At one time, it seemed impossible. Later, it felt unlikely. Slowly but surely, though, Alex Ovechkin made it happen — he has officially passed Wayne Gretzky to become the NHL’s all-time leading goal scorer. Even though many saw it coming in recent years, it still feels surreal to see Ovechkin sitting at the top of the NHL’s goal-scoring mountain.
When Gretzky retired in 1999 during a defense-first era, many believed his goal record would stay untouched forever. But Ovechkin’s incredible scoring ability turned whispers of a challenge into a reality. Now, the ‘Great Eight’ has cemented his legacy as the greatest goal-scorer the sport has ever seen.
With Ovechkin proving that even the toughest records can fall, it makes us wonder: Which other NHL records might be broken next? And which ones will stand forever?
Records That Could Soon Be Broken
The NHL Ironman Streak
Doug Jarvis once held the record for most consecutive games played, lasting nearly 35 years before Keith Yandle broke it in 2022. Yandle’s reign was short, though, as Phil Kessel soon passed him, setting the record at 1,064 games.
Today, players seem more durable than ever. Brent Burns, for example, has already crossed 925 straight games and could challenge the record if he stays healthy. With more players focusing on fitness and recovery, it’s possible we’ll see the Ironman record fall again soon.
Power-Play Goal Records
The NHL’s power plays are stronger than ever, operating above 20.5 percent efficiency for the last four seasons. Tim Kerr’s record of 34 power-play goals in one season, set in 1985-86, could be under threat.
Leon Draisaitl scored 32 power-play goals recently, and Sam Reinhart wasn’t far behind with 27. With special teams becoming more dominant, this long-standing record could be the next one to fall.
Points by a Defenseman
Bobby Orr’s single-season record of 139 points by a defenseman has stood for more than 50 years. But today’s offensive defensemen like Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are pushing the limits.
Makar has already crossed 90 points in back-to-back seasons, and Hughes was on a 95-point pace before injuries slowed him down. With young stars emerging and offense booming, Orr’s mark may finally be within reach.
Goaltending Records
Goaltending records could also be challenged. Alec Connell’s six straight shutouts from 1927-28 still stands, but modern goalies like Andrei Vasilevskiy have come close to strings of three shutouts.
Similarly, Gump Worsley’s 2,376-save season could be beaten. Goalies like Frederik Andersen have come close, and with the way today’s netminders face high shot volumes, it’s possible someone could set a new record.
Even the single-season win record, tied by Braden Holtby at 48 wins, could be broken. Connor Hellebuyck’s recent 47-win season shows that with a strong team behind them, goalies today can push these limits.
Records That Are Almost Impossible to Break
Gretzky’s Assist and Points Totals
While Ovechkin broke Gretzky’s goal-scoring record, many of Gretzky’s other achievements still seem completely out of reach.
His assist record – 1,963 assists – is over 700 more than any other player. His 2,857 career points would require a player to average 150 points per season for 19 straight years. Only Connor McDavid has even touched 150 points once since 2000. It’s safe to say these records won’t be broken anytime soon, if ever.
Glenn Hall’s Goaltending Streak
Glenn Hall’s record for consecutive complete games played as a goalie is possibly the most untouchable record in all of sports. From 1955 to 1962, he played 502 straight games without missing a minute.
Today, goalies get more rest to avoid injuries and stay sharp. The physical and mental demands of goaltending make it impossible to imagine anyone challenging Hall’s incredible streak.
Alex Ovechkin’s rise to the top of the NHL’s all-time goal-scoring list shows that even the most legendary records can fall. With today’s faster, fitter players and a high-scoring league, more historic marks could soon be rewritten.
But some achievements, like Gretzky’s career points total and Glenn Hall’s goaltending streak, seem destined to remain untouched. As the NHL continues to evolve, only time will tell which records are truly breakable — and which will stand forever as the greatest feats in hockey history.
