Which 30-Goal Scorers Will Hit the Mark Again This NHL Season?

In the NHL scoring goals is a key in securing a victory. Players that can bury the puck in the net on a consistent basis are especially valuable.

The 30-goal mark is an accomplishment for an NHL player because it is hard to do. Last season out of the hundreds of players in the league, only 29 scored 30 goals or more.

This slideshow will take a look at some of last season's top scorers and whether or not they will once again hit the 30-goal plateau. Some players already have 20 goals or more in only 30-plus games this season so this could be quite the record year for 30-goal scorers

Projected goal totals were calculated with The Hockey News' Forecaster module. I will take that number and then make my ultimatum prediction for how many goals I think each player will score.

Corey Perry

2010-11: 50 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 14 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 32 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 37 Goals

Corey Perry led the NHL with 50 goals last season and took home the Rocket Richard Trophy. This season, Perry and the Anaheim Ducks have been off to a sluggish start. However the young winger should have no problem scoring 16 goals over the next 40-plus games

THN has Perry pegged at scoring 32 goals when the season is over.

I think Perry could score closer to 40 goals this season due to the fact that he is starting to heat up. With 13 points in his last 14 games, Perry is starting to find his scoring game again. Last season he was hot down the stretch so 37 goals is a good number for Perry.

Steven Stamkos

2010-11: 45 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 22 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 51 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 52 Goals

Steven Stamkos is one of the league's most explosive scorers. He has speed, finesse, a deadly wrist shot and lethal one-timer. If you give him the puck and a sliver of open ice, he will make you pay a big price.

Stamkos sits tied for first place in the NHL with 22 goals so far. His Tampa Bay Lightning have not gotten off to the best start and his numbers appear to be down.

However, Tampa is a team one season removed from making it to Game 7 of the Eastern Conference finals. Stamkos and Tampa Bay will both look to make some serious noise in the second half of the season.

I believe Stamkos will hit the 50-goal plateau this season and could finish the year with 52 goals.

Jarome Iginla

2010-11: 43 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 14 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 31 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 31 Goals

Jarome Iginla is a player who will one day could be a member of the Hockey Hall of Fame. He is a talented forward and true ambassador of the game. However, he has not yet won a Stanley Cup. Trade rumors always seem to swirl around Iginla but this could be the year he gets dealt.

If Iginla is traded to a team that has playoff potential, his scoring could increase to a normal level. However in his current environment, I think Iginla will just barely hit the 30-goal plateau.

Daniel Sedin

2010-11: 41 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 15 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 33 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 34 Goals

Daniel Sedin is a great all-around player. He is an excellent skater, has great vision and benefits from the chemistry he has with twin brother Henrik.

Sedin has become more of a passer this season as he has doubled his current goal total in the assist category. Just the same he is still on pace to score 30 goals. He should have no problem hitting this number or exceeding it before the season is over.

Ryan Kesler

2010-11: 41 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 10 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 24 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 26 Goals

Ryan Kesler becomes the first player who is set to miss the mark by my calculations. However, this is not a bad thing. Kesler is a talented two-way forward with great vision. He will make up for a lack of goals in the assists department.

Kesler is still on pace to record 40-plus assists and 61 points when all is said and done. It may be a down year for Kesler but his defensive play is as valuable to a loaded Canucks team.

Patrick Marleau

2010-11: 37 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 13 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 31 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 36 Goals

Patrick Marleau is off to a solid start with 13 goals and 26 points. He is on pace to join the 30-goal club again this season

THN has him at a 31-goal pace but I feel the former Sharks captain will pick up an extra goal or two along the way. Marleau is a consistent scorer and usually averages an equal amount of goals and assists, so this year shouldn't be any different. 

Jeff Carter

2010-11: 36 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 10 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 28 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 25 Goals

Jeff Carter made early headlines when he was traded from Philadelphia to the Columbus Blue Jackets this offseason. Injuries have plagued his start in Columbus but he has still managed to score 10 goals.

He is on pace to score 28 but I feel Carter may fall short this season. He seems to be having a down year considering he is a former 40-goal scorer. 

If Carter can pick up the pace he could have a shot of hitting the mark.

Patrick Sharp

2010-11: 34 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 19 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 42 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 44 Goals

The Chicago Blackhawks made a very smart decision when they signed Sharp to a contract extension before he was set to hit the open market. During his time in the Windy City, Sharp has blown past a plethora of defenders en route to lighting the lamp multiple times.

