The NHL didn’t allow its players to compete in the Winter Olympics until the 1998 Games in Nagano. Thus, “The Great One” didn’t get a shot at an Olympic medal until then. In his lone appearance in the Winter Olympics, Gretzky and Canada finished the tournament in fourth place.

The 3-2 loss to Finland in the bronze medal game meant Gretzky and company returned to North America with no medals around their necks. Still, Gretzky led his country to Canada Cup conquests in 1984, 1987, and 1991.

Players who missed out on “Triple Gold Club”

As Team Canada squandered the overtime goal to Jack Hughes, who sent a bold message after winning gold for Team USA, the sound of hearts breaking took over the smaller Olympic hockey rink in Milan for the Maple Leaf fans.

While not one player realized—nor cared about it—at the time, four stars on Canada’s roster missed out on the chance to join Sidney Crosby and other legends in the IIHF’s “Triple Gold Club”. This exclusive list is made up of players who hoisted the Stanley Cup and won gold medals in both the IIHF World Championship and Olympics.

Crosby was the lone active player on Team Canada to join that club, but Nathan MacKinnon, Brad Marchand, Sam Reinhart, and Mark Stone all would’ve joined him with a win over Team USA. With the loss, they missed out on a great chance to further bolster their legacy. Many Canada players still made the 2026 Winter Olympics All-Star team, but that may not matter much for a team that only cared about bringing home the gold medal.

The hockey legend’s comments arrive at a time when he has been surrounded by off-ice controversies, yet his focus remains firmly on the success of the Canadian squad on the Olympic stage.

“I’m a hockey player. I’m a Canadian. I’m a true Canadian. I want Canada to win a gold medal. I’ve never wavered from that. Somehow, there’s a little bit more tension than normal. At the end of the day, Canada and the USA are like brothers and sisters, they’re gonna fight and argue but eventually you come together. That’s the way I see it.”

Sidney Crosby and another legacy game with Team Canada

Sidney Crosby enters the gold medal game with another opportunity to strengthen a legacy that already places him among Canada’s greatest hockey icons.

Long viewed as the heir to legends such as Wayne Gretzky and Mario Lemieux, Crosby has built his reputation on delivering in defining moments, and a strong performance on this stage would further cement his place in the country’s storied hockey history.

However, Crosby’s status remains uncertain heading into the gold medal game, as he is expected to be a game-time decision while Team Canada’s medical staff evaluates his response to recent skating sessions.

Some NHL seasons stop feeling normal by midwinter. One player keeps showing up on the scoresheet, night after night, turning points into routine and making the pace of production impossible to ignore.

The league has seen eras of wide-open ice and tighter systems, yet a few campaigns broke through context. These weren’t just hot streaks, but sustained runs that bent expectations over months.

Those record-setting point totals still anchor conversations about offense. They mark moments when talent, opportunity and timing aligned to produce seasons that refused to slow down.

Who is the player with the most points in a single season?

Way back in the mid-1980s, the NHL wasn’t just a league of high scoring, it was a stage for the most astonishing individual offensive output in the sport’s history. In the 1985–86 season, Wayne Gretzky etched his name into the record books by piling up an unprecedented 215 points across the regular campaign.

His feat came as part of a string of dominant years for the Edmonton Oilers. That singular season saw him combine 52 goals with 163 assists, setting a benchmark that has proven nearly untouchable for decades. His ability to influence the game at both ends of the ice redefined what a “great offensive season” looked like in professional hockey.

Decades later, his 215-point season remains a towering milestone in NHL lore. While modern stars like Connor McDavid have put up staggering numbers, the gap between those totals and his record illustrates just how singular that historic campaign was.

Some NHL seasons are remembered not for goals but for the players who made them possible. In those stretches, the ice seemed to widen around certain skaters, their touch turning routine shifts into moments that rewrote how offenses flowed.

There were years when a single playmaker held the tempo of an entire team, threading passes that felt inevitable only after they landed. Those assists reshaped game plans and forced rivals to adjust night after night.

What endures from those runs isn’t just the final tally, but the sense that these players captured something rare: the ability to control chaos with a quiet, constant influence. Their names stand as markers few have been able to match.

Who had the most assists in one NHL season?

When discussing the single-season assist record in NHL history, one name looms larger than any other: Wayne Gretzky. In the 1985–86 season, while wearing the Edmonton Oilers sweater, he delivered 163 assists in the regular season, a total so far beyond the norm that it still stands decades later as the official record.

