Gretzky, the NHL's all-time leading scorer, averaged 1.92 points a game to Crosby's 1.25, but Gretzky had 62 points in 70 games in his 20th and final season in 1998-99.

Gretzky won seven-straight Art Ross trophies as the league’s points leader from 1980 to 1987. Those alone would make him the all-time leader, but he added three more over his next seven seasons.

Wayne Gretzky's 2,857 career points. Although Gretzky has now lost the all-time goals record to Ovechkin, his record for the most points in NHL history will likely never be touched.

Gretzky's early years were played when the NHL averaged the highest average points per game. Of 25 players who scored 65 goals or more in a season, 19 were in Gretzky's era. That includes four ...

Gretzky's early years were played when the NHL averaged the highest average points per game. Of 25 players who scored 65 goals or more in a season, 19 were in Gretzky's era. That includes four ...

Record Stood at 1,850. Thirty-five years ago, on Oct. 15, 1989, Gretzky became the NHL’s all-time leader when he recorded the 1,851 st point of his career to surpass Gordie Howe.

By comparison, the No. 2 all-time points leader is Jaromir Jagr, who tallied 766 goals and 1,155 assists during his career for a total of 1,921 points — or nearly 1,000 points shy of Gretzky.

Gretzky scored 2,857 career points. Jaromir Jagr is second with 1,921. 3. Alex Ovechkin celebrates after breaking Wayne Gretzky’s all-time goal record on April 6, 2025. Getty Images.

Without putting too fine of a point on it, it was easier to score when Gretzky was in the NHL. Advertisement Gretzky entered the NHL in the 1979-80 season, when teams averaged 3.5 goals per game.

Gretzky broke Howe’s record a little over 31 years ago, since he scored 802 on March 23, 1994. He added 92 more before retiring in 1999 after a total of 1,487 games over 20 seasons.