Projecting Every NHL Team's Leading Goal Scorer for the 2024-25 Season
The 2024-25 NHL regular season is finally underway for all 32 clubs. Throughout the schedule, die-hard fans will closely monitor the basic and advanced stats of each team and its players between now and the final buzzer in April.
No matter how deeply you dive into the numbers, goal-scoring remains the most important. After all, the game's purpose isn't shot blocks, total saves, or puck possession, but scoring more goals than your opponent.
Some players find the back of the net more often than others. The very best are honored annually with the Maurice Richard Trophy. Past winners include Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin and Toronto Maple Leafs center Austin Matthews, with Ovechkin winning it nine times and Matthews three times.
Every club has one player who will lead them in goal-scoring. Follow along as we project this season's leading scorer for every NHL club, including our prediction for how much they'll score this season.
Do you agree with our picks? Let us know in the app comments below.
Anaheim Ducks: Mason McTavish
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The Anaheim Ducks got a team-leading (and career-best) 37 goals from Frank Vatrano last season, but the 30-year-old winger might not reach those heights again. They also have a reliable 20-plus scorer in Troy Terry and young Trevor Zegras hoping to bounce back from last season's injury-shortened campaign.
Nevertheless, we expect Mason McTavish will finish atop the Ducks' leaderboard. The 21-year-old center finished third among Ducks goal scorers last season with 19 along with 41 points and would've had more if injuries hadn't limited him to 64 games.
Entering his third full NHL season, McTavish made significant strides during his sophomore campaign. He may be poised for a breakout performance as a scorer.
2024-25 projection: 35 goals.
Boston Bruins: David Pastrňák
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Since David Pastrňák's 34-goal breakout season in 2016-17, no other member of the Boston Bruins has scored more goals. Entering this season, he was fourth among all NHL scorers with 323 total goals.
Pastrňák is one of the league's elite goal scorers. He was a co-winner (with Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin) of the Maurice Richard Trophy in 2019-20 with 48 goals. Over the last three seasons, he tallied 40, 61 (a career best) and 47 goals.
Now in his playing prime, the 28-year-old Pastrňák is the Bruins' top triggerman. He will remain in the running for the Richard Trophy this season. Another 50-plus goal performance is not out of the question.
2024-25 projection: 52 goals.
Buffalo Sabres: Tage Thompson
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Since his 38-goal breakout performance in 2021-22, Tage Thompson has been the Buffalo Sabres' leading goal scorer. He followed up with a career-best 47 goals in 2022-23 and 29 goals in 71 games last season.
Thompson's decline last season was partially because he missed 11 games due to injury. That decline in his production was among the reasons why the Sabres missed the playoffs for the 13th straight season.
Thompson wasn't solely to blame as the Sabres' goals per game plummeted from 3.57 in 2022-23 to 2.98 last season. Nevertheless, they'll need him to regain his 40-goal form if they're to clinch their first postseason berth since 2010-11.
2024-25 projection: 41 goals.
Calgary Flames: Yegor Sharangovich
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Over the past two years, the Calgary Flames have been rebuilding their roster by shipping out veterans for promising young players. Among those moves was their acquisition of Yegor Sharangovich from the New Jersey Devils in June 2023.
Sharangovich showed goals-scoring potential as an NHL sophomore in 2021-22, tallying 24 goals in 76 games. He made the most of his opportunity in his first season with the Flames, scoring a team-leading 31 goals.
Skating on the Flames' top line, the 26-year-old Sharangovich is in an excellent position to build on last season's performance. He's been sidelined by a lower-body injury since the start of this season. If he's not out for too long, he should further establish himself among the club's growing core of young talent.
2024-25 projection: 34 goals.
Carolina Hurricanes: Sebastian Aho
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Since his NHL debut in 2016-17, Sebastian Aho has led the Hurricanes in points in every season except the '16-'17 campaign and 2022-23. The 27-year-old center is also their goal-scoring in every season except his rookie year when he finished second.