What makes this mark even more remarkable isn’t just the raw number — it’s the context. His 163 helpers weren’t scattered across a fluke run of games; they came in a full 80-game NHL schedule against the era’s elite defenders and goaltenders.

At a time when the league was transitioning from strictly physical play to more open offense, his vision on the ice redefined what was possible from a playmaker. That season, He didn’t just assist on goals — he directed traffic.

His presence on the ice was described by contemporaries as orchestral: a center who saw plays develop before they existed, threading passes with surgical precision. His assists are not merely statistics but a lesson in spatial awareness and hockey intellect that remains unrivaled.

The Stanley Cup playoffs have long rewarded longevity as much as brilliance, drawing out careers marked by grit, timing, and an ability to rise when the stakes sharpen. Across eras, certain players carved out postseason paths that seemed almost endless.

Their journeys stretch from shifting rink styles to evolving team identities, each appearance adding another layer to a legacy built under spring pressure. Some returned year after year, outlasting trends while anchoring championship hopes.

From Chris Chelios’ relentless durability to Wayne Gretzky’s vision and clutch performances under the brightest lights, these postseason staples shaped hockey’s most demanding stage.

Which star has played the most games in the Stanley Cup playoffs?

The player who has skated in more NHL postseason games than anyone else in history is Chris Chelios, with a staggering 266 playoff games under his belt. That tally covers a career spanning decades, as he suited up for the Montreal Canadiens, Chicago Blackhawks and Detroit Red Wings.

That is a testament to both longevity and consistent postseason presence. But his record isn’t just about games played. He also holds the NHL all-time mark for most seasons appearing in the playoffs, with 24 different postseasons to his name.

Top 15 players with most Stanley Cup playoff appearances

Chris Chelios

Few names in NHL history embody endurance like Chris Chelios. With 266 playoff games — the all-time record in league history — he stands as the ultimate “postseason veteran.”

What makes his mark unique isn’t just the sheer number of games, but the span of his playoff career: from the early 1980s into the late 2000s, navigating different eras, teams and styles. His ability to remain relevant — even into his 40s — speaks to rare durability and a commitment to earn every shift when the stakes were highest.

In the narrative of NHL postseason lore, he isn’t celebrated for flash — but for persistence: from Montreal to Chicago to Detroit, he followed the ice wherever deep runs were possible, turning “just another season” into an opportunity to extend a legendary playoff résumé.

Nicklas Lidstrom

In a league often defined by ferocity and flare-ups, Nicklas Lidstrom carved out an identity defined by calm, consistency and defensive excellence. His 263 playoff games — second-most in NHL history — tell a story of unwavering presence.

Across two decades in Detroit, his postseason runs became almost routine — but routine in the sense of high performance, not complacency. He was a rock at the back, rarely flashy but always dependable, giving his teams the composure they needed when every bounce and reaction could decide a series.

That steadiness translated into both respect and results: his longevity anchored multiple deep playoff campaigns, defining him not just as a star by stats, but as a foundation — the kind of defenseman whose presence reassured teammates, fans, and coaches alike when playoffs arrived.

Corey Perry

What makes Corey Perry’s playoff résumé compelling is not nostalgia, but sheer survival — and adaptation. With 237 playoff games, he ranks among the NHL’s all-time leaders, a rare feat for a forward in a sport where youth and speed often dominate.

His postseason contributions are far from passive. Over those games, he collected 64 goals and 77 assists — a total of 141 points — proving useful not only for his presence on the roster but for tangible production when series mattered.

His career has seen team changes, evolving roles, and shifting ice time — yet whenever the playoff bell rang, he found a way back into the mix. More than almost any other forward, he embodies the notion of “playoff journeyman”: a player neither always in the spotlight nor always dominant but consistently present.

Mark Messier

When the ice felt colder and the crowd louder, Mark Messier often emerged as the kind of presence teams leaned on. With 236 playoff games, his postseason journey is among the longest for a forward in NHL history.

What set him apart was less about flashy numbers and more about heart — a brand of leadership that transcended lines, rosters, even teams. On those playoff nights, whether as star scorer or veteran mentor, he carried with him a psychological weight: the confidence others could feed off when everything hung in the balance.

