points are, considering only one other player came within remote striking distance… there’s atleast several other players who have 50 game stretches that equate to 50 in 39 adjusted to 1982 scoring levels.

 

[Golden_Jet]

there’s atleast several other players who have 50 game stretches that equate to 50 in 39 adjusted to 1982 scoring levels.

Who are these players, that are era adjusted to 50 in 39 games to start a season.?
Or are you just assuming that must be true.

 

[NVious]

I think points followed by goals followed by 50 goals.

Personally I think under perfect circumstances somebody could get 50 in 39, i.e they are on absolute heater, have an insanely easy schedule, many of those teams are dealing with goaltending injuries. To me it's a stars aligning moment.

However I feel in order to sustain that for a year, it's harder and the point thing is just never happening. They're all basically impossible, but I think 50 in 39 at least has elements of chance that the other two do not and in the modern era perfect seasons are going to be way way harder than a ridiculous hot streak.