Aho is the Hurricanes' most consistent offensive star. Entering this season, he's their overall leader since 2016-17 with 254 goals and 303 assists for 557 points.
During his eight previous NHL seasons, Aho never scored 40 goals. The closest he came was in 2019-20, netting 38 goals in 68 games before the COVID-19 pandemic prematurely ended the season. This could be the season he finally reaches that plateau.
2024-25 projection: 41 goals.
Chicago Blackhawks: Connor Bedard
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The debut of Connor Bedard was the bright spot in what was an otherwise forgettable season for the rebuilding Chicago Blackhawks. Chosen first overall by Chicago in the 2023 NHL Draft, the young center quickly established himself as a superstar in the making.
Only 18 years old, Bedard led Chicago and all of last season's NHL rookies with 61 points in 68 games. He also tied with teammate Jason Dickinson for the club lead in goals with 22 and led all rookies in that category. The youngster accomplished that despite Chicago's injury-ravaged, talent-depleted roster and a fractured jaw that sidelined him for 14 games.
Bedard is a year older and wiser with a club now carrying more depth than last season. It's reasonable to assume he'll put up better numbers this season.
2024-25 projection: 37 goals.
Colorado Avalanche: Nathan MacKinnon
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Since 2016-17, Nathan MacKinnon has led the Colorado Avalanche in points in every season except 2020-21 and 2021-22. He's also been their top goal scorer four times, with last season's career-best 51-goal effort being the latest he's held that honor.
MacKinnon has jockeyed with teammate Mikko Rantanen as the Avalanche's leading goal scorer, entering this season narrowly leading his teammate since 2016-17 with 276 total goals to Rantanen's 262. However, the 29-year-old center took his game to another level last season, leaving Rantanen well behind.
Winner of the 2023-24 Hart Memorial Trophy, MacKinnon is at the peak of his playing career. Having reached the rarified air of the 50-goal club last season, the Avalanche superstar could do it again.
2024-25 projection: 53 goals.
Columbus Blue Jackets: Kirill Marchenko
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The Columbus Blue Jackets enter this season lacking reliable established scoring punch in their playing prime. However, they possess several promising young forwards who could be poised to make significant strides in their development this season.
Kirill Marchenko is among that group. Now 24, the 6'3", 195-pound winger showed promise as a rookie in 2022-23 with 21 goals and 25 points in 59 games. He led them with 23 goals last season but also improved his overall play with 19 assists for 42 points.
Marchenko should continue seeing top-six minutes for the Blue Jackets. This will be a prime chance for the young winger to prove himself as this rebuilding club's reliable scoring forward.
2024-25 projection: 31 goals.
Dallas Stars: Wyatt Johnston
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The Dallas Stars possess a two-time 40-plus scorer in Jason Robertson and a three-time 30-plus scorer in Roope Hintz. Veterans Jamie Benn, Tyler Seguin, and Matt Duchene reached those numbers earlier in their long playing careers.
However, the role of leading goal scorer could belong to Wyatt Johnston. The 21-year-old forward held that honor last season with 32 goals while finishing in a three-way tie with Duchene and Hintz for second place with 65 points.
What's also impressive is Johnston accomplished this during his sophomore season. Entering his third NHL campaign with his prime years still ahead of him, the young forward should eclipse last season's numbers to set a new career high in production.
2024-25 projection: 41 goals
Detroit Red Wings: Lucas Raymond
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For the past three seasons, Dylan Larkin has held the title of the Detroit Red Wings leading goal scorer with 31, 32, and 33 goals. However, the 28-year-old Wings captain will face a strong challenge for the club scoring crown from Lucas Raymond.
Raymond made a promising debut in 2021-22 with 24 goals but his production slipped to 17 in his sophomore season. However, the 22-year-old winger found another gear last season, scoring a career-best 31 goals and a team-leading 72 points.
Larkin tallied 33 goals and 69 points in just 68 games and would've had much more if not for a late-season injury. Nevertheless, Raymond is coming on as a scoring star in his own right and looks poised to exceed last season's numbers.
