I. OLDEST PLAYERS TO
SCORE 50 GOALS:
Alex Ovechkin 2021-22 Age 36, he scored 50 goals
Johnny Bucyk, 1970-1971, Age 35, he scored 51 goals
Jaromir Jagr, 2005-2006, Age 34, he scored 54 goals
II. YOUNGEST PLAYERS TO SCORE
50 GOALS
Wayne Gretzky, 1979-80, Age 19 (1/26/61), he netted 51 goals while
Jimmy Carson, 1987-88. Age 19 (7/20/68) scored 55 goals.
Gretzky wins by a few months even though both were only 19 years of age.
III. OLDEST BY POSITION
C Phil Esposito
RW Jaromir Jagr
LW Johnny Bucyk (35) & Alex Ovechkin (36)
IV. YOUNGEST BY POSITION
C Wayne Gretzky
RW Mike Bossy
LW Alexander Ovetchkin
V. MOST SEASONS SCORING 50 GOALS
Mike Bossy and Wayne Gretzky each hit the mark 9 times in their career.
Technically speaking, Bobby Hull did it 9 times as well, only he did it 5
times in the NHL and 4 more times in the WHA.
VI. BY DECADE
1940’s—1
1950’s—0
1960’s—5
1970’s—42
1980’s—74
1990’s—48
2000’s—20
2010’s---8
2020's
VII. DIFFERENTIAL
The biggest differential from the highest goal scorer for the season to
next highest scorer was in 1981-82. That year saw Wayne Gretzky scored
92 goals while the next highest scorer that year was Mike Bossy who scored a
paltry 64 goals for a 28 goal differential.
VII. FIFTY GOALS SCORER AND THE STANLEY
CUP
Having a 50 goal scorer lately does not equate to the Stanley Cup. At
least not without having Gretzky or Lemieux on your team. The first
team to win the Stanley Cup and have a 50 goal scorer on their team was the
Boston Bruins in 1972.
Then, a run of dynasties came along. During a 19 year run from 1976
to 1994, the Stanley Cup winner had a 50 goal scorer on the roster except
for the 1986, 1990, 1991 and 1993 seasons. The Montreal Canadiens won
the Stanley Cup from 1976 to 1979 with Guy Lafleur as their main 50 goal man
in each year.. A little help came in the form of Steve Schutt who had
60 one Cup winning year. The New York Islanders won 4 in a row from 80
to 84 with Bossy and Trottier.
The Edmonton Oilers won the Cup in 84, 85, 87, 88 and 90 led by Gretzky
(except in 1990 which explains the lack of having a 50 goal scorer on their
team) but mixed in with Kurri, Simpson, Messier and Glenn Anderson, a 50
goal scorer was a fixture on each team that won the Cup.
Since the Rangers won the Cup in 1994 (with 50 goal scorer Adam Graves),
only two teams have had a 50 goal scorer in the winning locker room.
The Cup Champion Avalanche in 1994 and again in 2001 with Joe Sakic as the
only exception.
As of 2023, this is still true that no 50 goal scorer has been on the CUP winning team.
VIII. MAURICE ROCKET RICHARD TROPHY AND THE STANLEY CUP
The NHL has seen the leading goal scorer for a season (post 1942 and a 50 game schedule) win the Stanley Cup 6 times throughout NHL history. The last time these two events have occurred in the same season was in 1987 when Wayne Gretzky led the Oilers to the promised land.
IX. PLAYERS WITH CONSECUTIVE SEASONS OF 50 GOALS
Dennis Maruk 2, 80-82
Jeremy Roenick 2, 91-93
Joe Nieuwendyk 2, 87-89
Marcel Dionne 5, 78-83
Mario Lemieux 87-89, 95-97
Pavel Bure 92-94, 99-01
Phil Esposito 70-75
Steve Yzerman 87-91
Wayne Gretzky 79-87
Bobby Hull 65-67
Brendan Shanahan 92-94
Charlie Simmer 79-81
Dany Heatley 05-07
Dave Andreychuk 92-94
John Leclair 95-98
Keith Tkachuk 95-97
Keith Stevens 91-93
Michael Goulet 82-86
Rick Martin 73-75
Brett Hull 89-94
Cam Neely 89-91
Guy Lafleur 74-80
Jari Kurri 83-87
Mike Bossy 77-86
Teemu Selanne 96-98
Tim Kerr 83-87Alexander Ovechkin 13-15
FIFTY GOALS and the Stanley Cup
Having a 50 goal scorer lately does not equate to the Stanley Cup. At
least not without having Gretzky or Lemieux on your team. The first
team to win the Stanley Cup and have a 50 goal scorer on their team was the
Boston Bruins in 1972.
Then, a run of dynasties came along. During a 19 year run from 1976 to 1994, the Stanley Cup winner had a 50 goal scorer on the roster except for the 1986, 1990, 1991 and 1993 seasons. The Montreal Canadiens won the Stanley Cup from 1976 to 1979 with Guy Lafleur as their main 50 goal man in each year.. A little help came in the form of Steve Schutt who had 60 one Cup winning year. The New York Islanders won 4 in a row from 80 to 84 with Bossy and Trottier.
The Edmonton Oilers won the Cup in 84, 85, 87, 88 and 90 led by Gretzky
(except in 1990 which explains the lack of having a 50 goal scorer on their
team) but mixed in with Kurri, Simpson, Messier and Glenn Anderson, a 50
goal scorer was a fixture on each team that won the Cup.
Since the Rangers won the Cup in 1994 (with 50 goal scorer Adam Graves), only two teams have had a 50 goal scorer in the winning locker room. The Cup Champion Avalanche in 1994 and again in 2001 with Joe Sakic is the only exception.
