Bold headline: The next unbreakable NHL record could fall, but not without a heated debate about whether anyone can truly surpass the greats.
Not every NHL player is steeped in hockey history. Some barely follow the sport outside of their own shifts. If The Athletic had run annual player polls in the late 1990s, during Gretzky’s twilight and the dead-puck era, the consensus on unbreakable records would likely be obvious: Gretzky’s 2,857 career points first, his 1,963 assists second, and his 894 goals third—records seemingly untouchable. Yet the last one did fall when Alex Ovechkin notched goal number 895, climbing to 911. That victory hints that no record is permanently safe.
The Athletic surveyed 120 anonymous NHL players to name the next allegedly unbreakable record that might fall. The leading pick was the very record that has just been toppled: the all-time goals mark. The question now is why players think Ovechkin’s goal record is vulnerable, and whether the analytics community agrees.
This piece examines the records most players expect to be broken next, and why, with insights from analytics experts Dom Luszczyszyn and Shayna Goldman to gauge breakability.
Career goals (22 votes)
With 22 votes, the career-goals record attracted the most attention. Scoring has risen, and expectations have as well. A player reflected,
“That's a lot of goals, and it’s going to be hard to beat, but now that I’m thinking about it, maybe it could be broken.”
Another admitted uncertainty about the record books, noting:
“I don’t really know the record book too well. It seems like guys are scoring a ton of goals.”
If Ovechkin can achieve it, perhaps someone else will follow." Some players pointed to Matthews as the most realistic candidate to chase the mark, given his pace and impact. Others argued that the next wave—perhaps Macklin Celebrini or Connor Bedard—could emerge as the face of a new era. A few suggested the record might be broken by a name we don’t yet know, coming from the junior ranks.
Reality check for Matthews
Matthews sits roughly on track with where Ovechkin was at a comparable age, but longevity is the wild card. With a goal-scoring trend that could taper with age, Matthews would need a sustained golden run to catch up. He would require well over 500 goals across his next dozen seasons to reach the mark—a tough but not impossible hurdle if health holds and scoring environments remain favorable.
The young prospects mentioned—Celebrini and Bedard—project to promising starts (Celebrini around 41 goals at 19, Bedard around 50 at 20). Ovechkin’s rookie output was 52, but hitting the same explosive trajectory at the same ages is far from guaranteed. The likely scenario for any future record-breaker is a shift in the scoring landscape, potentially aided by league expansion and changes to play style.
Could it happen? It’s possible, but we’d need to see a player run multiple seasons with 30+ goals while maintaining peak health. With Ovechkin still producing and the traditional power of a longevity-driven career, the all-time goals record currently looks secure—at least for the foreseeable future.
Ironman streak (12 votes)
A more attainable future record is the ironman streak for consecutive games played. The current holder is Phil Kessel at 1,064, followed by Keith Yandle, with Brent Burns rapidly approaching to surpass Kessel. This is a record that has begun to fall with notable frequency.
“I think Burns will get it,” one player predicted.
Reality check
Burns sits at 954 games, well ahead of the next competitor. If he can play another 100 or so games over the next season or two, the streak could end early next decade. The math becomes murky as age and durability factors come into play, given the physical demands of the sport. If Burns can stay healthy, this one is within reach; otherwise, it remains a long shot.
Career games played (11 votes)
Pat Marleau’s 1,779-game career seems reachable for a few veterans still active. Burns, who recently passed the 1,500 mark, remains the closest contender. Ovechkin sits just behind him, while Anže Kopitar may retire soon. Crosby still has a long road ahead, but his elite performance provides some optimism for extended durability.
Reality check
With several players already in the 1,400+ range, the all-time games record could be broken, but it will require staying power into the mid-to-late 40s. Burns could plausibly cross the line, while others may find it increasingly difficult to extend a career that long.
Career (7 votes) and single-season (4 votes) points by a defenseman
Cale Makar’s elite production has sparked discussions about single-season records (139 points by Bobby Orr) and career totals (Ray Bourque’s 1,579). Erik Karlsson has achieved 100-point seasons, but the confluence of age and value makes a Bourque-like career total unlikely for most defensemen.
Reality check
While Makar looks like the strongest bet to threaten Orr’s single-season standard, odds of hitting 139 points remain slim. A truly exceptional, nearly unprecedented season would be required. Bourque’s career point total remains a longer-range challenge, with Makar needing sustained dominance across more than a decade. A young star like Schaefer could be part of a new era, but catching Bourque would demand an extraordinary, multi-decade peak.
Other popular picks
The single-season points record of 135 (set by the Bruins in 2022-23) drew interest, with some noting Colorado’s red-hot start this season. The postseason points mark (Gretzky’s 47 in 1984-85, McDavid’s 42 in 2023-24) also saw attention, with one player predicting McDavid might break something historically colossal. A few respondents even named Gretzky’s career points record as a distant target, acknowledging the enduring supremacy of his totals.
Reality check
Colorado’s early-season scoring pace tempered expectations for a 136-point season, while playoff-point records remain highly ambitious. McDavid, approaching 29, would need to sustain a pace well beyond current levels for well over a decade to threaten Gretzky, making those estimates highly speculative.
Other categories with votes
Career hits, career overtime goals, career assists, single-season hits, career shutouts, and other marks were discussed. Several of these records appear unlikely to fall soon, given how scoring, goaltending styles, and game structure have evolved over the years. In particular, some records—like Gretzky’s career assists or single-season points—remain extraordinarily difficult to surpass under current play dynamics.
Counterpoint
One player offered a candid viewpoint: the big records may stand for a long time. Even after Ovechkin’s achievement, several icons like Gretzky and Ovechkin are perceived as nearly untouchable on the scoring front. The allure of a historic, unbroken legacy makes these debates especially lively, inviting continued discussion in the comments about whether the next generation can redefine the ceiling.
This analysis reflects reporting by Murat Ates, Arpon Basu, Peter Baugh, and many others, with contributions from Mark Lazerus, Dom Luszczyszyn, and Shayna Goldman. The exploration combines player sentiment with expert analytics to map what’s truly breakable in today’s NHL landscape.
