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Every NHL Player With 500 Career Goals (Updated List)

Scoring 500 goals in the National Hockey League represents one of hockey's most exclusive achievements, a milestone that separates the elite from the merely excellent. As of January 2026, only 50 players in the NHL's 108-season history have reached this rarefied air, making the 500-goal club one of professional sports' most selective fraternities. The list reads like a who's who of hockey royalty: Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, Mario Lemieux, Maurice Richard, Bobby Hull, and a pantheon of legends whose names define their respective eras. But this exclusive club continues to grow, with Patrick Kane becoming the 50th member in January 2026, joining John Tavares who crossed the threshold just months earlier in October 2025.

January 25, 2026

The All-Time Leader: Alexander Ovechkin's Historic Pursuit

Alexander Ovechkin of the Washington Capitals stands atop the NHL's all-time goal-scoring list with 916 career goals as of January 2026, having surpassed Wayne Gretzky's longstanding record of 894 goals in early 2025.

The Achievement: Ovechkin's ascent to the top represents one of hockey's most remarkable individual achievements, as he broke a record many considered untouchable. Gretzky held the NHL goals record from 1994 (when he passed Gordie Howe) until Ovechkin's historic moment 31 years later.

Era Context: The Russian sniper's combination of power, accuracy, and durability has produced a goal-scoring career unmatched in professional hockey. His nine Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy wins as the league's leading goal scorer dwarf all competitors.

Ovechkin's achievement becomes even more impressive considering the lower-scoring modern era compared to Gretzky's high-flying 1980s, when goaltending equipment was smaller, defensive systems less sophisticated, and five-on-five scoring significantly higher.

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The Top 10: Hockey's Greatest Goal Scorers

The top ten all-time goal scorers represent nearly 200 years of combined NHL service:

1. Alexander Ovechkin: 916 goals (active) Still playing at age 38, adding to his record total with every game.

2. Wayne Gretzky: 894 goals "The Great One" held the record for 31 years before Ovechkin surpassed him.

3. Gordie Howe: 801 goals "Mr. Hockey" played 26 NHL seasons spanning from 1946 to 1971.

4. Jaromir Jagr: 766 goals Played 24 seasons until age 45, demonstrating remarkable durability.

5. Brett Hull: 741 goals "The Golden Brett" possessed perhaps the fastest slap shot in hockey history.

6. Marcel Dionne: 731 goals Underrated center who never won a Stanley Cup despite elite production.

7. Phil Esposito: 717 goals Revolutionized goal-scoring from in front of the net.

8. Mike Gartner: 708 goals Model of consistency across 19 NHL seasons.

9. Mark Messier: 694 goals Won six Stanley Cups while maintaining elite goal-scoring.

10. Steve Yzerman: 692 goals Detroit Red Wings legend combined scoring with leadership.

The Recent Additions: Kane and Tavares

Patrick Kane: 50th Member (January 2026)

Patrick Kane became the 50th member of the 500-goal club on January 8, 2026, scoring into an empty net against Vancouver while playing for Detroit.

The Achievement:

500th goal in 1,332nd career game
1,370 career points (500 goals, 870 assists)
Three-time Stanley Cup champion
2016 Hart Trophy winner

Kane joins elite company as one of few American-born players to reach 500 goals, alongside Mike Modano, Joe Mullen, Jeremy Roenick, and Keith Tkachuk.

John Tavares: 49th Member (October 2025)

John Tavares reached 500 goals on October 29, 2025, scoring against Columbus in his 1,149th career game.