Sharp is such a versatile player because he can play both center and either wing. No matter how you slice it, Sharp will score early and often for the Blackhawks. He could challenge for 50 if he gets hot down the stretch but the early to mid-40s is a conservative goal and prediction for Sharp.

Bobby Ryan

2010-11: 34 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 11 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 25 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 30 Goals

Bobby Ryan is a player many general managers will inquire about towards the trade deadline. He may not be on the market but Anaheim hasn't exactly improved a great deal since the hiring of Bruce Boudreau.

I have a tough time believing he won't score 30 goals this season. He is a very talented player and my gut tells me that Anaheim would pull the trigger on a deal that gives them long-term upside.

Needless to say, I am pulling for the Cherry Hill native to increase his goal total and potential come to the tri-state area.

Danny Briere

2010-11: 34 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 10 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 24 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 28 Goals

Danny Briere is a unique player. He is a small player who plays like a giant. He can get under your skin with his style of play and can light the lamp in the clutch. He had some tremendous seasons with the Buffalo Sabres back in the early to mid-2000s.

He is currently day to day with a hand injury but should be back in the lineup soon. This season Briere is projected to finish with 24 goals. I don't think he will hit 30 but he could end up just falling short of the mark.

He may not score 30 goals this season but he has the potential to score some clutch goals for the Flyers down the stretch. 

Michael Grabner

2010-11: 34 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 10 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 24 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 28 Goals

Michael Grabner had quite the breakout season for the Islanders last year. He played well enough to earn a new five-year deal.

This season he is off to a slow start. He has 10 goals and is on pace to score 24. I think Grabner falls shy of the 30-goal mark but only slightly this year.

Eric Staal

2010-11: 33 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 7 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 15 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 20 Goals

Eric Staal really appears to be in a funk this season. Could his play be affected by the fact that his brother Marc is still sidelined with a concussion? Could this fact be weighing on his mind? Besides Staal's poor play, the Hurricanes haven't had the best of seasons either.

While Eric may be on pace for 15 goals, I have a feeling he can rebound from this funk and can still pot 20 goals.

Brenden Morrow

2010-11: 33 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 7 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 18 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 20 Goals

Dallas Stars captain Brenden Morrow had a career year for his team last season. This season his Stars got off to a hot start and seemed to hit a rut when star netminder Kari Lehtonen went down with an injury.

So far Morrow has scored seven goals and he is on pace to score 11 more. However, I feel he will score about 20 goals which would put him in line with his career averages.

Alex Ovechkin

2010-11: 32 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 12 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 28 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 32 Goals

Alex Ovechkin has many monikers. He has been called Alexander the Great, the Great Eight and the most explosive Russian scorer since Pavel Bure.

The fact that Ovechkin has scored only 12 goals thus far is very sobering. However, this is a player who has never failed to score 30 goals. I doubt he fails to eclipse that total this season.

Ovechkin will end up with at least 30 goals or more but 32 is a nice round number, 

Jonathan Toews

2010-11: 32 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 20 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 44 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 40 Goals

Chicago Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews is off to the best start in his young NHL career. He is only two goals behind league-leaders Marian Gaborik and Steven Stamkos.

While Toews may be on pace to score 44 goals, he could end up with fewer if he cools down. However, 40 goals should be an achievable number for the young center.

Thomas Vanek

2010-11: 32 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 18 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 41 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 45 Goals

Thomas Vanek is playing some incredible hockey. He is averaging more than a point per game and has 18 goals in 36 goals after scoring 32 in 82 games last season.

Vanek is an explosive scorer on pace for 41 goals and 86 points. I feel Vanek could be a true Rocket Richard contender if he gets hot down the stretch. While 40 goals should be a good number for Vanek, he has 45-goal potential in my mind.

Rick Nash

2010-11: 32 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 10 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 24 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 24 Goals

Rick Nash hasn't been as effective this season as in years past. Jeff Carter was brought in to attempt to help Nash but the two players haven't clicked. Both are shoot-first forwards and Nash needs a player with a playmaker's touch.

Nash in on pace to score 24 goals and I agree with the experts at THN. He will be lucky to even entertain the thought of 25 goals or more.

Sidney Crosby

2010-11: 32 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 2 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 13 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 7 Goals

Sidney Crosby is currently sidelined with a concussion. There is no timetable for his return. However, he is predicted to score 13 goals this season. It is hard to make a prediction on how many goals he will score due to the fact that he may not return anytime soon.

What is certain is that Crosby is unlikely to score 30 or more again this season.

Phil Kessel

2010-11: 32 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 20 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 45 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 38 Goals

Phil Kessel is off to a blistering start for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He is racking up goals and points left and right and has scored 30 points in his last 30 games.