2024-25 projection: 39 goals.
Edmonton Oilers: Leon Draisaitl
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Since 2016-17 Connor McDavid has been the Edmonton Oilers' points leader in every season except for his injury-shortened 2019-20 campaign. However, teammate Leon Draisaitl has been their top goal scorer, entering this season with 326 over that period while McDavid had 319.
Draisaitl has exceeded the 40-goal plateau five times compared to McDavid's four seasons. That includes three 50-plus point campaigns compared to his captain's one.
Zach Hyman was the Oilers' top goal scorer last season with 55 but that could end up being the 32-year-old winger's high-water mark. Draisaitl, who turns 29 on Oct. 27, remains in his prime and could still have more 50-goal seasons in him.
2024-25 projection: 51 goals.
Florida Panthers: Sam Reinhart
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Sam Reinhart enjoyed a dream season in 2023-24. He tallied a career-best, team-leading 57 goals for the Florida Panthers. The 28-year-old forward also scored 10 goals in 24 playoff games, including the winning goal in the seventh and deciding game of the 2024 Stanley Cup Final.
Reinhart and his teammates had little time during their shortened summer to recuperate from that long playoff run. They also reached the 2023 Stanley Cup Final and that limited time off over the past two years could take a toll as the Panthers attempt to defend their championship.
A reliable scorer who usually tallied between 22 and 33 goals in six of his seven seasons before 2023-24, Reinhart could find it difficult to reach the 50-goal plateau again this season. His numbers could return to his previous levels of production. Nevertheless, we can't rule out a 40-goal performance skating alongside top center Aleksander Barkov.
2024-25 projection: 41 goals.
Los Angeles Kings: Adrian Kempe
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Since 2020-21, Adrian Kempe has been the Los Angeles Kings' most consistent goal scorer. Over that four-season period, the 28-year-old winger was their scoring leader in 2021-22 with 35 goals and 41 goals in 2022-23. He was second in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign with 14 goals and third last season with 28 goals in 77 games.
Kempe hasn't received as much recognition for his production on the retooling Kings around the league. Skating on the top line with the ageless playmaking center Anze Kopitar, he's likely to be in range for another 30-40 goal performance. Over the last four seasons, he led the Kings with 118 total goals.
A big, fast winger, the 6'2", 201-pound Kempe could face a stiff challenge for the club's goal-scoring crown from Kevin Fiala and emerging star Quintin Byfield. Still, he remains in a good position for another high-scoring campaign.
2024-25 projection: 34 goals.
Minnesota Wild: Kirill Kaprizov
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Since joining the Minnesota Wild in the COVID-shortened 2020-21 season, Kirill Kaprizov established himself as their top goal scorer. Over the past four seasons, the 27-year-old winger leads all Wild scorers with 160 total goals, sitting sixth overall in the league.
The first Wild player to win the Calder Memorial Trophy, Kaprizov holds the franchise's single-season record with 47 goals in 2021-22. He's also their single-season record holder with 61 assists and 108 points, also set in '21-'22.
Kaprizov is in his playing prime and remains a dangerous scoring threat whenever he's on the ice. He reached 46 goals last season and could reach the 50-goal plateau this season for the first time.
2024-25 projection: 51 goals.
Montréal Canadiens: Cole Caufield
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Cole Caufield proved his worth as an offensive forward during the Montréal Canadiens' underdog run to the 2021 Stanley Cup Final, finishing third among his teammates in postseason scoring with 12 points in 20 games.
Since then, Caufield has teased with his goal-scoring prowess. He overcame a poor start in 2021-22 to finish with a team-leading 23 goals. The 5'8', 175-pound winger had 26 goals in 46 games in 2022-23 until a shoulder injury ended his season. He enjoyed a career-best performance last season with 28 goals and 37 assists for 65 points.
Now 23, Caufield's best seasons remain in front of him. Skating on the top line, he should exceed 30 goals this season if he stays healthy and could even flirt with the 40-goal plateau.
2024-25 projection: 38 goals.
