NHL Career Milestones

Author:
SI Staff
Publish date:
Oct 11, 2006

NHL Career Milestones

Jaromir Jagr

The Rangers captain began the season nine goals shy of 600, a milestone reached on opening night by his new teammate Brendan Shanahan, who became only the 15th player to hit the mark. (By way of comparison, 22 major league pitchers have 300 wins.) Jagr also needed 68 points to reach 1,500 for his career and put him within striking distance next season of the all-time top 10 scorers.

Joe Sakic

The Avs captain opened the season 26 goals shy of 600 and as the career leader in assists among active players (915). He needs 11 helpers to tie Hall of Famer Stan Mikita for 14th all-time, and if he gets 50 (he had 55 last season), he'll move into the top 10. Sakic also needs 43 points to pass Paul Coffey (1,579) and enter the top 10 scorers.

Martin Brodeur

The two-time Vezina winner opened the season with a 4-0 blanking of Carolina that tied him with Terry Sawchuk for third on the all-time wins list (447), and with Alex Connell and Tiny Thompson for fifth in shutouts (81). Brodeur's next bucket of whitewash will tie him with Jacques Plante, only two shy of Glenn Hall. By the end of the season he should be alone in third place.

Ed Belfour

Now that he's splitting time with Alex Auld, the Eagle will have to fight to stay ahead of Martin Brodeur on the victories list (Belfour opened with 457) while taking aim at Tony Esposito, who is only one shutout ahead of him, in eighth place (76).

Chris Chelios

No active player has appeared in more games than this iron-horse backliner. He entered the season nine away from Wayne Gretzky, who ranks 12th on the all-time list (1,497). By the beginning of January (game 39), Chelios should pass former teammate Steve Yzerman into the top 10 and begin closing in on John Bucyk (1,540, seventh) and Alex Delvecchio (1,549, eighth).

Mats Sundin

His next goal will give him 500, a mark attained by only 34 players in NHL history. (By comparison, 20 major leaguers have hit 500 or more home runs.)

Teemu Selanne

He entered the season needing eight goals to reach 500.

Mike Modano

Still flying at age 36, the Stars' franchise leader in goals needs 15 more for 500.

Mark Recchi

The 17-year veteran needs 16 goals to reach 500. The last time Recchi failed to score 20 or more in a season was back in 1998-99.

Jeremy Roenick

A return to health and form should easily produce the 16 goals he needs to reach 500.

Rod Brind'Amour

The `Canes captain's first assist this season will give him 600. He also came into the season needing 19 points to reach 1,000. The 600/1,000 mark has been attained by only nine players who were active on opening night.

Peter Forsberg

He began the campaign 19 assists shy of 600, a mark that will place him within 60 helpers of the top 50 all-time. Forsberg, who has been slowed by injury in recent years, can approach or top 70 assists in a season when fully healthy.

NHL Career Milestones