Most Likely Active NHL Players to Reach 600-Goal Mark

Sidney Crosby reached 600 goals in his NHL career on Friday. Are there any other active players who can join him?

Sidney Crosby added to his legacy this week when he scored his 600th NHL goal. He potted a pretty one-timer while the Pittsburgh Penguins were playing the Utah Hockey Club and the rest of the team flooded the ice to celebrate. One of the greats of the game did something only 21 people had done as well.

It begs the question, is there anyone else actively playing in the NHL who has a chance to reach the same milestone?

Steven Stamkos Is the Closest Right Now

With 562 goals, Steven Stamkos is just 38 goals away from reaching 600. Having recently signed a four-year deal with the Nashville Predators, there’s every reason to believe he’ll get there.

Steven Stamkos is the closest active player to 600.

With seven goals in 21 games this season, it’s unlikely Stamkos will get there this season, but he’ll have three more cracks at it with a team that is looking to be competitive. Yes, Stamkos is getting older, but his production hasn’t dropped off a cliff and he’s still only 34 years old.

Auston Matthews

Health concerns will be the only reason Auston Matthews doesn’t reach the 600-goal mark, should he not get there. He’s on pace to potentially do the same thing Alex Ovechkin is doing, which is to challenge Wayne Gretzky’s goal-scoring record, but Matthews can’t seem to stay healthy, and the area where he’s often injured in places that affect his shot.

Matthews sits at 373 goals. If he plays eight more seasons (he’s only 27 years old) he would need to score at a 29-goal-per-season pace to get there. One would think he could easily do that.

Leon Draisaitl

Having just signed an eight-year extension that kicks in next season, Leon Draisaitl should reach 600 goals without much issue. He’s tied for the lead league in goals right now with 16, and he’s averaged 45 goals per season since 2018. That includes some shortened seasons where he still scored at an incredible pace.

Draisaitl sits at 363 goals and he’s been fairly healthy throughout his career (at least he plays and produces through injuries). If he averages 30 goals per season over the span of his next deal, he’ll reach 600 easily. And, that’s not factoring in this season, which could see him around 400 goals by the time the 2024-25 campaign comes to a close.

David Pastrnak