That intangible — the willingness to step up when it mattered — turned seasons into legacies. His career reminds us that playoff longevity isn’t just about stamina; it’s often about influence, character, and being the kind of figure teammates trust when the game is on the line.

Claude Lemieux

Few players in postseason history embraced chaos like Claude Lemieux. With 234 playoff games, he ranks among the top in NHL history but what defines him isn’t just games played, but the intensity and unpredictability he brought to those nights.

He wasn’t always the cleanest star, he was the kind of player who thrived on tension, physicality, and getting under opponents’ skin. In playoffs, that willingness to push boundaries often translated into momentum swings: in tight games, he had a knack for tipping the balance, even when he wasn’t leading the scoring charts.

In retrospect, his legacy isn’t just numbers. It’s impact: the kind of presence that made rival players wary, teammates rally and series shift direction. For all his flaws, he remains a prototype of the postseason agitator whose mere presence demanded attention.

Scott Stevens

In an era that increasingly venerates scoring, Scott Stevens stands out as a testament to the power of defense. With 233 playoff games, he ranks among the top defenders in NHL postseason history, a quiet record in a game that loves noise.

He wasn’t about flash; he was about reliability. A gritty, physical anchor who seldom made highlight-reel plays, but often changed the tone of a series before the puck even dropped.

Night after night, series after series, he brought consistency: size, presence, and a willingness to meet any challenge at the blue line. In a league filled with goal scorers and flashy forwards, he reminded everyone that defense remains the backbone of postseason success.

Guy Carbonneau

Guy Carbonneau earned his reputation as the player who quietly rises when the pressure is highest. With 231 playoff games, he firmly sits in the NHL’s top ten all-time.

In those games, he tallied 38 goals and 55 assists, totaling 93 points. These numbers may not scream “superstar,” but they reflect his balance between offensive contributions and defensive responsibility.

More importantly, he excelled in ways not captured by stats. A two-way forward, he shut down opponents, recovered pucks, and executed the gritty, unglamorous work that often decides playoff games. His consistency made him indispensable in every deep playoff run.

Larry Robinson

Larry Robinson was the archetype of defensive dominance. Across 20 NHL seasons, he played 227 playoff games, an extraordinary feat for a defenseman. But he was more than a wall on the ice. He contributed 28 goals and 116 assists in postseason play, proving he could lead breakout plays and join offensive rushes when needed.

His legacy lies in his consistency. Even when teams struggled or leagues shifted, he remained a steady, unmovable force — the kind of player coaches rely on to anchor defensive schemes during the most critical moments.

Glenn Anderson

Glenn Anderson earned the nickname “money player” for a reason. With 225 playoff games, he was known for stepping up at critical moments, delivering clutch goals and timely assists.

Over his postseason career, he recorded 93 goals and 121 assists, totaling 214 points — a testament to his consistent offensive threat when the pressure was highest.

More than stats, his legacy is defined by his ability to change series. In tight, defensively oriented playoff games, his scoring instincts provided a decisive edge, making him one of the most feared forwards of his era.

Kris Draper

Kris Draper thrived in roles often overlooked by fans: defensive responsibility, energy, and consistency. He played 222 playoff games, placing him among the NHL’s postseason stalwarts.

While he tallied only 46 points (24 goals, 22 assists), his value was in controlling play, killing penalties, winning faceoffs, and checking opponents — the subtle work that allows stars to shine.

His longevity in playoffs speaks volumes about discipline, reliability, and the trust coaches placed in him. He exemplifies the indispensable supporting player whose work often tips the balance in long, grueling series.

Bryan Trottier

Bryan Trottier experienced the intensity of multiple franchises — Islanders and Penguins — in multiple postseasons. With 221 playoff games, he ranks among the NHL’s elite in postseason appearances.

His impact went beyond raw numbers. He provided experience, poise and strategic awareness, the kind of veteran presence that steadies teams during critical series.

Some remember him for clutch goals, others for leadership off the puck. He demonstrates that playoff success often requires more than talent: it demands calm, experience, and readiness when the stakes are at their peak.

Mike Keane

Mike Keane built a career not on flash, but on hard‑nosed dependability and a knack for being exactly what his teams needed when the ice got hottest. Over 220 career playoff games he amassed 34 goals and 40 assists, totaling 74 points.

Undrafted yet versatile, he carved out 16 solid NHL seasons across several teams — from the historic run with Montreal Canadiens, to championships with Colorado Avalanche and Dallas Stars.