Nashville Predators: Filip Forsberg
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Filip Forsberg enjoyed his breakout performance in 2014-15 with 26 goals and 37 assists for 63 points. Since then, he's been the Nashville Predators' highest-scoring player, entering this season as their leader in total goals with 286 and sitting 13th overall among the league's top goal-scorers.
That production included a 42-goal performance in 2021-22 and a career-best 48 goals last season. Now 30, Forsberg remains in his prime and should exceed 40 goals again this season.
Adding veteran scorers Steven Stamkos and Jonathan Marchessault during the offseason will take some of the goal-scoring burden off Forsberg. Nevertheless, he remains their first-line winger and prime triggerman.
2024-25 projection: 43 goals.
New Jersey Devils: Jack Hughes
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Injuries limited Jack Hughes to 56 points in 49 games in 2021-22 and 74 points in 62 games last season. Those stats still put him among the Devils' top-three scorers during those seasons.
When Hughes is healthy, however, the 23-year-old forward is a scoring machine. In 2022-23, he set the franchise single-season points record with 99, and also finished with a career-best 43 goals to lead the Devils that season.
Hughes could reach those lofty heights if he's fully recovered from his shoulder surgery in April. He could power the Devils back into playoff contention.
2024-25 projection: 41 goals.
New York Islanders: Brock Nelson
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The New York Islanders have struggled offensively over the past five seasons, sitting 24th overall with a goals-per-game average of 2.86. During that period, Brock Nelson has been their most reliable goal-scoring threat.
Nelson leads the Islanders with 151 total goals over that five-season stretch. He's also led them in each season in goal scoring, including three straight 30-plus goal seasons since 2021-22.
Turning 33 on Oct. 15, Nelson is reaching the end of his playing prime. Still, his durability and consistency in recent years suggests he won't be handing over the Isles' goalscoring crown this season.
2024-25 projection: 31 goals.
New York Rangers: Artemi Panarin
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Three players held the New York Rangers' goal-scoring crown over the past three seasons. Chris Kreider held the title with 52 goals in 2021-22, followed by Mika Zibanejad's 39 goals in 2022-23 and Artemi Panarin's 49 goals last season.
Panarin's tallies in 2023-24 were a career-best as the 32-year-old winger took his play to a higher level following a disappointing performance in the 2023 playoffs. He could remain just as determined this season.
This could be the last season for the Rangers' aging core to push for a Stanley Cup championship. That could provide additional motivation for Panarin to reach the 40-goal plateau again.
2024-25 projection: 44 goals.
Ottawa Senators: Brady Tkachuk
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Over the past three seasons, Brady Tkachuk has emerged as the Ottawa Senators' most consistent scorer. The 25-year-old Senators captain finished as their points leader in 2021-22 (67) and 2023-24 (74). He finished second in 2022-23 with a career-best 83 points.
Tkachuk has also steadily improved as a goal scorer during that period. He had 30 goals in '21-'22, 35 in '22-'23, and a career-high 37 last season.
The rugged Senators' power forward is the prime of his playing career. This could be the season when he joins his father Keith and brother Matthew in the NHL's 40-goal season club.
2024-25 projection: 42 goals.
Philadelphia Flyers: Travis Konecny
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The past four seasons were difficult for the Philadelphia Flyers, becoming also-rans in the NHL playoff standings. Travis Konecny was among the few bright spots for this club during that period.
Konecny emerged over the last three seasons as the Flyers' top scorer, leading the club with 52, 61, and 68 points respectively. He's also steadily improved as a goal scorer, leading the Flyers over the last two seasons with 31 in 2022-23 and 33 goals in 2023-24.
The Flyers rewarded Konency on July 25 with a new eight-year, $70 million contract extension, making him a key part of their rebuilding roster. He'll be motivated to prove himself worthy of the faith management has placed in him.
2024-25 projection: 37 goals.
Pittsburgh Penguins: Sidney Crosby
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The Pittsburgh Penguins are no longer the powerhouse they once were, missing the playoffs during the last two seasons. While long-time veterans Evgeni Malkin and Kris Letang are showing their age, Sidney Crosby continues to produce at an elite level.
