The NHL In 2024: By The Numbers

After a busy New Year’s Eve for the NHL, including the latest installment of the Winter Classic in Chicago, 2024 is now in the books.

It was a memorable year, highlighted by the thrilling Stanley Cup final between the Florida Panthers and Edmonton Oilers.

With an assist from NHL Stats, here are some numbers that stand out from the year that was.

180

Total points by Connor McDavid in 2024, the most in the NHL and a career-best for the Edmonton Oilers captain after collecting 176 points in 2022.

In 2023-24, McDavid led the league with 84 points in 44 games after Jan. 1. He also led the playoffs with 42 points in 25 games, including an NHL-record 34 assists, and was named the winner of the Conn Smythe Trophy.

So far in 2024-25, McDavid tied for third in NHL scoring with 54 points in 34 games.

McDavid is just the third player in NHL history to record 180 points in a calendar year, after Wayne Gretzky (nine times) and Mario Lemieux (three times).

152

Most regular-season penalty minutes in 2024, by Nikita Zadorov.

The big defender split his minutes evenly between his two teams in 2024. He had 76 penalty minutes in 42 regular-season games with the Vancouver Canucks at the end of the 2023-24 season and shares the current league lead of 76 minutes with Boston Bruins teammate Mark Kastelic in 2024-25.

143

Most regular-season points in 2024, by Nathan MacKinnon.

The 2024 winner of the Hart Trophy and Ted Lindsay Award tallied 32 goals, 50 assists and 82 points in the last 45 games of the 2023-24 regular season, added 14 points in 11 playoff games for the Colorado Avalanche and currently leads the NHL with 61 points in 38 games in 2024-25.

110

Most points by a defenseman in 2024, by Cale Makar.

Makar logged 49 points in 45 games to close out the 2023-24 season, added 15 in 11 playoff games, and currently leads all defensemen with 46 points in 38 games in 2024-25.

Evan Bouchard closed out 2024 with 106 points in 109 games, and 2024 Norris Trophy winner Quinn Hughes tallied 99 points in 93 games, setting a Canucks franchise record for a defenseman.

The year marked the first time three defensemen finished with 99 points or more in a calendar year.

106.00 mph

The hardest shot recorded to date by NHL Edge.

Tage Thompson set the brand-new mark on the last day of 2024, in the third period of the Buffalo Sabres’ 4-2 loss to the Dallas Stars.

Thompson bested his own previous record of 104.69 mph from earlier this season, set on Oct. 26 against the Detroit Red Wings.

66

Total goals scored by Sam Reinhart in 2024, the most in the league.

Coming off a previous career high of 33 goals in a full season, the Florida Panthers right winger scored 34 times in 46 games to close out the 2023-24 regular season. He then added 10 more goals in the playoffs on the way to his first Stanley Cup. Now, after signing an eight-year extension to remain with the Panthers, he’s leading his team with 22 goals in 38 games so far in 2024-25.

Reinhart beat out Edmonton Oilers teammates Zach Hyman (62 goals) and Leon Draisaitl (61 goals) for the top spot in 2024. He also set a new Panthers franchise record, besting Pavel Bure's 58 goals in 2000.

While Auston Matthews captured the Rocket Richard Trophy last season with 69 goals, he had 40 goals to finish 2023-24, one in the playoffs and 11 so far in 2024-25. That's a total of 52 goals in the calendar year for the Toronto Maple Leafs captain.

52

Total wins by Sergei Bobrovsky in 2024, the most in the league.

Bobrovsky earned all 16 wins for the Panthers on their run to the Stanley Cup, following 19 wins to close out the 2023-24 season. He has 17 wins in 25 appearances so far in 2024-25.

Bobrovsky was one of three goalies to crack 50 wins in 2024, along with Jake Oettinger of the Dallas Stars (51) and Stuart Skinner of the Edmonton Oilers (50).

24.49 mph

Fastest skating speed recorded in 2024 by NHL Edge, by Martin Necas of the Carolina Hurricanes on Dec. 5 against the Colorado Avalanche.

21

Number of natural hat tricks scored in 2024, a new NHL record.

One of those was recorded by Mikko Rantanen, whose four hat tricks in 2024 led all players. A total of 106 hat tricks were recorded in 2024.

20

Number of seasons played by Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin.

In 2024, Ovechkin became the first player ever to score at least 40 goals in 14 calendar years (regular season and playoffs), passing the old record of 13 held by Brett Hull. The 39-year-old is now 25 goals away from passing Gretzky for the most NHL goals ever.

In 2024, Crosby averaged a point per game in a calendar year for the 19th time in his career, passing Gordie Howe and Joe Sakic (18 times each). Only one player has more: Gretzky (20).

15

Number of coaching changes made by NHL teams during the 2024 calendar year, including two by the New Jersey Devils.

The changes, by date:

• Jan. 20 - New York Islanders - Patrick Roy

• Feb. 2 - Los Angeles Kings - Jim Hiller

• March 4 - New Jersey Devils - Travis Green

• April 22 - Buffalo Sabres - Lindy Ruff

• May 7 - Ottawa Senators - Travis Green

• May 17 - Toronto Maple Leafs - Craig Berube

• May 23 - New Jersey Devils - Sheldon Keefe

• May 24 - Winnipeg Jets - Scott Arniel

• May 28 - Seattle Kraken - Dan Bylsma

• June 13 - San Jose Sharks - Ryan Warsofsky

• July 22 - Columbus Blue Jackets - Dean Evason

• Nov. 19 - Boston Bruins - Joe Sacco

• Nov. 24 - St. Louis Blues - Jim Montgomery

• Dec. 5 - Chicago Blackhawks - Anders Sorensen

• Dec. 26 - Detroit Red Wings - Todd McLellan

6

Number of episodes in Season 1 of the Prime Video docuseries Faceoff: Inside the NHL, which premiered on Oct. 4, 2024.

After taking fans behind the scenes of some of the biggest moments of the year, the NHL announced on Dec. 19 the series will return for Season 2 in 2025, with Brady Tkachuk of the Ottawa Senators as one of the featured players.

Related: 'Faceoff: Inside The NHL' Returns In Fall 2025, This Time Starring Senators' Brady Tkachuk

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