The NHL is notorious for having many of the most unbreakable records in sports. This is due somewhat to the evolving rules, speed, and athleticism of the game, and in no small part due to the outrageous career of “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky. All told, Gretzky has 23 records that have been considered “unbreakable,” meaning that opportunities to collect career records in the NHL are few and far between.
And yet, record-breaking moments are iconic sports memories across generations. So while some of the headline records are safely in Gretzky’s immortal hands, we shouldn’t overlook others just because they’re less discussed. As recently as the 2020-21 season, we saw Patrick Marleau set the record for games played in the NHL, surpassing the legendary Gordie Howe. But there are several more records that remain in jeopardy. Here’s a look at five NHL records that may well be broken in the next few years.
5) Career Hits: Luke Schenn
This statistic is a little bit misleading. The NHL only started officially tracking hits during the 2007-08 season, and there is no knowing how many career hits the great enforcers of the past racked up. However, with due respect to Tiger Williams and Bob Probert, the official leader in career hits is Cal Clutterbuck, currently an unsigned free agent, who has laid the lumber 4,029 times in his career.

But he probably won’t hold that rank for long if he doesn’t find another team. Matt Martin (3,912) is in striking distance, and the legendary Alex Ovechkin, probably the most aggressive hitter amongst scorers in NHL history, currently stands at 3,686 (don’t worry, the Great 8 will appear later on the list). But even if Martin or Ovechkin snags the record for a brief period, the real man to watch is the Nashville Predators’ Luke Schenn.
Currently sitting at 3,519 career hits, the Saskatoon native fittingly nicknamed “the Human Eraser” has averaged 264 hits per season over the last three seasons, and he’s well on pace to surpass that this season. With one more season on his current contract, he could catch Clutterbuck before his current deal ends. But he’ll only be 36 when he hits free agency again, and he’s a beloved player in the league, so, barring a major injury, he’ll have no trouble finding another contract that will see him easily break Clutterbuck’s mark.
4) Blocked Shots: Marc-Edouard Vlasic (and Others)
Another record that has only been tracked since the 2007-08 season, we’re likely to see the career title for blocked shots change hands this season! Mark Giordano is currently the all-time leader, with 2,164. He’s currently a free agent and his playing career might be done But many active players follow close behind him, including Marc-Edouard Vlasic (2,146), John Carlson (2,043), and Alex Pietrangelo (1,956).
The blocked shot is an incredibly valuable sacrifice to make for the team, and these guys have led by example throughout their careers. Giordano might be close to retirement, though, and he has a lot of competition. This is one that will probably change hands several times over the next few seasons. But Vlasic, who is set to return from injury soon, might climb the mountain in a matter of weeks from this writing.
3) Game-Winning Goals: Alexander Ovechkin
And here’s another record that could be broken in a matter of weeks or months. There’s no question that Ovechkin has a bigger goal-scoring prize in mind (one we will discuss in just a bit), but before he catches “The Great One,” he will likely catch Jaromír Jágr’s career lead on game-winning goals. Right now, Ovechkin has 133, chasing Jagr at 135.

Because of their situational nature, game-winning goals are a bit harder to predict than outright scoring. But Ovechkin has 18 in his last three seasons, averaging 4.5 per season. He should have this one by the end of the 2024-25 campaign, and if he doesn’t, he’ll get it early next season.
2) Games Coached: Paul Maurice
Whereas Gretzky is unparalleled in scoring categories, Scotty Bowman is an unsurpassable legend behind the bench. His 1,244 wins as a head coach will probably never be touched, nor will his nine Stanley Cup victories. But the multi-year contract extension the Florida Panthers gave to Stanley Cup-winning head coach Paul Maurice all but sealed that he would pass Bowman’s towering number of games coached behind an NHL bench.
Maurice steered his Florida Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals and claimed his first-ever championship last season, so he earned his job security. And he’s still young by coaching standards, at just 57. Maurice could easily coach 10 more seasons if he wants to, and if he does that, he’ll not only break but smash through this record. Maurice has 1,890 games coached, chasing Bowman’s 2,141. That’s almost exactly three seasons. With his new contract, he should reach that mark in South Florida. But even if things go awry, he’ll have plenty of suitors for a new job if he wants one, and should be able to catch Bowman with ease. In fact, Maurice might be able to mount up enough games coached to create a virtually unbreakable record of his own.
1) Goals Scored: Alex Ovechkin
At first, it was impossible. Then, it was improbable. Then, suddenly, it seemed all too possible. And now, it’s undeniable: Ovechkin will become the all-time leading goal scorer in the NHL before his illustrious career is through. Even as tangible as it is now, it’s still almost inconceivable.
For ages, Gretzky’s 894 goals were among his many untouchable records. But Ovechkin is a truly mold-breaking player and already inarguably the greatest goal-scorer in NHL history, and as of this writing, he’s just 22 goals away at 872. To accomplish what he has, in this era, and to still be doing it at such a high level is extraordinary. And no dropoff appears to be coming. Scoring 31 goals last season at age 38, he was red hot to start the 2024-25 season, and seemed to be on pace to break it this season before he broke his fibula. The “Russian Machine” returned in just 40 days, though, and scored an empty net goal in his first game back. As hot as he’s been, he could well break the record this season, but he clearly has enough gas in the tank to chase it as long as it takes, reach 900 goals, and, heck, maybe even push for 1,000. Everyone in the NHL should be done telling Alex Ovechkin what he “can’t” do.
Why Records Matter
Some of these records may not seem as significant as many of those that Gretzky holds, but we should not write them off. Records help us gain perspective and connect us to the game’s past. While some of these records are a byproduct of changing rules (an 82-game season, for example) they should not be ignored. An incredible mixture of skill, commitment, endurance, and a little bit of luck is needed to break any career record. These are some of the game’s greatest players, and if they break these records, we should pause to consider what an incredible accomplishment it is.
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