In a league of stars, he thrived as a reliable “glue guy,” a competitor willing to do the forechecking, blocking, chipping in offense and contributing physically when needed. His postseason résumé speaks to endurance, versatility and a certain blue‑collar resilience.

Larry Murphy

With 215 NHL playoff games under his belt, Larry Murphy cemented his place among the league’s most consistent postseason defenders. He combined defensive acumen with offensive polish — over his postseason career he posted 37 goals and 115 assists, totaling 152 points.

That dual skill set made him a valuable asset on blue lines across multiple franchises, and helped him contribute to four Stanley Cup titles (among other deep playoff runs).

In playoff series defined by tight checking and physicality, he brought composure and reliability. He was a defenseman who could calm chaos, keep control, and whenever needed, jump into the play — a rare blend that earned him respect from teammates and opponents alike.

Ray Bourque

Ray Bourque sits among the iconic defenders of his era, with 214 playoff games that reflect both excellence and perseverance. Despite the weight of expectations and many years of postseason heartbreak, his career culminated in a fairy‑tale finish. In his final NHL season, he finally captured the ultimate prize — a long‑awaited championship that crowned decades of elite play.

More than statistics or accolades, his legacy lies in consistency. As an offensive-minded defenseman who remained defensively responsible even in the toughest playoff moments, he proved that longevity, steady high-level performance, and an unyielding will can define greatness just as much as pure talent.

Kevin Lowe

Kevin Lowe racked up 214 postseason games — a testament to his durability and the trust coaches put in him across eras. In a career built more on structure and team defense than flashy numbers, he contributed modestly on offense (10 goals, 48 assists in the playoffs), but his real value was in reliability: staying healthy, staying disciplined, and providing a steady presence when games were gritty and momentum shifted fast.

A foundational piece on multiple championship contenders, he symbolizes the often‑underappreciated backbone of postseason squads: the defender who absorbs pressure so that others can shine.

A handful of NHL single-season scoring runs rewrote expectations. Notable examples include Brett Hull’s 86-goal barrage in 1990–91 and Mario Lemieux’s 85-goal eruption in 1988–89, campaigns that became measuring sticks for goal scoring.

Some runs emerged in eras defined by fast-paced play, wide-open ice and stars capable of sustaining staggering shot totals. In those seasons, goals arrived in clusters, hat-tricks piled up and the league witnessed production far beyond the norm.

These record-setting pushes didn’t happen in isolation; they reflected shifting tactics, explosive forward lines, and players who turned opportunity into history. Each campaign carved a new benchmark, setting the stage for the numbers explored ahead.

Who has scored the most goals in a single NHL season?

When the 1981-82 regular season concluded, no list of NHL “single-season goal scorers” existed that could rival it. Wayne Gretzky, playing for the Edmonton Oilers, had netted 92 goals — a total so far ahead of its time that, more than four decades later, it remains untouched.

Behind the sheer number lies another layer of dominance: He needed approximately 369 shots to reach those 92 goals, translating to a staggering accuracy rate of about 24.9%. Meanwhile, the 1981-82 campaign featured 10 games with three or more goals, combining efficient finishing with consistency game after game.

In a sport where defensive systems, goaltending, and physical wear can derail even the greatest shooters, that season stands as a benchmark — not just for raw output, but for what a near-perfect combination of volume and precision can accomplish.

All the players with the most goals scored in one season

Wayne Gretzky, 92 goals | 1981-82 season

In the 1981-82 season, Wayne Gretzky didn’t just break the goal-scoring record; he obliterated it with an offensive display of dominance never before witnessed. The Edmonton Oilers‘ Number 99 didn’t just set a new milestone; he redefined it completely.

Finishing the campaign with an astounding 92 goals, he set a benchmark that, more than four decades later, is widely considered one of the most unbreakable records in all of professional sports.

He achieved this feat in just 80 games, showcasing a scoring pace so relentless that he eclipsed the previous mark of 76 goals by mid-February, with a significant portion of the season still to play.

This season not only confirmed his rise as the best player on the planet but also solidified the high-octane, freewheeling style that would define the great Edmonton teams.

Wayne Gretzky, 87 goals | 1983-84 season

By the 1983-84 season, the question was no longer if Wayne Gretzky would dominate the league, but by how much. Two years after his stratospheric 92-goal record, ‘The Great One’ once again flirted with the century mark, finishing the campaign with an astonishing 87 goals in just 74 games.