The Milestone:

Achieved in front of home fans in Toronto
1,154 career points as of early 2026
Second-highest scoring player in Leafs franchise history
Second Maple Leafs player to reach 500 while wearing blue and white

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The Speed Records: Who Got There Fastest

While career totals measure longevity, games-to-500 reveals pure scoring ability at peak performance:

1. Wayne Gretzky: 575 games

Reached 500 during 1986-87 season at age 26
Fastest ever, unmatched dominance

2. Mario Lemieux: 605 games

Achieved despite chronic back injuries and Hodgkin's lymphoma
Would have more if healthy

3. Mike Bossy: 647 games

Pure goal-scorer for Islanders dynasty

4. Brett Hull: 693 games

Elite shooting ability, one-timer specialist

Only these four players reached 500 in fewer than 700 games. Just 19 of the 50 members reached 500 in under 1,000 career games, emphasizing how rare elite-level goal scoring truly is.

For context, Alexander Ovechkin (the all-time leader) needed 801 games to reach 500, reflecting that his greatness lies in sustained excellence rather than explosive early peak.

The Close Calls and Near Misses

Glenn Anderson: 498 goals Retired in 1996, forever the answer to: "Who came closest to 500 without getting there?" Two-goal shortfall remains one of hockey's most painful near-misses.

Lanny McDonald: 500 with 4 games left Reached 500 goals with only four games remaining in his final season with Calgary in 1989, barely crossing threshold before retirement.

Joe Mullen: 500 with 10 games left Similar to McDonald, reached milestone with just ten games left in final season.

These near-misses underscore how difficult sustaining goal-scoring excellence truly is.

Active Players Chasing 500

Several active players are pursuing or have recently joined the 500-goal club:

Steven Stamkos: 600 goals

Joined club January 18, 2023
1,082nd game milestone
Now with Nashville after Tampa Bay career

Evgeni Malkin: 523 goals

Crossed 500 on October 16, 2024
48th member of club
Entire career alongside Sidney Crosby

Sidney Crosby: 649 goals

Could realistically challenge 700-750
At age 38, remains productive
May play into early 40s

Leon Draisaitl: 420 goals

Current pace suggests 500 by age 32-33
Playing alongside McDavid

Auston Matthews: 302+ goals

Fastest active player to 300
On track to reach 500 before age 30
Elite goal-scoring rate

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The Unique Achievements Within the Club

Pure Goal Scorers: Maurice Richard and Peter Bondra are only two players with 500+ goals but fewer than 1,000 career points. Richard finished with 544 goals and 965 points, while Bondra managed 503 goals and 892 points.

Empty Net Milestones: Four players scored their 500th goal into empty net: Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy, Jari Kurri, Keith Tkachuk, and Patrick Kane. While some view this as anticlimactic, the rarity of 500-goal careers means any path to milestone is valid.

International Achievements: Stan Mikita was first player not born in Canada to reach 500 (born in Slovak Republic), while Jari Kurri became first 500-goal scorer who never played for Canadian national team.

The Historical Context

Maurice Richard became the first 500-goal scorer in 1957-58, reaching milestone in his 863rd game. From Richard's achievement until Gordie Howe joined him, six seasons passed with only one 500-goal scorer.

Today, with 50 members and several active players approaching milestone, the 500-goal club has expanded yet remains incredibly exclusive. Consider that thousands of players have appeared in NHL games over 108 seasons, and only 50 have reached this pinnacle.

Era Comparison:

Richard scored 500 when goalies wore minimal protection
Gretzky scored during high-flying 1980s
Ovechkin achieved totals in era of massive goalie equipment and sophisticated defensive schemes

Despite these differences, one constant remains: 500 goals requires combination of elite talent, durability, consistency, and opportunity that fewer than one percent of NHL players ever achieve.

What 500 Goals Means

The 500-goal club represents offensive excellence sustained across years and often decades of professional hockey. From Maurice Richard's pioneering achievement to Patrick Kane's recent addition, each represents rare combination of skill, durability, and opportunity.

The list will continue growing—Draisaitl and Matthews will almost certainly join in coming years. But the exclusivity will remain: 500 goals is, was, and always will be threshold that separates elite from everyone else.

For fans and analysts, understanding the 500-goal club provides crucial context for evaluating offensive greatness. When a player approaches this milestone, they're chasing immortality, joining fraternity of 50 legends across 108 seasons.

That's not just rare. That's historic.

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