<p>The NHL trade deadline lived up to the hype last week. The league’s annual blitz delivered an exciting flurry of high-profile swaps, signings and speculation.</p>



<p>And with the final day of dealing now in the books, it means we’re on the home stretch of the regular season. Over the weekend, the league’s calendar passed 1,000 games on its final destination to 1,312 scheduled games. While the NHL’s final five weeks will determine the post-season bracket, it’s also time to put the spotlight on its statistical record.</p>



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<p>All-time records. League leaders. Milestones. While the season takes six months to marinate, it’s the final dish that ultimately gets served to history, producing late-season theater among its superstar talent.</p>



<p>We’re counting down the <strong>NHL’s top 8 individual statistical stories to watch</strong> on the stretch drive.</p><div class="injected-ad injected-video" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="0" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="132"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#8. Will every single-season empty net record fall?</h2>



<p>It’s been <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/how-empty-net-goals-have-changed-the-nhl" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">The Year of the Empty Netter</a>. While the rate has dropped slightly over the course of the season to 0.40 empty net goals per game, we’ll comfortably see the most in history. The team record and all the individual single-season records are near certainties to fall in the process.</p>



<p><strong>NHL Single-Season Empty Net Records</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Record</strong></td><td><strong>Previous Best</strong></td><td><strong>Season</strong></td><td><strong>Total</strong></td><td><strong>2024-25 Leaders</strong></td><td><strong>Total</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Goals</strong></td><td>Pavel Bure<br>Alex Ovechkin</td><td>1999-00<br>2021-22</td><td>9</td><td><strong>Alex Ovechkin<br>Mikko Rantanen</strong></td><td><strong>8</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Assists</strong></td><td>Blake Wheeler</td><td>2018-19</td><td>9</td><td><strong>Nathan MacKinnon</strong></td><td><strong>9</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Points</strong></td><td>Nikita Kucherov</td><td>2023-24</td><td>14</td><td><strong>Mikko Rantanen<br>Nathan MacKinnon</strong></td><td><strong>14<br>13</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Team Goals</strong></td><td>Dallas Stars<br>Winnipeg Jets</td><td>2015-16<br>2023-24</td><td>24</td><td><strong>Colorado Avalanche</strong></td><td><strong>24</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p></p>



<p>MacKinnon and Rantanen have already tied the assist and point records, respectively. <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/colorado-avalanche/line-combinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Colorado</a> is one empty netter from the solo team record. And the next ‘ENG’ by Ovechkin or Rantanen will tie for most ever. Like last season with Kucherov’s record-setting 14 points, the scoring title may be decided by results <em>sans </em>goalie. MacKinnon’s five-point Art Ross lead on Leon Draisaitl stems from a 13-4 edge in empty net points.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#7. Will Cale Makar be the first defenseman in 16 years to score 30 goals?</h2>



<p>Name the last defenseman to score 30 goals in a season… Erik Karlsson? Brent Burns? Shea Weber? Nicklas Lidstrom? Nope. If you guessed Mike Green, you’re either a diehard <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/washington-capitals/line-combinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Capitals</a> fan or you are Mike Green and are reading this article. Not only did Green’s jaw-dropping total occur in a lower scoring climate than today, he only played 68 games — a stunning 37-goal pace.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="1" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="192"></div>



<p>With a strong finish, Cale Makar could join Green as the only 30-goal defenders in 32 years.</p>



<p><strong>Most Goals by a Defenseman, Salary Cap Era</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Player</strong></td><td><strong>Season</strong></td><td><strong>Games</strong></td><td><strong>Goals</strong></td><td><strong>Current Pace</strong></td></tr><tr><td>1. Mike Green</td><td>2008-09</td><td>68</td><td><strong>31</strong></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>2. Brent Burns</td><td>2016-17</td><td>82</td><td><strong>29</strong></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>3. Cale Makar</td><td>2021-22</td><td>77</td><td><strong>28</strong></td><td></td></tr><tr><td>4. Brent Burns</td><td>2015-16</td><td>82</td><td><strong>27</strong></td><td></td></tr><tr><td><strong>7. Cale Makar</strong></td><td><strong>2024-25</strong></td><td>66</td><td><strong>24</strong></td><td>30 G in 82 GP</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#6. Which of Hutson, Celebrini or Michkov will win the rookie scoring race?</h2>



<p>Early in the season, each of these players competing for most rookie points seemed improbable. Lane Hutson was a paper-thin defenseman on a team mired in a 2-8-2 streak in November. Macklin Celebrini missed 12 games to injury after his opening night debut. Matvei Michkov was scratched twice in November and paying rent in John Tortorella’s doghouse. Four months later, each rookie has persevered — and thrived.</p>



