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Active NHL Players Closest to 1,000 Points

Where 500 goals is about finishing, 1,000 career points rewards complete offensive contribution and longevity in scoring roles. Spread over a long career, 1,000 points usually implies years of point-per-game or near-that production, often combined with playmaking duties and heavy power-play usage.

January 25, 2026

Already In: The 1,000-Point Club Members

Among active players, Sidney Crosby leads in career points by a wide margin, already far beyond 1,000 and serving as a benchmark for everyone else.

Sidney Crosby: 1,736 points

649 goals, 1,087 assists
Most career points among active players
1.24 points per game
Three Stanley Cups
Eighth all-time in career points

Alex Ovechkin: 1,661 points

916 goals, 745 assists
All-time goals leader
1.08 points per game
Goal-scorer who also racks up assists

Evgeni Malkin: 1,377 points

523 goals, 854 assists
1.11 points per game
Entire career alongside Crosby
Elite two-way center

Patrick Kane: 1,370 points

500 goals, 870 assists
1.03 points per game
Complete offensive skill set
Three Stanley Cups

Anze Kopitar: 1,299 points

446 goals, 853 assists
Los Angeles Kings lifer
Underrated consistency
Two Stanley Cups

Steven Stamkos: 1,218 points

600 goals, 618 assists
Most balanced goal/assist ratio
1.01 points per game
Two Stanley Cups

John Tavares: 1,154 points

510 goals, 644 assists
Split between Islanders and Toronto
Consistent 70-80 point producer
Captain material

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Connor McDavid: 1,159 points

390 goals, 769 assists
Fastest ever to 1,000 points (756 games)
1.53 points per game
Art Ross and Hart Trophy dominance

Nathan MacKinnon: 1,093 points

403 goals, 690 assists
1.20 points per game
Colorado Avalanche superstar
Stanley Cup champion (2022)

Nikita Kucherov: 1,059 points

379 goals, 680 assists
1.26 points per game
Tampa Bay Lightning's offensive engine
Two Stanley Cups

Leon Draisaitl: 1,017 points

420 goals, 597 assists
1.22 points per game
Recently crossed 1,000
Hart Trophy winner (2020)

Claude Giroux: 1,148 points

375 goals, 773 assists
Elite playmaker throughout career
Multiple teams in late career
Assist-heavy production

Brad Marchand: 1,026 points

447 goals, 579 assists
Two-way excellence
Physical edge plus skill
Stanley Cup champion (2011)

The Next Wave: 800-999 Points

Players within striking distance of 1,000:

Artemi Panarin: 750+ points (age 33)

Elite playmaker with Rangers
Consistent 90-100 point seasons
Needs 250+ more points
Possible with 3-4 elite seasons

David Pastrnak: 700+ points (age 28)

Boston Bruins winger
Multiple 100+ point seasons
Needs 300+ more points
Strong candidate if healthy

Aleksander Barkov: 700+ points (age 29)

Florida Panthers captain
Complete two-way center
Stanley Cup champion (2024)
Consistent 80-90 point producer

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Elite Pace: McDavid and Modern Stars

Connor McDavid's 1.53 points-per-game pace is second only to Mario Lemieux (1.88) in modern history:

McDavid's Projection:

1,159 points at age 28
On pace for 1,800+ points by mid-30s
Could challenge Gretzky's record (2,857) with long career
Health and contract length determine ceiling

Other High-Pace Players:

Leon Draisaitl: 1.22 PPG

1,017 points in 834 games
Could reach 1,300-1,400 by retirement
Playing alongside McDavid boosts totals

Nathan MacKinnon: 1.20 PPG

1,093 points in 914 games
Projects to 1,400-1,500 career points
Peak years still ahead

Nikita Kucherov: 1.26 PPG

1,059 points in 842 games
Injuries have limited games played
Elite when healthy

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How They Generate Offense

Understanding different offensive styles:

Rush Attacks:

Connor McDavid: Speed and transition dominance
Nathan MacKinnon: Elite skating creating chances
Carries puck through neutral zone

Half-Wall Playmaking:

Nikita Kucherov: Power-play quarterback
Patrick Kane: Creativity from perimeter
Elite vision and passing

Net-Front Cycles:

Sidney Crosby: Board play and possession
Leon Draisaitl: Physical presence creating space
Win battles for puck control

Blue-Line Distribution:

Claude Giroux: Pass-first mentality
Sets up shooters from distance
High assist totals

Age Curves and Injury Risk

Which players may see production drop before hitting 1,000?