Crosby led the Penguins in points with 93 in 2022-23 and 94 last season at an age when most players are in the twilight of their careers. Now 37 years old, he's showing no sign of slowing down, tallying a team-leading 42 goals last season, marking the third time he eclipsed 40 goals in a season.
Age will inevitably catch up with Crosby but the betting here is he still has enough left in the tank for another 90-point season. He might not reach the 40-goal plateau as he did last season but will remain the Penguins' leading goal scorer.
2024-25 projection: 38 goals.
San Jose Sharks: Tyler Toffoli
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Between 2019-20 and 2023-24, Tyler Toffoli played for the Los Angeles Kings, Vancouver Canucks, Montreal Canadiens, Calgary Flames, New Jersey Devils and Winnipeg Jets. Despite those frequent moves, he was a consistent scorer, tallying 20-plus goals in each season and exceeding 30 goals in each of the last two seasons.
Signing with the rebuilding San Jose Sharks this summer, Toffoli instantly became their most experienced goal scorer. He's expected to play alongside promising youngsters Macklin Celebrini and William Eklund.
Now 32, Toffoli is reaching the end of his playing prime. His production could drop below 30 goals this season but he should still fit in well alongside his skillful young linemates.
2024-25 projection: 28 goals.
Seattle Kraken: Jared McCann
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Chosen by the Seattle Kraken in the 2021 expansion draft, Jared McCann wasted no time making the most of the opportunity to see top-six forward minutes. He led the club in its first season with 27 goals and 50 points.
McCann followed up the following season with a team-leading, career-best 40 goals and 70 points, helping the Kraken reach the playoffs during their sophomore campaign. His production dropped to 29 goals and 62 points last season but he remained their leading scorer.
The Kraken will attempt to rebound from last season's disappointing performance. They'll expect the 28-year-old McCann to do the same. Another 40-goal season could be a stretch but he should exceed the 30-goal plateau.
2024-25 projection: 33 goals.
St. Louis Blues: Jordan Kyrou
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Over the past three seasons, the St. Louis Blues have been transitioning away from older veterans toward younger talent. Jordan Kyrou has been among those who've become part of their core players.
Possessing blazing speed and creative offensive skills, Kyrou enjoyed a breakout performance in 2021-22 with 27 goals and 48 assists for 75 points. He became their leading goal scorer with 37 goals in 2022-23 and 31 goals last season.
Kyrou overcame a slow first half to finish strong last season. With a more consistent effort, the 26-year-old winger could flirt with the 40-goal plateau in 2024-25.
2024-25 projection: 39 goals.
Tampa Bay Lightning: Brayden Point
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The Tampa Bay Lightning's vaunted firepower will require an adjustment this season with the offseason departure of long-time captain and scoring star Steven Stamkos. Nevertheless, they still possess two-time Art Ross Trophy winner Nikita Kucherov and signed former 40-goal scorer Jake Guentzel.
They also still have Brayden Point. Overshadowed at times by Stamkos and Kucherov, the 28-year-old two-way center has also been among the Lightning's most consistent scorers. He led them in goals with a career-best 51 in 2022-23 and 46 goals last season. He tied Kucherov for second in goals with 41 in 2018-19.
Point is in the prime of his career and sees first-line minutes centering Kucherov and Guentzel. He could end up close to the 50-goal plateau again.
2024-25 projection: 48 goals.
Toronto Maple Leafs: Auston Matthews
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Since joining the Toronto Maple Leafs in 2016-17, Auston Matthews has been their leading goal scorer five times. He also became the only active player other than Washington's Alex Ovechkin to win the Maurice Richard Trophy at least three times, with 41 goals in 2020-21, 60 goals the following season, and 69 goals last season.
Entering this season, Matthews led all NHL scorers since his rookie season with 368 total goals. The 27-year-old center also holds the Leafs single-season goals record and is 53 goals away from breaking Mats Sundin's franchise record of 420 goals.
