Most Goals in NHL History

Alex Ovechkin holds the NHL record for the most career goals, having passed Wayne Gretzky’s long-standing mark of 894 in April 2025 and finished the 2024-25 season with 897. As an active player, he is still adding to a total that reshaped one of hockey’s most iconic records.

For 25 years, Gretzky’s 894 goals stood as a number many believed would never be reached. Then Ovechkin, over two decades with the Washington Capitals, closed the gap goal by goal until he finally surpassed it. Here is the full leaderboard of the NHL’s all-time goal scorers, the story of the record changing hands, and why the new mark may stand for generations. All figures are through the 2024-25 season.

The record holder: Alex Ovechkin and 897 goals

Ovechkin’s chase was one of the longest-running storylines in modern hockey. A relentless goal scorer from his 2005 debut, he stacked 40- and 50-goal seasons deep into his career, defying the age curve that ends most scorers’ runs. He scored his record-breaking 895th goal in April 2025 to pass Gretzky, then pushed the mark to 897 by the end of the season.

Because he was still playing, the record is a moving target: every goal he adds raises the bar. His final total, whenever he retires, will become the number the next generation must chase.

The full leaderboard of career goal scorers

The table below ranks the NHL’s all-time career goal leaders. Active players are noted.

Rank	Goals	Player	Career
1	897*	Alex Ovechkin	2005-present
2	894	Wayne Gretzky	1979-1999
3	801	Gordie Howe	1946-1980
4	766	Jaromir Jagr	1990-2018
5	741	Brett Hull	1986-2006
6	731	Marcel Dionne	1971-1989
7	717	Phil Esposito	1963-1981
8	708	Mike Gartner	1979-1998
9	694	Mark Messier	1979-2004
10	692	Steve Yzerman	1983-2006

*Active player; total is through the 2024-25 season and still rising.

The list is a who’s who of hockey history, from Gordie Howe’s four-decade career to the sharpshooting of Brett Hull. Ovechkin and Gretzky sit alone above 800, separated by just three goals but by very different eras and styles.

Wayne Gretzky: the record that finally fell

Gretzky’s 894 goals were part of a scoring peak the sport had never seen, and for a quarter-century the goals record seemed as untouchable as his other marks. Its fall in 2025 was historic, but it did not diminish “The Great One.” Gretzky still holds the career points record of 2,857, built on a staggering 1,963 assists, a total so vast it is expected to stand forever. For the full picture of his all-around dominance, see our leaderboard of the most points in NHL history.

Gordie Howe, Jagr and the 700 club

Behind the top two, Gordie Howe’s 801 goals stand as a monument to longevity, compiled across five decades of professional hockey. Jaromir Jagr (766) and Brett Hull (741) headline the group beyond 700, a club that separates the true elite scorers from the merely great. Each name on the list represents a career of sustained finishing at the highest level.

Why the record matters

Goals are hockey’s most exciting and most coveted statistic, so the all-time list is one of the sport’s crown jewels. Watching Ovechkin overtake a record long considered unbreakable was a generational moment, and his continued scoring only strengthens his hold on top spot. The greatest scorers also define the single-season record books, which you can explore in our leaderboard of the most NHL goals in a season.

The short version: Alex Ovechkin holds the NHL career goals record with 897 through the 2024-25 season, having passed Wayne Gretzky’s 894 in April 2025. Gretzky now ranks second, ahead of Gordie Howe (801) and Jaromir Jagr (766). As an active player, Ovechkin is still climbing.