What makes this run especially memorable is that it was part of one of the most spectacular individual seasons in hockey history: he notched a record 51-game consecutive point streak (featuring 61 goals and 92 assists) and, in the process, led his Oilers to their very first Stanley Cup.

This season reaffirmed that his predatory instinct in front of the net was not a flash in the pan but a constant, culminating in the perfect fusion of record-setting individual performance and collective glory. Moreover, his goals-per-game average of 1.18 this season remains the highest for any player with 50 or more goals in a single campaign.

Brett Hull, 86 goals | 1990-91 season

In an era dominated by the giants of Edmonton and Pittsburgh, Brett Hull of the St. Louis Blues rose to prominence in the 1990-91 season with a devastating offensive arsenal, reaching a magnificent total of 86 goals.

What is especially notable about ‘Golden Brett’s’ achievement is that he accomplished it without being surrounded by the same generational talent that benefited others on this list. His uncanny ability to find impossible angles and his sledgehammer shot established him as the league’s most lethal pure scorer.

He went on to win both the Hart Trophy and the Lady Byng Trophy, proving that deadly efficiency was not at odds with sportsmanship. His scoring tear was so impressive that he finished 35 goals ahead of the league’s second-highest scorer, the widest margin in NHL history. A pure power feat that still resonates in St. Louis as an almost unattainable franchise highlight.

Mario Lemieux, 85 goals | 1988-89 season

Mario Lemieux‘s 1988-89 campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins stands as a testament to the sheer mastery and massive talent of ‘Le Magnifique’. With 85 goals and 114 assists, he tallied 199 points, coming just one point shy of joining Gretzky in the exclusive 200-point club.

Beyond the goal total, what immortalized this season was one of the most astonishing individual performances in sports history: on New Year’s Eve 1988, against the New Jersey Devils, he became the only player in NHL history to score five goals five different ways in a single game.

It was a season where he proved he could carry the team on his back with an unmatched combination of size, speed, and vision, significantly challenging Gretzky’s reign as the game’s most dominant offensive force.

Alexander Mogilny, 76 goals | 1992-93 season

Alexander Mogilny‘s story is a unique one, marked by his daring defection from the Soviet Union. In the 1992-93 season, this lightning-quick Russian winger, playing for the Buffalo Sabres, unleashed his full sniping potential, scoring 76 goals to share the league lead with rookie Teemu Selanne.

This total not only set a franchise record for the Sabres but also became the single-season best goal mark for a player of Soviet/Russian origin. His success was largely fueled by the explosive chemistry he developed with linemate Pat LaFontaine.

He cemented his place as the face of a new era of international talent in the NHL, proving that his decision to seek athletic freedom was worth every effort. His season was, at the time, the fifth-highest goal-scoring season in league history.

Phil Esposito, 76 goals | 1970-71 season

Before the arrival of “The Great One”, there was Phil Esposito. ‘Espo’s’ 1970-71 season with the Boston Bruins was not merely a scoring streak; it was a seismic shift in NHL statistics.

With 76 goals, he shattered Bobby Hull’s previous record (58) by an unprecedented margin. This big, tenacious center specialized in ruthlessly working the area in front of the net, a zone he affectionately dubbed “my office”.

His magical season is remembered not just for the goals but also for the volume of his attack: his 550 shots on goal that season is still the NHL record, a figure that illustrates his shoot-at-will mentality.

Teemu Selanne, 76 goals | 1992-93 season

Imagine entering the league and not just breaking a rookie record but tying for the entire NHL goal-scoring lead. That’s exactly what Teemu Selanne did for the Winnipeg Jets in his debut 1992-93 season.

The Finnish winger, nicknamed the ‘Finnish Flash’ for his electrifying speed, netted an unbelievable 76 goals, blowing past Mike Bossy’s rookie record (53) by 23 goals—an astonishing margin that many believe will never be equaled.

His season was highlighted by an iconic moment: upon breaking Bossy’s mark, Selanne tossed his glove into the air and simulated shooting it with his stick, a gesture of pure joy and release. Sharing the 76-goal achievement with Alexander Mogilny that season, he proved that speed and instinct could dominate the game right from day one.

After back-to-back Stanley Cup Final losses to the Florida Panthers, Edmonton is eager to convert potential into results. McDavid’s extension provides stability and signals his commitment to the organization—but it also highlights the urgency for management to assemble a roster capable of contending.

