NHL: Who is the greatest goal scorer of their generation?
By Jeremy Tuch
Wayne Gretzky
Reign: 1981-87
Team: Edmonton Oilers
Goals Scored during Reign: 437
Games Played: 473 out of a possible 480
Adjusted Goals per Game: 0.91
Goals per Game of Era: 3.89
Scoring Titles: 5
If the goal of this article was to find the most dominant offensive player of all time, the article would have a grand total of two words in them, Wayne and Gretzky, in that order, end of discussion. But we’re not here to find the best offensive player, we’re looking at pure goal scoring. Gretzky held the assists title for 13 years running, but only had five goal scoring titles in his illustrious career.
Gretzky spent the early 80’s re-writing the record books. His 1981-82 season included Gretzky scoring his 50th goal in just 39 games, making what Bossy did just a couple years prior look like child’s play. Gretzky finished that year with 92 goals, and scored over 70 in each of the following three seasons.
His goal scoring prowess came back down to earth after those seasons, clearing 50 just three times in his career after 1985, and none since 1989. His assists kept coming, but the goals slowed down as he did. His hockey IQ and creativity was off the charts good, despite having below average speed and strength, which led to his gaudy assist numbers.
As Gretzky continued to dominate in everything but goal scoring, another legend of the era emerged and took the league by storm, and in turn becoming the savior of a previously moribund franchise in Mario Lemieux.