List of NHL players with 100-point seasons
As of the completion of the 2006–07 regular season, 101 different hockey players have scored at least 100 points in an NHL regular season
Collectively, these players have achieved this feat on 259 different occasions, playing for 25 different franchises. Including three franchises that have changed cities, there have been 28 different teams with 100 point players.
A 100 point season was first achieved in March of the 1968–69 NHL season by Phil Esposito, followed within a few weeks by both Bobby Hull and then Gordie Howe (in his 25th year in the NHL).
Season achievements
The 1992–93 NHL season had the most 100 point players, with 21. The second most was the 1984–85 NHL season, with 16.
Counting the 1968–69 season, there was at least one 100 point player for 26 straight years, until the lockout shortened 1994–95 NHL season.
Since 1968–69 there have been 5 seasons without a 100 point player, including 4 of the past 8 seasons. No player achieved 100 points during the lockout years of 1994–95 and 2004–05, as well as the complete 82 game seasons of 1999–2000, 2001–02 and 2003–04.
The 100 point player became a rarity in the 9 seasons from 1996–97 to 2003–04. The mark was only achieved by 8 unique players, on 11 different occasions, playing for only 5 different teams.
Player achievements
The player with the most 100 point seasons is Wayne Gretzky, with 15. Mario Lemieux is second, with 10 seasons of 100 points. Gretzky also holds the record of 13 consecutive 100 point seasons.
Three players could have made the list on assists alone. Bobby Orr, Wayne Gretzky (11 times) and Mario Lemieux have had more than 100 assists in a single season.
On 6 occasions a player has been traded during a 100 point season: Jean Ratelle, Bernie Nicholls, John Cullen, Teemu Selanne, Wayne Gretzky, and Joe Thornton. Selanne and Gretzky both changed teams, and achieved 100 points, during the same 1995–96 NHL season.
Only 5 defencemen have scored at least 100 points in a season. They are Bobby Orr, Denis Potvin, Paul Coffey, Al MacInnis and Brian Leetch.
Team achievements
(including 2007–08 season)
Excluding the 6 split-team players above, the Edmonton Oilers and Pittsburgh Penguins have had the most incidents of a player achieving 100 points during the franchise's history, with 28 each.
Excluding the 6 split-team players above, the Pittsburgh Penguins have had the greatest number of unique players (ignores repeats for same player, same team) achieve 100 points, with 12. The Boston Bruins have had 9 different players achieve 100 points while with the team.
The Boston Bruins were the first team to have 4 players achieve 100 points in the same season, 1970–71. This has been matched by only two other teams, the Edmonton Oilers (3 times) and the Pittsburgh Penguins.
The Pittsburgh Penguins have had at least one 100 point player in 18 different seasons. The Los Angeles Kings and the Colorado Avalanche (formerly the Quebec Nordiques) have both achieved this feat in 14 different seasons. The Edmonton Oilers had at least one 100 point player in 11 consecutive seasons, from 1979–80 to 1989–90.
The Los Angeles Kings are the only team to have 2 players achieve 150+ points in the same year, with Wayne Gretzky (163 points) and Bernie Nicholls (150 points) achieving this in the 1988–89 NHL season.
Three franchises have had 100 point players before and after the entire team moved: the Hartford Whalers/Carolina Hurricanes, the Atlanta Flames/Calgary Flames, the Quebec Nordiques/Colorado Avalanche.
Two franchises have had 100 point players in their original city, but not their new city: Minnesota North Stars (now Dallas Stars) and Winnipeg Jets (now Phoenix Coyotes).
Five franchises currently playing in the NHL have never had a player achieve 100 points: New Jersey Devils (started as Kansas City Scouts in 1974–75), Florida Panthers (started 1993–94), Nashville Predators (1998–99), and the two newest teams Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild (2000–01). As noted above, the three youngest franchises arrived at a time when the 100 point player is not as common as in previous years. The oldest of these five franchises, the Devils, has won 3 Stanley Cup championships relying on a strong defensive style rather than 100 point players.
Players and their 100 point seasons
1 Season currently in progress
See also
References
- 2005 NHL Official Guide & Record Book ISBN 0–920445–91–8