The 10 Most Important Career Benchmarks in the NHL for 2014-15

The 2014-15 NHL season is just around the corner, and major milestones are within reach of the game's greatest current players. Several records will fall, and a few greats will move into hallowed territory on all-time lists.

Career numbers for games, goals, wins, points and more await some of the game's oldest and best players this season.

Here are the 10 most important career goals that should be met during the 2014-15 season.

10. Patrik Elias: 1,000 Points

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What's The Goal? Patrik Elias has 983 career points and should pass 1,000 this season. 

How Close Is He? He's 17 points from 1,000 and will become the 80th player to reach the mark in NHL history. He remains one of New Jersey's key players, so he will get plenty of opportunities to score during the season.

When Will It Happen? Elias had 25 points by the end of December in 2013-14, so he could possibly reach this goal by Christmas.

9. Roberto Luongo: 70 Shutouts

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What's The Goal? Roberto Luongo has 66 career shutouts for three different teams: the New York Islanders, Vancouver Canucks and Florida Panthers. There have been 11 goalies in the game's history to turn the trick, and Luongo could be No. 12 this season. 

How Close Is He? Luongo only needs four shutouts to reach the total, but shutouts are fairly rare with subpar NHL teams. Luongo had three last season with Vancouver and one with Florida.

When Will It Happen? This is a record that should be reached this season. Luongo remains a quality NHL goaltender, and the Panthers will use him heavily in 2014-15.

8. Sergei Gonchar: 800 Career Points

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What's The Goal? Sergei Gonchar has 797 career points and will pass 800 during the 2013-14 season. He ranks No. 16 on the all-time points list for defensemen.

How Close Is He? Gonchar is just three points away from the total and will become the second European defender to reach 800 points after Nicklas Lidstrom.

When Will It Happen? Gonchar doesn't get the kind of power-play minutes he received during his prime, but he should reach the goal early in the season.

7. Marian Hossa: 500 Career Goals

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What's The Goal? Marian Hossa is a brilliant winger and an offensive dynamo. He is reaching some impressive career totals and has a chance to reach the 500-goal mark in the near future. 

How Close Is He? Since arriving in the NHL in 1997-98, Hossa has scored 464 goals in the regular season. He ranks No. 53 on the all-time scoring list.

When Will It Happen? Hossa scored 30 goals last season with Chicago and needs 36 goals to reach 500 for his career. He could reach this goal by the end of the 2014-15 season.

6. Martin Brodeur: First Goalie to Win 700 Career Games

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What's The Goal? Martin Brodeur is currently an unsigned free agent, so the first goal is getting a contract with an NHL team. After that, Brodeur has all kinds of records he can set—or set again—but 700 career wins may never be seen again.

How Close Is He? Brodeur currently has 688 career wins, which is 137 clear of his closest competitor. He needs 12 more wins to reach 700.

When Will It Happen? If he signs a contract, Brodeur should get his 12 wins this season. Even if it's in a backup role, Brodeur is so close to a record that may never be broken.

5. Sidney Crosby: Over 1.4 Points Per Game

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What's The Goal? Sidney Crosby scored at a 1.3 points-per-game rate in 2013-14, putting him below 1.4 points per game for his career. The goal is to get back there and to join an exclusive club that includes only Wayne Gretzky, Mario Lemieux and Mike Bossy. 

How Close Is He? Crosby was there one year ago, but his 104-point season in 2013-14 came in 80 games, meaning he was below his career average.

When Will It Happen? The last time Crosby finished below 1.4 points per game was 2009-10. It's likely he'll deliver again this season and once again join one of the most exclusive groups in the game.

4. Alex Ovechkin: Top 50 in All-Time Goals

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What's The Goal? Alexander Ovechkin's goal-scoring prowess has him knocking on some impressive doors before age 30. He can reach the top 50 all-time scorers in 2014-15.

How Close Is He? Denis Savard and Alexander Mogilny are currently tied for No. 50 overall with 473 career goals. Ovechkin has scored 422, trailing the pair by 51 goals.

When Will It Happen? Ovechkin scored 51 goals a year ago and could tie Savard and Mogilny by duplicating that number in 2014-15. If it happens, Ovechkin will reach the mark late in the regular season.

3. Jarome Iginla: 400 Even-Strength Goals

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What's The Goal? Jarome Iginla has scored 378 even-strength goals in his NHL career, good for No. 17 overall in NHL history. There are 13 men who have scored 400 or more goals in this situation.

How Close Is He? Iginla needs 22 goals to reach 400, a significant number for any player. He is on a new team this year, joining the Colorado Avalanche via free agency. It may take him some time to adjust to his new club.

When Will It Happen? He scored 26 even-strength goals in 2013-14, which means Iginla could reach the 400 mark before the end of the coming season.

2. Joe Thornton: 900 Assists

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What's The Goal? Joe Thornton has amassed 852 assists in his career, good for No. 24 on the all-time list.

How Close Is He? Based on his established production, Thornton is less than a year away from 900 career assists. He has posted more than 50 assists nine times in a season.

When Will It Happen? Thornton needs 48 to reach 900 career assists. He posted 65 in 2013-14, so he should hit the goal by spring. 

1. Jaromir Jagr: Top 5 All-Time in Goals

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What's The Goal? Jaromir Jagr leads all active players with 705 career regular-season goals. That puts him No. 7 all-time, and he could make it into the top five this season.

How Close Is He? Jagr needs three goals to tie Mike Gartner for No. 6 all-time and a total of 12 to tie Phil Esposito at No. 5 overall.

When Will It Happen? The great winger from Kladno, Czechoslovakia, scored 24 goals one year ago, so he should reach Esposito's total around the middle of the 2014-15 season. If he has a terrific year, he could catch Marcel Dionne at No. 4 overall—Dionne scored 731 career goals.