<p><strong>Most Points by a Rookie, 2024-25</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Player</strong></td><td><strong>Current Age</strong></td><td><strong>Games</strong></td><td><strong>Points</strong></td><td><strong>Current Pace</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>1. Lane Hutson</strong></td><td><strong>21 years, 1 month</strong></td><td><strong>64</strong></td><td><strong>49</strong></td><td><strong>63 PTS in 82 GP</strong></td></tr><tr><td>2. Macklin Celebrini</td><td>18 years, 9 months</td><td>54</td><td><strong>48</strong></td><td>62 PTS in 70 GP</td></tr><tr><td>3. Matvei Michkov</td><td>20 years, 3 months</td><td>64</td><td><strong>47</strong></td><td>59 PTS in 80 GP</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#5. Will Connor Hellebuyck capture the goaltending Triple Crown?</h2>



<p>The Triple Crown for hockey goalies is not an official NHL achievement. Leading in wins, save percentage, and goals against average is naturally tied to team performance. We know that wins and GAA have faded as valuable stats and that raw save percentage lacks the context of shot quality. But the feat is both ultra rare and an indication of a successful season both individually and as a team. In the last 33 years, only Linus Ullmark (2022-23) and Carey Price (2014-15) have managed the trifecta.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="2" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="186"></div>



<p>Hellebuyck is taking it a step further. The <a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/teams/winnipeg-jets/line-combinations" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Jets</a>‘ stopper also leads the league in shutouts, goals saved above average (GSAA per <a href="https://www.hockey-reference.com/leagues/NHL_2025_goalies.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hockey-Reference</a>), and goals saved above expected (GSAx per <a href="https://moneypuck.com/goalies.htm" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">MoneyPuck</a>).</p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Stat</strong></td><td><strong>Rank</strong></td><td><strong>Value</strong></td><td><strong>Closest Goalie</strong></td><td><strong>Value</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>Wins</strong></td><td>1st</td><td><strong>38</strong></td><td>Two tied</td><td>30</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Save %</strong></td><td>1st</td><td><strong>.927</strong></td><td>Anthony Stolarz</td><td>.921</td></tr><tr><td><strong>GAA</strong></td><td>1st</td><td><strong>1.99</strong></td><td>Two tied</td><td>2.29</td></tr><tr><td><strong>Shutouts</strong></td><td>1st</td><td><strong>6</strong></td><td>Nine tied</td><td>4</td></tr><tr><td><strong>GSAA</strong></td><td>1st</td><td><strong>34.6</strong></td><td>Andrei Vasilevskiy</td><td>25.6</td></tr><tr><td><strong>GSAx</strong></td><td>1st</td><td><strong>35.8</strong></td><td>Logan Thompson</td><td>27.8</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#4. Will anyone but Leon Draisaitl score 50 goals?</h2>



<p>To say Draisaitl is running away with the Rocket Richard Trophy would be an understatement. His current 10-goal lead on the field <a href="https://www.hockey-reference.com/leaders/goals_top_10.html" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">hasn’t been topped</a> since Ovechkin’s 65 goals were 13 better than runner-up Ilya Kovalchuk in 2007-08. It’s been seven years since the NHL had only one 50-goal man over a full schedule. But unless someone else has an electric finish to the year, Leon will stand alone in the 50-goal club.</p>



<p><strong>Most Goals, 2024-25</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Player</strong></td><td><strong>Games</strong></td><td><strong>Goals</strong></td><td><strong>Current Pace</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>1. Leon Draisaitl</strong></td><td><strong>64</strong></td><td><strong>46</strong></td><td><strong>59 G in 82 GP</strong></td></tr><tr><td>2. William Nylander </td><td>64</td><td><strong>36</strong></td><td>46 G in 82 GP</td></tr><tr><td>3. Mark Scheifiele</td><td>66</td><td><strong>35</strong></td><td>43 G in 82 GP</td></tr><tr><td>T4. Alex Ovechkin</td><td>49</td><td><strong>33</strong></td><td>44 G in 66 GP</td></tr><tr><td>T4. Tage Thompson</td><td>57</td><td><strong>33</strong></td><td>44 G in 76 GP</td></tr><tr><td>T4. Kyle Connor</td><td>66</td><td><strong>33</strong></td><td>41 G in 82 GP</td></tr><tr><td>T4. David Pastrnak</td><td>66</td><td><strong>33</strong></td><td>41 G in 82 GP</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#3. Will Sidney Crosby get his record-setting 20th point-per-game season?</h2>



<p>In a different year — where his longtime rival wasn’t chasing one of hockey’s most famous records — Crosby’s pursuit of a different Wayne Gretzky mark might have resonated more. But with Ovechkin’s binge sniping occupying so much air, Crosby’s consistent excellence understandably takes a back seat.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="3" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="156"></div>



<p>Assuming he plays the balance of the schedule, Crosby will play 80 games, making 80 points the magic number for the record. Presently, he has 70 points in 65 games. 10 points over his final 15 games does the trick. That would give Crosby an incomprehensible 20 consecutive point-per-game seasons.</p>