The contract reflects more than just salary. McDavid continues to focus on team achievement over individual gain, and his presence underscores the importance of timely decisions from Edmonton’s front office as the Oilers aim to return to championship form.

Is McDavid putting the Oilers on the clock?

Wayne Gretzky recently weighed in on McDavid’s deal during an appearance on 100% Hockey with John Shannon and Daren Millard. “I think everybody is [aware that they’re on the clock]. I think he sent the message loud and clear. And good for him. He still gets paid a lot of money. Is he getting what he deserves? No, probably not, because he’s one of the guys that sells tickets in every stadium that he goes to. People get out of their chairs,” Gretzky said.

Gretzky’s words acknowledge McDavid’s value while also emphasizing the pressure that comes with being the face of a franchise. The extension places a spotlight not just on McDavid, but on how quickly the Oilers can assemble a supporting cast to maximize his prime years.

McDavid’s production and expectations

Through 17 games in the 2025-26 season, McDavid has recorded 7 goals and 17 assists for 24 points, averaging more than 23 minutes of ice time per game. Despite a minus-4 rating, he remains the engine of Edmonton’s offense.

McDavid’s deal ensures he will remain a focal point for two more seasons, placing the onus on the Oilers’ management to construct a roster capable of championship contention.

Crosby now has 1,701 points (632 goals, 1,069 assists) through 1,362 games, ranking as the fourth-fastest player to reach the mark behind Gretzky, Lemieux, and Marcel Dionne. His achievement comes during a strong start to the season for Pittsburgh, who improved to 7-2-1 and remain unbeaten in its last six games at 5-0-1.

“Joining that company, those are players I grew up idolizing. I didn’t ever think I’d be with them or near them,” Crosby said, according to NHL.com. “It’s something I’m grateful for, that I’ve been able to play this long and be part of that group.”

How did Crosby help secure the win?

The Penguins got off to a fast start, scoring on their first two shots of the game within 16 seconds. Bryan Rust and Anthony Mantha tallied quick goals to put Pittsburgh up 2-0 before the Blues began to respond. Nick Bjugstad and Jordan Kyrou helped St. Louis tie the game 2-2, but Crosby set up Parker Wotherspoon on a delayed penalty snap shot to regain the lead at 3-2 in the second period.

Crosby also earned the secondary assist on Rust’s early third-period goal, marking the point that officially pushed him past 1,700. He then scored his own goal on a rebound later in the period to make it 5-3, before Evgeni Malkin added an empty-net goal to seal the 6-3 victory.

“To be part of I don’t know how many (of Crosby’s points), obviously not all of them, but to be part of some of them has been really cool,” Rust said. “And to get the goal on 1,700 is really cool and something I’m going to remember.”

What’s next for the Penguins after Crosby’s milestone?

Crosby now has 1,902 total points combining regular season and playoffs, seventh-most in NHL history, and has recorded 498 multipoint games, the most in Penguins history. Pittsburgh is off to its best 10-game start since 2016-17, and the team will look to maintain momentum as it faces upcoming divisional rivals.

Instead, Zegras offered a response that stunned fans and analysts alike. The 24-year-old forward, now preparing for his first season in Philadelphia after leaving Anaheim, didn’t shy away from giving a bold opinion in a recent interview. But the true shock was who he named — a current rival, not a legend from the past.

The answer, kept under wraps at first, reflected both Zegras’ personality and the bonds he has formed away from the rink. It also sparked one of the most unexpected offseason debates: can a modern star already deserve such lofty praise?

Who did Zegras call the greatest of all time?

Speaking with Greg Wyshynski of ESPN, Zegras admitted he was relieved to no longer be in the Pacific Division, where he once had to face the Vancouver Canucks four times a season. Now, as a Flyer, those meetings drop to just two per year.

That’s when he revealed his surprising choice. “I never want to play Quinn ever again. He’s the best hockey player of all-time,” Zegras said, referring to Canucks captain Quinn Hughes. While many reserve the GOAT label for Gretzky or Ovechkin, Zegras placed it firmly on the shoulders of a current Norris Trophy winner.

Off-ice bonds and friendly jabs

Zegras also recounted his offseason spent with the Hughes brothers — Jack, Luke, and Quinn. The sessions included training and plenty of golf, where he poked fun at Quinn’s deliberate style compared to Jack’s lightning-quick approach.