Named captain of the Maple Leafs this summer, Matthews is the most dangerous scorer of his generation. A healthy season could see him again reach the 60-goal plateau, joining Wayne Gretzky, Mike Bossy, Mario Lemieux, Phil Esposito, and Brett Hull as the only players to do so at least three times.
2024-25 projection: 64 goals
Utah Hockey Club: Clayton Keller
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The Arizona Coyotes became the Utah Hockey Club during the offseason, but what hasn't changed is winger Clayton Keller remains their top offensive player. Since his rookie campaign of 2017-18, he's been their leader with 166 total goals, 250 assists and 416 points.
Keller led the Coyotes with 28 goals in 2021-22 despite being limited to 67 games by a season-ending broken leg, then led them again the following season with a career-best 37 goals. Last season, he had a team-leading 33 goals in 78 games.
Now 26, Keller is entering his playing prime. Skating at left wing on Utah's top line, he should reach the 40-goal plateau with this improving club as they push for their postseason appearance since the 2020 COVID playoff bubble.
2024-25 projection: 41 goals.
Vancouver Canucks: Brock Boeser
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Injuries and inconsistent play dogged Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser during most of his career. The low point came in 2022-23 as he dealt with trade rumors and his father's death, finishing with 18 goals in 74 games.
However, the 27-year-old Boeser bounced back last season with a career-best 40 goals and 73 points. It was the third time he's led the Canucks in goals since his 29-goal effort in 2017-18 and his 23-goal performance in 56 games during the COVID-shortened 2020-21 campaign.
Boeser's goalscoring played a significant role in the Canucks reaching the playoffs for the first time since the 2020 COVID postseason bubble. He could exceed last season's output if he avoids injury.
2024-25 projection: 43 goals.
Vegas Golden Knights – Jack Eichel
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The offseason departure of goalscoring winger Jonathan Marchessault to the Nashville Predators put the onus on Jack Eichel to pick up the slack. He's led the Golden Knights in points in 2022-23 and 2023-24 but was second in goalscoring to Marchessault.
Injuries have plagued Eichel during his NHL career but he's still been a productive forward. Over his six seasons with the Buffalo Sabres and three with the Golden Knights, the 27-year-old center has tallied 24-plus goals seven times, including a career-high 36 with the Sabres in 2019-20 and 31 last season with the Golden Knights.
An injury-free season could see Eichel enjoy the best season of his NHL career. It could put him over the 40-goal mark for the first time.
2024-25 projection: 41 goals.
Washington Capitals – Alex Ovechkin
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Alex Ovechkin is the greatest player in Washington Capitals history. He entered this season as their all-time leader with 853 goals and 1,550 points and holds the single-season record with 65 goals. "The Great 8" also captained them to their first Stanley Cup in franchise history.
Ovechkin is also the greatest goal scorer of his generation, winning the Maurice Richard Trophy a record nine times. As of Oct. 11, the 39-year-old winger needed 42 goals to eclipse Wayne Gretzky's record of 894 to become the greatest goal scorer of all time.
Father Time, however, is catching up with Ovechkin, who struggled through the first half of last season before finding his stride and finishing with 31 goals. Nevertheless, the Capitals captain will be motivated to overtake Gretzky this season and could have one last 40-plus goal season left in him.
2024-projection: 44 goals.
Winnipeg Jets – Kyle Connor
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A knee injury limited Kyle Connor to 65 games last season but he still led the Winnipeg Jets with 34 goals. That's not surprising since the 27-year-old winger has been their leading goal scorer every season since 2019-20 except for 2022-23 when he finished second.
Between 2017-18 and 2023-24, Connor led the Jets with 241 goals and sat ninth among all NHL scorers. He's also been their best scorer in the clutch, leading them with 51 game-winning goals.
Connor's goal-scoring consistency will again be a key part of the Jets' offensive attack this season. He should easily exceed 30 goals and should be within range of the 40-goal plateau.
2024-25 projection: 42 goals.
Stats via NHL.com.
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