The 2026-27 NHL season is shaping up to be a magical one for so many players across the league. Whether players are chasing 500 goals, 1,000 points, or even 400 wins, there will be memorable moments every week. Today, we look at the NHL's active career goal-scoring leaders, featuring a veteran on the Florida Panthers. Here's a look at the NHL's active goal-scoring leaders.
Top 10 Active Goal Scorers in the NHL
Auston Matthews (428)
The Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews is one of the few players still active in the league to have a 60-goal season on his resume. Surprisingly, the Maple Leafs remain the only Original Six franchise without a 1,000-point player, and if he stays, could become the first by the end of the decade.
Leon Draisaitl (434)
As part of the one-two punch of the Edmonton Oilers attack, German-born Leon Draisaitl will beat his teammate Connor McDavid (409) to the 500-goal club. Ultimately, the only thing missing from his Hall of Fame resume is a Stanley Cup, something that has eluded the Oilers for almost 40 years.
Brad Marchand (451)
Before Brad Marchand came to the Panthers in 2024, he climbed the Boston Bruins all-time scoring charts and is one of the best statistical players in that franchise’s history. These days, he’s trying to collect more Stanley Cup rings in Florida before punching his ticket to the Hall of Fame. Considering Marchand is locked in for another five seasons, he’ll be a lock to score 500 goals.
Corey Perry (465)
The ageless Corey Perry is going to lace’em up for the 2026-27 season, returning to the Los Angeles Kings. The Hart Trophy winner has one 50-goal season on his resume and is casually approaching 500 goals thanks to his longevity. However, at 41, he’s a long way away from collecting the necessary 35 goals to reach the milestone.
Patrick Kane (508)
Last year, Patrick Kane became the latest American-born skater to join the 500-goal club. Although he’ll never catch Brett Hull’s record of 741 goals, Kane has already established himself as the country’s all-time leading scorer with over 1,400 points. Without a doubt, he’ll be a first-ballot Hall of Famer upon retiring.
John Tavares (525)
As of 2026, John Tavares is the only player on the list without an award or the Stanley Cup on his resume. Instead of relying on multiple 50-goal seasons, he has reached the 30-goal mark year after year, a testament to his consistency. After scoring 69 goals over the past two seasons, Tavares has an outside shot at the 600-goal club with three years remaining on his contract.
Evgeni Malkin (533)
Evgeni Malkin is one of the greatest Russian players and undoubtedly one of the best to ever skate with the Pittsburgh Penguins. At 40, he’s doing single-year deals and is now a long shot to reach 600 career goals. Whether or not this 2026-27 is his last season, Malkin has left his mark in the record book and will enjoy all the accolades that come in retirement.
Steven Stamkos (624)
Panthers fans are no strangers to the goal-scoring skills of Steven Stamkos, who skated with the Tampa Bay Lightning for 16 seasons. For the past two years, he’s been in Nashville, where he scored 42 goals last year to join the 600-goal club. At just 35, if Stamkos can stick around and produce for three or more seasons, 700 goals isn’t out of the question.
Sidney Crosby (654)
At this point, there isn’t anything that Sidney Crosby hasn’t achieved in his professional hockey career. Moreover, he took down one of the game’s most unreachable records: Mario Lemieux’s team scoring record of 1,723 points. Entering the 2026-27 season, Crosby is only 36 goals from tying Le Magnifique’s goal record of 690.
Alex Ovechkin (929)
Most hockey fans remember where they were when Wayne Gretzky broke Gordie Howe’s record of 801 goals in 1993. Over 30 years later, today’s hockey fans will always remember the night Alex Ovechkin became the game’s all-time leading goal scorer in 2025. Right now, he remains the only player in NHL history to score 900 goals, and at 40, he is a long shot to reach 1,000 regular-season goals. However, when we add up his playoff goals, the Great 8 has tallied 1,006 NHL goals.
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