High Risk (Age 33+):

Artemi Panarin (750+ points, age 33)
Brad Marchand (1,026 points, age 36)
Anze Kopitar (1,299 points, age 37)

Players in mid-30s face declining production and increased injury risk, making 1,000-point pursuits uncertain.

Medium Risk (Age 28-32):

Aleksander Barkov (700+ points, age 29)
David Pastrnak (700+ points, age 28)
Leon Draisaitl (1,017 points, age 29)

Peak years with strong likelihood of reaching 1,000 if avoiding major injuries.

Low Risk (Under 28):

Connor McDavid (1,159 points, age 28)
Already past 1,000, projecting much higher

Era Context: Modern vs. Historical

Comparing modern stars' pace to historical greats:

Wayne Gretzky: 1.92 PPG (2,857 points)

Unmatched production in high-scoring era
1980s offensive explosion

Mario Lemieux: 1.88 PPG (1,723 points)

Highest PPG in modern history
Career cut short by injuries and illness

Connor McDavid: 1.53 PPG

Elite in lower-scoring modern era
Best active pace by significant margin

Comparing Environments:

1980s: League average 7-8 goals per game
Modern NHL: League average 6-6.5 goals per game
Better goaltending and defensive systems today

McDavid's 1.53 PPG in modern era arguably more impressive than similar rates in 1980s.

Players Who Might Stall Short

Several talented players may finish in 800-900 range:

Artemi Panarin (750+): Age 33, needs sustained excellence. Possible but not guaranteed.

Jonathan Huberdeau (700+): Calgary struggles have hurt production. Would need bounce-back.

Mark Scheifele (700+): Consistent but rarely elite. May finish short of 1,000.

Matthew Tkachuk (600+): Age 27, strong candidate if maintains pace. Needs 400+ more points.

Legacy and Hall of Fame Impact

Hitting 1,000 points is one of the strongest markers of offensive excellence:

Guaranteed HOF: Players with 1,000+ points almost always inducted. Crosby, Ovechkin, Malkin, Kane, McDavid all eventual locks.

Advanced Metrics Matter: Modern front offices also evaluate primary points, power-play impact, and WAR-type estimates to refine how "deserved" point totals are.

1,000 Points vs. Underlying Numbers: Some players with strong underlying metrics but fewer counting stats face harder HOF cases than 1,000-point players with weaker analytics.

Betting and Award Markets

Players on 1,000-point trajectories drive betting interest:

Hart Trophy Candidates: McDavid, MacKinnon, Kucherov consistently in Hart conversation. Elite point production correlates with MVP candidacy.

Art Ross Futures: Scoring champion typically finishes with 110-130 points. Players chasing 1,000 often compete for Art Ross.

Points Prop Bets: Season-long point totals for elite scorers provide betting opportunities. Understanding pace and injury history crucial.

Timeline Projections

Connor McDavid (1,159 points, age 28): Projects to 1,800-2,000 points if plays to age 38-40. Health and contract length determine final total.

Leon Draisaitl (1,017 points, age 29): Needs 300+ more points for 1,300. Achievable with 4-5 elite seasons at 70-80 points per year.

Nathan MacKinnon (1,093 points, age 29): Could reach 1,400-1,500 by mid-30s. Consistent 90-100 point production.

Nikita Kucherov (1,059 points, age 31): Injuries limit games played. If healthy, could reach 1,300-1,400.

David Pastrnak (700+ points, age 28): Needs 300+ more points. Requires sustained 80-90 point seasons through early 30s.

Aleksander Barkov (700+ points, age 29): Consistent 80-90 point producer. Could reach 1,000 by age 33-34.

Modern Front Office Evaluation

How teams value 1,000-point players:

Contract Negotiations: Players approaching 1,000 often receive long-term deals or extensions. Milestone proximity affects perceived value.

Trade Considerations: Teams rarely trade players close to 1,000 points. Organizational loyalty and fan attachment matter.

Analytics Balance: Modern GMs balance counting stats (1,000 points) with underlying metrics (expected goals, shot quality, defensive impact).

Salary Cap Era: Elite scorers command maximum contracts. 1,000-point players justify $10M+ annual salaries.

What 1,000 Points Means Today

One thousand career points represents sustained offensive excellence:

Current Significance:

Usually requires 10+ seasons of 80-100 point production
Or peak years with 100+ points plus longevity
Health and team context crucial
Nearly guarantees Hall of Fame induction

The milestone remains one of hockey's most respected benchmarks, separating complete offensive players from specialists.

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