Kessel is on pace to score 45 goals but it is likely he will come back down to earth at some point this season. I don't see Kessel scoring 45 goals but I can see him scoring anywhere from 35 to 40 goals.

Logan Couture

2010-11: 32 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 16 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 38 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 35 Goals

Logan Couture is a great athlete and playmaker who can play both the wing and center position. He reads the ice well and can find ways to score or ways to help his teammates score.

Couture is a player who will have an impact on how the Sharks perform down the stretch. While Couture is on pace for 38 goals, there is always a margin of error with the on-pace calculators. Couture will likely score 35 goals or more but is not limited.

Martin St. Louis

2010-11: 31 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 10 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 25 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 28 Goals

Martin St. Louis is a player who is an ageless wonder. He continues to turn heads with his surprising speed despite his age. He is a player who has always been able to rack up goals and assists but his numbers are down this year.

He is on pace to score 25 goals but St. Louis will likely fight to the end to hit 30. He is only one year removed from scoring 31 goals and 99 points, so he will likely attempt to match or exceed his goal total from last season.

Teemu Selanne

2010-11: 31 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 11 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 25 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 25 Goals

Teemu Selanne is a future Hall of Fame winger and probably the greatest player from Finland to ever lace up a pair of skates. He may be in his final season but he is still projected to score 25 goals.

This number suits Selanne but if for some reason he is dealt by an Anaheim team that could use some younger players, this number could slightly increase.

Jeff Skinner

2010-11: 31 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 12 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 29 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 19 Goals

Jeff Skinner is on an All-Star list of players who are currently sidelined with a concussion. There is no timetable for his return so there isn't an easy way to predict how many goals he will score.

I think Skinner may be out an extended period of time and will just barely miss hitting the 20-goal mark. This number could increase if he comes back healthy but he hasn't even resumed physical activities yet.

David Backes

2010-11: 31 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 11 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 25 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 23 Goals

David Backes had a career year for the St. Louis Blues last season. However, he appears to be returning to his career average. He is on pace to score 25 goals and 54 points, but in my opinion, Backes will score between 20 to 25 goals.

Ilya Kovalchuk

2010-11: 31 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 11 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 27 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 34 Goals

Ilya Kovalchuk is one of the most explosive scorers of the last decade. He is currently one of the rare players that average a point per game.

Kovalchuk is a great skater who takes his blazing speed, his agile movements and booming shot and wraps it all together in a perfect goal-scorer's package. He may be off to a slow start but Kovy has the ability to get things going in the near future.

Matt Moulson

2010-11: 31 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 16 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 38 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 35 Goals

Matt Moulson has quietly emerged as a talented goal scorer for the New York Islanders. He is in his fifth NHL season and has only gotten better from last year.

If Moulson can continue to score goals at a steady pace for the Islanders, he should have no problem scoring 30 or more again this season.

Drew Stafford

2010-11: 31 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 8 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 13 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 15 Goals

Drew Stafford is a young player who produced for the Sabres last season. However, this year has been a different story all together. He only has eight goals and is on pace to score 13. In my opinion, he is having a down year but can still score at least 15 goals.

Stafford is a young player who is just hitting a rough patch in his career.

Milan Lucic

2010-11: 30 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 12 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 29 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 27 Goals

Milan Lucic was an integral piece for the Boston Bruins last season when they won the Stanley Cup. Lucic is a player who is your standard power forward. He can hit, check, score and do a lot of the little things.

He is on pace to score 29 goals this season, but Lucic could fall just short of the mark when all is said and done at the end of the 2011-12 campaign.

Nikolai Kulemin

2010-11: 30 Goals

2011-12 to Date: 3 Goals

Projected 2011-12 Total: 6 Goals

Urtz's Ultimatum: 13 Goals

Nikolai Kulemin is simply having a bad season. He exceed expectations with a 30-goal outburst in the 2010-11 season. This year Kulemin is having a tough time hitting the back of the net.

While three goals in not impressive, Kulemin should at least score 10 goals or more by the time the 2011-12 season has come to a close.

Players That Didn't Score 30 Last Year but Will This Year

Here is a list of a few players that didn't score 30 goals last year but will score 30 or more this season. For the full list, click this link.

Marian Gaborik: 52-goal pace

James Neal: 48-goal pace

Milan Michalek: 46-goal pace

Scott Hartnell: 41-goal pace

Evander Kane: 39-goal pace

Tom Urtz is an NHL Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report.