Top 5 highest goal scorers in NHL featuring Alex Ovechkin

One of the biggest talking points of the 2024-25 season has been Alex Ovechkin. The Washington Capitals captain has been firing on all cylinders this year and seems unstoppable at the moment as he chases a historic record.

The Russian international currently sits 2nd in the all-time goal-scoring list in the National Hockey League (NHL). He needs 8 more goals to etch a new record and go past Wayne Gretzky in this historic milestone.

As Ovechkin continues to chase down the record of Gretzky, there are some who might be wondering, who are the other top goal scores in the league? Let’s delve a bit deeper into this and find out the Top 5 Highest goal scorers in the league featuring Alex Ovechkin.

Top 5 highest goal scorers in NHL

5. Brett Hull (741) goals

Number 5 on the highest goal-scoring list in the NHL is Brett Hull. Nicknamed “The Golden Brett“, the St. Louis Blues legend is considered one of the greatest snipers in NHL history. Following his debut with the Calgary Flames in the 1986 season, Hull went on to spend two years with the team before moving to St. Louis.

After being traded to the Blues, Hull scored 41 goals in his debut season with them. After improving his skating, he was paired with center Adam Oates. The duo would go on to create havoc as they got dubbed “Hull and Oates”.

Hull went on to score 228 goals between the 1989-90 and 1991-92 seasons, with 86 coming in the 1990-91 season. This was the second-best goal-scoring record over 3 seasons in the league. After 10 seasons with the Blues, he signed with the Dallas Stars.

In his first season with them, he won the Stanley Cup. After his 3-year deal with them came to an end, Hull joined the Detroit Red Wings. On February 10, 2003, Hull scored his 700th goal and became the sixth player to reach his mark. He eventually retired with 741 goals and 650 assists.

4. Jaromir Jagr (766 goals)

There are few European skaters who have left a huge mark on the NHL. One of them is former Pittsburgh Penguins star Jaromir Jagr. The Czechia ice hockey winger ranks 4th in the all-time goal-scoring list in the NHL with 766 goals.

In 1990, Jagr became the first Czechoslovak player to be drafted by the NHL without having to defect to the West. He was selected fifth in the draft by the Penguins, and the rest as they say is history.

Jagr played an important part in the Penguins’ Stanley Cup triumphs in 1990-91 and the 1991-92 seasons. He scored 27 goals and had 30 assists in his debut season. In the next year, he scored 32 goals and picked up 37 assists.

In 806 games for the Penguins, Jagr became the 2nd player after Mario Lemieux to score 1,000 points for the team. He would eventually play for the Washington Capitals, the New York Rangers, Philadelphia Flyers, Dallas Stars, Boston Bruins, Florida Panthers, and the Calgary Flames. He even appeared for the Avangard Omsk in the Russia’s KHL league.

At the age of 53, Jagr is still actively playing. Currently, he plays in his home country for the Rytiri Kladno, a team whom he also serves as the owner.

3. Gordie Howe (801 goals)

Before the likes of Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky, there was a man named Gordie Howe, who revitalized hockey. Born in 1928 in Canada, Howe made his debut in the league playing for the Detroit Red Wings.

In a career that spans over 34 years, Howe spent 25 seasons with the Red Wings and created several records. Nicknamed “Mr. Hockey“, Howe was the leading goal scorer of the league for a while and the first player to score 800 goals.

In his legendary career that influenced several upcoming superstars, Howe won 4 Stanley Cups with the Red Wings and was named as the Hart Memorial Trophy winner, an award given to the league’s MVP, 6 times.

Apart from his goals, Howe also picked up over 1,000 assists in the league. His career points tally of 1,850 makes him the 4th highest point scorer in the league. On June 10, 2016 in Ohio, Howe passed away at the age of 88.

2. Alex Ovechkin (887 goals)

One man that has been the center of attention this season is this man, Alex Ovechkin. “The Great Eight” has turned back the clock and has become a lethal member of the Capitals 2024-25 roster.

Ovechkin entered the NHL through a draft in 2004. However, due to the lockout that year, he had to wait for another year to make his league debut.

The Capitals captain has several records alongside his name. He could soon have the biggest one in NHL as at the moment, he is just 8 goals away from making history.

Ovechkin started the 2024-25 season with 853 goals. At that moment, it seemed the record was out of reach due to his age. He though has surprised many this season.

Since the start of the season, Ovechkin has scored 34 goals and is the leading goal scorer of the team this year. All of this also comes in a season where he got injured and missed a few weeks. Despite that, there seems to be no stopping him. With 14 games remaining in the regular season, Ovie might just break that record before the Stanley Cup playoffs.

1. Wayne Gretzky (894 goals)

Does he even need an introduction? “The Great One” Wayne Gretzky sits at the top of the goal-scoring list. Regarded as the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT), Gretzky held or shared 61 records when he retired in 1999. 26 years later he still holds 57 of them.

The one that he may not hold for much longer now is the goal-scoring record. Gretzky overtook Howe as the all-time scorer with his 802nd goal in 1994.

After making his debut with the Edmonton Oilers in 1979, Gretzky quickly started to establish himself as one of the greats of the game. From 1980 to 1987, he won 8 straight Hart Memorial Trophy. His ninth MVP award came in 1989.

During his time with the Oilers, Gretzky lifted 4 Stanley Cups and also won the Art Ross Trophy 10 times. Even if his goals were removed, Gretzky would still top the charts for the most points in the NHL with a staggering 1,963 assists. After retirement from the league, his No.99 was retired by every team in the league.