It\u2019s true. Scoring is down \u2013 somewhat.<\/p>\n
The NHL has seen scoring dip over the past three seasons<\/a>, with the past year seeing an average of 3.01 goals per game per team. That\u2019s down from 2.14 in 2022-23, but still up from the pre-COVID numbers. From 2005-06 until 2020-21 \u2013 a 15-year run \u2013 the NHL didn\u2019t have a single season reach 3.00 goals per game.<\/p>\n A total of 99 different NHLers have scored 50 goals at least once in a season, with a combined 210 times between them. In 2023-24, we saw four players \u2013 Auston Matthews (69 goals), Sam Reinhart (57), Zach Hyman (54) and Nathan MacKinnon (51) \u2013 crack 50. This past year, though, only Leon Draisaitl (52) managed to crack the half-century mark. Alex Ovechkin<\/a> would have broken his all-time goal-scoring record a little earlier had he not suffered an injury, and likely would have taken home the Rocket Richard. Does he still have another 50-goal season up his sleeve? Father Time would say no, but Ovi is no ordinary player. <\/p>\n So, which NHL stars could become 50-goal scorers for the first time? It\u2019s a tough group to crack, but if you can get there, you can add your name to the NHL\u2019s history books:<\/p>\n Previous best: 47 in 2022-23<\/p>\n We\u2019ve seen players go to the IIHF World Championship, thrive, and turn that into NHL success countless times. Could Thompson be next? He helped lead USA to gold back in May, finishing with six goals and nine points in 10 games, with his final goal being the gold-medal clincher. The 6-foot-6 giant had a breakout 47-goal, 94-point campaign in 2022-23, and while he hasn\u2019t been able to come close to that since, he did score 44 goals last season. With a potential Olympic spot on the line<\/a>, Thompson looks motivated to take his game up a step. The Sabres hold the longest playoff drought in the NHL, and Thompson wants to change that. Launching himself into triple-digit points will be a good way to ensure that happens. Buffalo needs Thompson to be at his absolute best this year if they\u2019re going to make the postseason. For Thompson to score 50, he\u2019ll need further big years out of Zach Benson and Josh Norris on the top line. Is 50 doable? Absolutely. Let\u2019s see if that World Championship magic wears off.<\/p>\n All eyes will be on Kaprizov this season. He has at least 40 goals in three of his five NHL seasons and has played at a 50-goal pace in each of the past two seasons. Injuries limited him to just 41 games last year, but he was a legit Hart Trophy threat when he was in Minnesota\u2019s lineup. Add in the fact he\u2019s in a contract year (after reportedly declining the biggest contract offer in NHL history) and there\u2019s so much pointing him in the direction of a season to remember. Kaprizov is in his prime at 28 years old, and he\u2019s Minnesota\u2019s primary scoring threat by a mile. Don\u2019t bet against him putting up 50 as long as he stays healthy.<\/p>\n Jake Guentzel, LW (Tampa Bay Lightning)<\/p>\n Previous best: 41 in 2024-25<\/p>\n Guentzel is coming off his best goal-scoring effort to date, scoring 41 goals in 80 games to edge out his previous best of 40 set twice before. Guentzel has been surrounded by quality players his entire career \u2013 he essentially started with Sidney Crosby by his side. Playing alongside Nikita Kucherov and Brayden Point will never be bad for the goal count, either. Guentzel hasn\u2019t been able to reach anything higher than 41. But given how valuable he was to Tampa Bay this past season, and will continue to be this year, don\u2019t be surprised if he finally gets to 50. Guentzel is a serious contender for the USA\u2019s Olympic team \u2013 so that dangling carrot can\u2019t be bad for his early-season motivation. All three of Tampa\u2019s top line players are proven goal-scorers, but Guentzel has a realistic chance of breaking through this year.<\/p>\n Previous best: 47 in 2024-25<\/p>\n