<p><strong>Most Point-Per-Game Seasons, NHL Career</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Player</strong></td><td><strong>Streak Span</strong></td><td><strong>Seasons</strong></td><td><strong>Point-per-Game Seasons</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>T1. Sidney Crosby</strong></td><td><strong>2005-2024</strong></td><td><strong>19</strong></td><td><strong>19</strong></td></tr><tr><td>T1. Wayne Gretzky</td><td>1979-1998</td><td>20</td><td><strong>19</strong></td></tr><tr><td>3. Gordie Howe</td><td>1950-1969</td><td>26</td><td><strong>17</strong></td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p></p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#2. Who will win the Art Ross Trophy?</h2>



<p>While a good rule in any points derby is not to count out Connor McDavid, from a practical perspective this is a three-horse race. MacKinnon’s 11 points in a recent seven-day stretch provided a small cushion toward his potential first career Ross. But past winners Draisaitl (2019-20) and Kucherov (2018-19, 2023-24) are no strangers to big point nights, weeks, or months.</p>



<p><strong>Most Points, 2024-25</strong></p>



<figure class="wp-block-table"><table class="has-fixed-layout"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Player</strong></td><td><strong>Games</strong></td><td><strong>Points</strong></td><td><strong>Current Pace</strong></td></tr><tr><td><strong>1. Nathan MacKinnon</strong></td><td><strong>66</strong></td><td><strong>102</strong></td><td><strong>127 PTS in 82 GP</strong></td></tr><tr><td>2. Leon Draisaitl</td><td>64</td><td><strong>97</strong></td><td>124 PTS in 82 GP</td></tr><tr><td>3. Nikita Kucherov</td><td>61</td><td><strong>92</strong></td><td>119 PTS in 79 GP</td></tr><tr><td>4. Connor McDavid</td><td>58</td><td><strong>82</strong></td><td>107 PTS in 76 GP</td></tr><tr><td>T5. Kyle Connor</td><td>66</td><td><strong>81</strong></td><td>101 PTS in 82 GP</td></tr><tr><td>T5. David Pastrnak</td><td>66</td><td><strong>81</strong></td><td>101 PTS in 82 GP</td></tr><tr><td>7. Mitch Marner</td><td>63</td><td><strong>80</strong></td><td>103 PTS in 81 GP</td></tr><tr><td>8. Jack Eichel</td><td>63</td><td><strong>78</strong></td><td>100 PTS in 81 GP</td></tr></tbody></table></figure>



<p></p>



<p>You’ll also notice eight players are on pace for 100 points, with the bottom four near the cutoff. Clayton Keller (94-point pace), Rantanen (94), and Makar (93) also have outside chances. That leaves us anywhere between four and 11 instances of 100+ points. A year ago, nine players reached the milestone.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="4" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="172"></div>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">#1. Will Alex Ovechkin break the all-time goals record this season?</h2>



<p>The answer seems like a breezy yes. But it’s fascinating to consider how unlikely this was just over a year ago. On January 24, 2024, Ovechkin was a 38-year-old that had scored 8 goals in 43 games — a shocking 15-goal pace. It was nearly impossible to picture him ever firing off the requisite 65 goals, let alone in the next 15 months. And certainly not after a November injury cost him 16 games.</p>



<p>Has scoring empty net goals this year at an unprecedented rate helped? Sure. But it’s a total non-story. Ovechkin has relentlessly scored goals for 20 seasons. That’s simply not true of any other player. He needs 9 goals in 17 games to pass Gretzky. With Washington all but assured top seed in the East, it’s now nearly impossible <em>not</em> to picture him firing Goal #895 this season. And if we want to stretch our imaginations… 14 goals gets him to 900… and 17-in-17 sets the record for most 50-goal seasons (10). You never know.</p><div class="injected-ad" data-nn-ad-tech-injection-count="5" data-nn-ad-tech-max-gap="130" data-nn-ad-tech-current-gap="168"></div>



<figure class="wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter"><div class="wp-block-embed__wrapper">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">🚨 Friendly reminder to enjoy two of the greatest players in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/NHL?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#NHL</a> history while you can. With proper context relative to era:<br><br>✔️ Ovechkin: most goals (985) by 60…<br>✔️ Crosby: goals/8th, assists/6th, points/4th<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ALLCAPS?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#ALLCAPS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LetsGoPens?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LetsGoPens</a> <a href="https://t.co/BA6BmKWFul">pic.twitter.com/BA6BmKWFul</a></p>— Paul Pidutti (@AdjustedHockey) <a href="https://twitter.com/AdjustedHockey/status/1896918974522392887?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 4, 2025</a></blockquote><script async="" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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<p>Visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.adjustedhockey.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">adjustedhockey.com</a>; data from&nbsp;<a href="https://www.hockey-reference.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Hockey-Reference</a>, <a href="http://www.nhl.com">NHL.com</a>. All stats through <strong>March 11, 2025</strong>.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading">Recently by Paul Pidutti</h2>



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<li><a href="https://www.dailyfaceoff.com/news/connor-crosby-auston-ovechkin-finding-past-player-matches-for-the-4-nations-biggest-superstars" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">McDavid as Crosby? Matthews as Ovechkin? Matching the 4 Nations superstar storylines to past international legends</a></li>



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</ul>


Washington Capitals left winger Alex Ovechkin