In the NHL, you get one point for scoring, one for getting the direct assist, and one for being the player that assists that primary assist-maker. As such, in this category, Wayne Gretzky found it even easier to put up absurd numbers.
On two occasions, both in the 1983/84 season, Gretzky even managed to score eight points in a single game and enjoyed seven-point outings on seven occasions. That said, Darryl Sittler holds the record with ten in one game.
As such, here’s a delve into what will most probably be another unbeatable record pinned to the legend of The Great One.
Who Scored the Most Points in a Single Season?
Wayne Gretzky has scored the most points in a single regular season, tallying 215 points in 1985/86.
This tally toppled his previous record-setting effort of 1981/82, in which he scored 92 goals and 212 points.
Making for many grateful linemates, of Gretzky’s 215 points, only 52 of them were goals. So, he had a hand in 163 of the other 374, or rather, he teed up 43.6 of the goals that he didn’t score himself.
Even though the 1985/86 record is atop the record table, his second-place entry from 1981/82 is also a keepsake. While being one of his four 200-point regular seasons, it was the first to break that double-century barrier.
Gretzky remains the only NHL player to score 200 points in one regular season. Mario Lemieux came incredibly close in 1988/89, though, hitting 85 goals and 199 points in his 76 games.
Who Scored the Most Total Points in an NHL Season?
Once again, Edmonton Oilers legend Wayne Gretzky takes the crown for the most total points in an NHL season, including the playoffs, tallying 255 points in 1984/85 – the same year Lemieux was drafted first overall.
Lemieux would prove to be Gretzky’s only close rival in this record, and without the Pittsburgh Penguins forward, The Great One would hold all of the top ten places, ranging from 255 points to 178 points.
Still, one active player has come fairly close to breaking this duopoly, with that player being Connor McDavid. In 2022/23, McDavid scored 173 points in 94 games.
Hindered by an early injury and with the Oilers out at +1400 in the NHL odds to win the Stanley Cup following an 8-12-1 start, he doesn’t look set to mount another challenge this season.
Which Active Player has the Most Points in One Season?
Connor McDavid is the active player with the most points in a single NHL regular season. In 2022/23, he put up a mighty tally of 153 points in 82 games.
His scoring was at a rate of 1.87 points per game, which is well short of Gretzky’s record-setting 2.69 pace but ahead of the next closest since the turn of the millennium (Leon Draisaitl, 22/23, 128 points in 80 games, 1.6 ppg).
Just behind McDavid’s teammate is Nikita Kucherov, who scored 128 points in the 82 games of 2018/19. At the time of writing, he led the points chart in the 2023/24 season with 37 points in 22 games, having missed one game.
This hefty haul put the Russian winger on pace to collect 132 points by the end of the season, and he’ll need it to enhance Tampa Bay’s +900 odds in the best sport betting Canada has to offer just to win the Eastern Conference.
Top 10 Most Total Points in an NHL Season
McDavid might be getting set to join Gretzky in the 2,000-point club, but for now, the top ten for the most total points scored in an NHL regular season and postseason is exclusively for just two players.
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Wayne Gretzky, 255 points
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Wayne Gretzky, 240 points
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Wayne Gretzky, 234 points
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Wayne Gretzky, 234 points
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Wayne Gretzky, 224 points
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Mario Lemieux, 218 points
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Wayne Gretzky, 217 points
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Wayne Gretzky, 192 points
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Wayne Gretzky, 190 points
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Mario Lemieux, 188 points
Wayne Gretzky is the king of yet another NHL record whichever way you look at the stat lines, but at least someone since The Great One has been able to beat a few of his lesser single-season totals.
*Credit for all images in this article belongs to Alamy*