“Jack will have a full conversation with you while he’s putting the tee in the ground, swing quick, and then finish the conversation,” Zegras joked. “Whereas Quinn is the exact opposite. He’ll take 10 practice swings and then hit one.”

A rivalry that won’t go away

Although Zegras is happy to face Hughes fewer times per year, their matchups aren’t disappearing completely. The Flyers and Canucks are set to meet twice in an eight-day span this December, on the 22nd and 30th. Both games will draw attention, not just for the clash of two competitive teams, but for the storyline of Zegras facing off against the very player he calls the greatest of all time.

Whether or not fans agree with Zegras’ bold claim, his words highlight the growing impact of Hughes on today’s NHL. And in a league always searching for its next face of the game, that kind of endorsement carries real weight.

The Blackhawks signed Nazar to a seven-year, $46.2 million extension—the largest contract ever awarded to a player with fewer than 60 NHL games. Chicago didn’t waste time securing the young talent for the long-haul.

Nazar is a key piece to the puzzle in Chicago. Now, he’ll be paid accordingly to his role alongside Bedard and company. The 21-year-old American winger has appeared in only 56 games so far in his career. Still, he is now set to bag more earnings than ‘The Great One’ did.

As reported by Big Head Hockey on X, Nazar’s estimated $46.2 million contract will be enough to surpass Gretzky, who earned $46 million over his 21-year professional career.

Of course, Gretzky’s career earnings don’t account for sponsorships or endorsements and are based solely on his NHL contracts. Plus, inflation has certainly played its part. If Gretzky played in today’s league, his earnings would be astronomical.

Not yet

While Nazar’s extension made waves all around the NHL, the Blackhawks‘ star still has a season remaining under his entry level contract (ELC). Signed to a three-year, $2.85 million deal in April 2024, Nazar—like Bedard—was set to become a restricted free agent (RFA) next summer.

However, the Hawks avoided any kind of drama early on. Instead, they handed the former 13th overall pick in the 2022 NHL Draft a long-term deal before any buzz started to stir around the youngster. Still, the deal won’t come into place until the 2026-27 season.

Ball’s in your court

Though a big weight off their shoulders, the Blackhawks aren’t done making moves. If anything, many more are to come up next. Chicago features a lineup with several players set to become free agents next summer.

Among the main names in that list include: Connor Bedard (RFA), Jason Dickinson (UFA), Lukas Reichel (RFA), Connor Murphy (UFA), Kevin Korchinski (RFA), and Spencer Knight (RFA).

Despite scoring 33 goals in 67 games—a solid total for most forwards—it was a steep decline from the 69 goals he netted the previous season. Fans and analysts alike are now questioning whether Matthews can surpass the 40-goal mark this upcoming season.

Speaking on TSN’s OverDrive, NHL insider Bryan Hayes expressed concern about Matthews’ offensive trajectory: “I think it’s more likely it’s less than 40… Most players, especially the elite, do their highest scoring in the first six to eight years of their career, and then it slowly falls off.”

Could Matthews face a regression similar to other NHL greats?

Hayes drew comparisons to other elite NHL forwards, noting that even all-time greats like Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky eventually saw their scoring decline. “Gretzky, his first seven, eight years was unbelievable and then it kind of dropped. Mario Lemieux, that’s just the way it goes. Guys get 10 years into their career. It doesn’t mean they’re still not great. It means they usually focus on different areas of their game.”

He also referenced Connor McDavid, who scored 64 goals in 2022-23 but has since dropped to 32 and 26 goals in the following two campaigns, respectively. “I said it last year about [Connor] McDavid. I don’t think he’s ever going to score 64 goals again… The guys who get 10 years into their career don’t mean they’re not great—they usually focus on different areas of their game,” Hayes explained.

How does Matthews’ contract tie into his performance expectations?

In August 2023, Matthews re-signed with the Maple Leafs for four years with a cap hit of $13.25 million, totaling $53 million. His previous 69-goal season in 2023-24 made him the league’s top single-season goal scorer, surpassing Connor McDavid’s 64-goal mark. Before that, no player had reached the 60-goal mark since Steven Stamkos in 2011-12, and prior to him, Alex Ovechkin achieved 65 goals in 2007-08.

This contract and his historical scoring prowess make Matthews’ upcoming season a crucial test, both for him personally and for the Maple Leafs’ aspirations moving forward.