Which NHLers could become first-time 50-goal scorers in 2025-26?

Sep 22, 2025, 13:00 EDTUpdated: Sep 22, 2025, 13:48 EDT

Which NHLers could become first-time 50-goal scorers in 2025-26?

Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

It’s true. Scoring is down – somewhat.

The NHL has seen scoring dip over the past three seasons, with the past year seeing an average of 3.01 goals per game per team. That’s down from 2.14 in 2022-23, but still up from the pre-COVID numbers. From 2005-06 until 2020-21 – a 15-year run – the NHL didn’t have a single season reach 3.00 goals per game.

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 – Auston Matthews (69 goals), Sam Reinhart (57), Zach Hyman (54) and Nathan MacKinnon (51) – crack 50. This past year, though, only Leon Draisaitl (52) managed to crack the half-century mark. Alex Ovechkin 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.

So, which NHL stars could become 50-goal scorers for the first time? It’s a tough group to crack, but if you can get there, you can add your name to the NHL’s history books:

Tage Thompson, RW (Buffalo Sabres)

Previous best: 47 in 2022-23

We’ve 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’t been able to come close to that since, he did score 44 goals last season. With a potential Olympic spot on the line, 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’re going to make the postseason. For Thompson to score 50, he’ll need further big years out of Zach Benson and Josh Norris on the top line. Is 50 doable? Absolutely. Let’s see if that World Championship magic wears off.

Kirill Kaprizov, LW (Minnesota Wild)

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’s lineup. Add in the fact he’s in a contract year (after reportedly declining the biggest contract offer in NHL history) and there’s so much pointing him in the direction of a season to remember. Kaprizov is in his prime at 28 years old, and he’s Minnesota’s primary scoring threat by a mile. Don’t bet against him putting up 50 as long as he stays healthy.

Jake Guentzel, LW (Tampa Bay Lightning)

Previous best: 41 in 2024-25

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 – 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’t 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’t be surprised if he finally gets to 50. Guentzel is a serious contender for the USA’s Olympic team – so that dangling carrot can’t be bad for his early-season motivation. All three of Tampa’s top line players are proven goal-scorers, but Guentzel has a realistic chance of breaking through this year.

William Nylander, RW (Toronto Maple Leafs)

Previous best: 47 in 2024-25

With Auston Matthews not operating at 100 percent health last year, Nylander helped carry the load. He set a personal best of 45 goals, allowing him to reach 40 goals for the third straight year. His consistency has been crucial for the Maple Leafs over the past few years, especially since he has missed just one game over the past four campaigns. Nylander can disappear at points, but he has been Toronto’s most consistent forward for a while now. Nylander will remain on the top power-play unit this year, a group that, even without Mitch Marner, should be lethal if everything clicks. A 50-goal season alongside John Tavares is definitely in reach if Nylander can find another gear late in the campaign.

Kyle Connor, LW (Winnipeg Jets)

Previous best: 47 in 2021-22

Connor has been a recurring character on these lists since just missing out on 50 in 2021-22. Since then, he has managed to break 40 goals just once, but it came in the midst of an incredible 41-goal, 97-point campaign a year ago. The Jets will need to make up for some of the missing offense that Nik Ehlers left behind, and Connor is more than capable of making it happen. He plays hard, boasts a ton of confidence and, like a few others on this list, is hoping to make USA’s Olympic team. You never need motivation to score 50 goals, but Connor has everything ahead of him as he hopes to keep the Jets near the top of the standings. On paper, Winnipeg isn’t as strong heading into 2025-26 as they were a year ago. But if Connor can go beast mode, it’s a whole different story.

Other notables: Filip Forsberg, LW (Nashville Predators); Artemi Panarin, LW (New York Rangers); Nikita Kucherov, RW (Tampa Bay Lightning)

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