Gordie Howe
Reign: 1949-59
Team: Detroit Red Wings
Goals Scored during Reign: 383
Games Played: 688 out of a possible 700
Adjusted Goals per Game: 0.55
Goals per Game of Era: 2.63
Scoring Titles: 4
While Richard was filling the net for Montreal, Gordie Howe took over as the lead dog for the Detroit Red Wings. Howe was a member of the famed “Production Line” with Ted Lindsay and Sid Abel, and led the league in goals during each season between 1950-53, which was the height of his goal scoring career.
Howe was known for throwing elbows, shoulders, and playing dirty, while finding the scoring areas and taking care of business. He also rarely missed time from injury, stayed in immaculate playing shape into his 50’s, where he finished his career playing with his sons on the Hartford Whalers.
Howe was constantly productive for his entire career, managing a 100 point season in the 1968-69 season at age 42(!). He spent some time in the WHA after his Red Wing days, and eventually returned to the NHL when the WHA closed up shop. He retired as the most prolific (by far) scorer the league had ever seen.
Looking at the 40’s and 50’s, the title for “greatest current goal scorer” could conceivably go to either Richard or Howe during their playing time. We’ll recognize them both for simply being legends in their time and place, knowing that having a discussion about all-time goal scoring would never be complete without either Richard or Howe.
Both were excellent scorers until late into their careers. At that time, a new kid jumped in the league, wearing the same #9 that both Howe and Richard wore, and revitalized a franchise that had been dormant for years. That kid? Bobby Hull.