by The 2022-23 NHL season kicks off on Friday, and in the coming days, weeks and months, there could be plenty of players reaching milestones. Here’s a look at some that could happen.
GOALS
800: Alex Ovechkin — With 20 goals this season, the Washington Capitals forward will join Gordie Howe (801) and Wayne Gretzky (894) as the only players in NHL history with at least 800. If Ovechkin scores 22, he will pass Howe for second . In his 17 NHL seasons, Ovechkin has 780 goals, scoring fewer than 32 goals once (24 in 45 games of the 56-game 2020-21 season).
500: Steven Stamkos — After having his best offensive season to date with 106 points (42 goals, 64 assists) last season, the Tampa Bay Lightning forward has 481 goals and is 19 shy of the milestone. Stamkos ranks third in goals among active players behind Ovechkin and Sidney Crosby (517).
400: Phil Kessel, John Tavares — Kessel’s first goal of the season will be the Vegas Golden Knights forward’s 400th in the NHL. Tavares, a center for the Toronto Maple Leafs, needs nine to reach the milestone.
POINTS
1,500: Ovechkin, Crosby — Ovechkin enters with 1,410 points, leading among active players. If he gets 90, the total he had last season, he would become the 15th player with 1,500. Crosby is one point behind Ovechkin with 1,409 and needs 91 to reach the mark.
1,000: There are five players at 77 points out of 1,000 in the NHL. Boston Bruins center Patrice Bergeron he’s the closest needing 18, with Stamko (28) and Kessel (44) also coming close. Dallas Stars forward Joe Pavelski (76) and Ottawa Senators forward Claude Giroux (77) could also reach the milestone.
GAMES PLAYED
1,000: There are 13 players in 78 games. The closest is the Minnesota Wild defenseman Alex Goligoski (four), New York Islanders forward Josh Bailey (seven) and center for the Pittsburgh Penguins Evgeni Malkin (19). Tavares (51), center of St. Louis Blues Ryan O’Reilly (62) and Stamkos (78) are also close.
GAMES ARE CONTINUOUSLY PLAYED
990: Kessel — With 982 consecutive games played, Kessel is seven behind Keith Yandle for the NHL record. If he plays the first seven games to start the season, he will tie Yandle and pass him with eight streaks. Kessel has not missed a game since the 2009-10 season.
GOAL WIN
552: Marc-Andre Fleury — If the Wild goalie wins 32 games this season, a total he has reached nine times in his NHL career, he will move into second place on the wins list. Fleury trails Hockey Hall of Famers Patrick Roy (551) and Martin Brodeur (691). He is also 61 games shy of 1,000 in the NHL.
COACHING WON
800: Lindy Ruff, Paul Maurice — Ruff, who is entering his third season with the New Jersey Devils, is 18 wins away from becoming the fifth coach to win 800 games. He is 782-630-141 with 78 ties in 21 seasons and will join Scotty Bowman (1,244), Joel Quenneville (969), Barry Trotz (914) and Ken Hitchcock (849). Paul Maurice, who is entering his first season with the Florida Panthers, needs 25 to join the pack. He is 775-680-130 with 99 ties in 24 seasons.
GAMES GENERAL DIRECTOR
3,000: David Poile — GM of the Nashville Predators since their inaugural 1997-98 season, Poile already tops all GMs in games with 2,993 and wins (1,491), needing nine wins to reach 1,500. Prior to Nashville, he was GM of the Capitals for 15 seasons from 1982-97.
