NHL: Who is the greatest goal scorer of their generation?

Babe Dye

Reign: 1920-26
Team: Toronto St. Pats
Goals Scored during Reign: 162
Games Played: 149 out of a possible 162
Adjusted Goals per Game: 1.02
Goals per Game of Era: 3.15
Scoring Titles: 4

Babe Dye was one of the early masters of the wrist shot and stickhandling, and was the best scorer of the early 1920’s. Between 1920 and 1925, he was the sole owner of the scoring title, save for the 1923-24 season, where he missed time due to injury. During this time, he scored nearly a goal per game.

He was a slow skater, but his wrist shot was incredibly hard and accurate, which gave him the goal scoring ability he was known for. He helped the St. Pats win the Stanley Cup in 1922, when he scored nine goals during the finals.

While these numbers don’t stick out quite like Malone’s numbers do, keep in mind that goals per game league-wide had taken a sharp decline since the early days, taking a nearly 2 goals per game per team dip since the inaugural 1917-18 season.

Dye was sold to the Chicago Black Hawks after the 1925-26 season, and continued his prowess for a year, until breaking his leg in training camp, effectively ending his career. Dye was second in scoring that final season, though, behind Bill Cook of the New York Rangers.