Leading team in scoring by 50+ points

[Hockey Outsider]

This is a question based on a discussion on the main board. How many players have led their team in scoring by at least 50 points?

Here's what we have so far:

Player	Season	Team	Margin
Doug Gilmour	1993	Toronto	53
Guy Lafleur	1979	Montreal	52
Joe Sakic	1991	Quebec	50
Mario Lemieux	1986	Pittsburgh	58
Mario Lemieux	1988	Pittsburgh	89
Mario Lemieux	1989	Pittsburgh	84
Nikita Kucherov	2024	Tampa Bay	54
Paul Kariya	1996	Anaheim	64
Pavel Bure	2001	Florida	55
Steve Yzerman	1989	Detroit	62
Wayne Gretzky	1981	Edmonton	89
Wayne Gretzky	1982	Edmonton	107
Wayne Gretzky	1983	Edmonton	90
Wayne Gretzky	1984	Edmonton	89
Wayne Gretzky	1985	Edmonton	73
Wayne Gretzky	1986	Edmonton	77
Wayne Gretzky	1987	Edmonton	75
Wayne Gretzky	1991	Los Angeles	72

Close calls

• Nathan MacKinnon led the Avalanche in scoring by 43 points during the COVID-shortened 2020 season; he was on track to lead his team in scoring by exactly 50 points.
• Lemieux barely misses on a fourth season (in 1993 he led the Penguins by 49 points).
• Ovechkin led the 2006 Capitals in scoring by 49 points.
• Maruk led the 1982 Capitals in scoring by 49 points.

It's stunning how much Gretzky dominates this list. These numbers are so unreal they almost seem made up.

I thought Dionne would have done it, but his largest margin was 39 points in 1979.

Click to read more...

 

[revolverjgw]

Yzerman in '89, 62 more than Gallant

Lafleur in '79, 52 more than Shutt

Ovechkin missed this by 1 point! 49 more than Zubrus in '06

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Thought Ovechkin might have done it early on, but he missed it by 1 point (106-57) in his rookie season.

Edit: Just beaten to it.

 

[Hardyvan123]

This is a question based on a discussion on the main board. How many players have led their team in scoring by at least 50 points?

Here's what we have so far:

Player | Season | Team | Margin
Joe Sakic|1991|Quebec|50
Mario Lemieux|1986|Pittsburgh|58
Mario Lemieux|1988|Pittsburgh|89
Mario Lemieux|1989|Pittsburgh|84
Paul Kariya|1996|Anaheim|64
Pavel Bure|2001|Florida|55
Wayne Gretzky|1981|Edmonton|89
Wayne Gretzky|1982|Edmonton|107
Wayne Gretzky|1983|Edmonton|90
Wayne Gretzky|1984|Edmonton|89
Wayne Gretzky|1985|Edmonton|73
Wayne Gretzky|1986|Edmonton|77
Wayne Gretzky|1987|Edmonton|75
Wayne Gretzky|1991|Los Angeles|72

Lemieux barely misses on a fourth season (in 1993 he led the Penguins by 49 points).

It's stunning how much Gretzky dominates this list. These numbers are so unreal they almost seem made up.

It's not surprising to see Wayne on this list so many times for a couple of reasons.

The 1st is obvious that he was the greatest point producer of all time and the 2nd is that he played in the highest scoring era ever as well which makes it easier to get the 50 point threshold.

If the breakdown was % we would still see him on the list a lot because of his greatness but we would see other players as well and maybe more than 1 from post 96 but then again maybe not because the game has changed quite a bit as well (and it would depend on what % to signify what the 50 points used in this example was ).

 

[kmad]

So close. Dennis Maruk leads the 1981-82 Caps in scoring by 49 points - he has 136 to Ryan Walter's 87.

Guy Lafleur in 1978-79 - 129 pts; Steve Shutt in 2nd - 77 pts, difference of 52.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

I thought Dionne would have done it, but his largest margin was 39 points in 1979.

Lafleur in '79, 52 more than Shutt

A new point to use when someone says that Lafleur's stats were inflated (often relative to Dionne's) because of the team he played on.

 

[Hardyvan123]

Also as I have noted elsewhere Potvin leading his team in points by 4, 14, 3 and 8 points in his 1st 4 years in the league is a pretty impressive feat for a guy who played great 2 way D and was 20-23 years old during that stretch.

 

[Hockey Outsider]

If the breakdown was % we would still see him on the list a lot because of his greatness but we would see other players as well and maybe more than 1 from post 96 but then again maybe not because the game has changed quite a bit as well (and it would depend on what % to signify what the 50 points used in this example was ).

True - I agree that 50 points is an arbitrary number. Fifty points would be a larger percentage (and a more impressive feat) in a lower scoring era.

Team strength is also an important consideration. It's harder to lead a good team in scoring by such a large margin. Bure leading the terrible '01 Panthers by 50+ points is less impressive than Lafleur leading a dynasty team by 50+ points (era considerations notwithstanding).

Also as I have noted elsewhere Potvin leading his team in points by 4, 14, 3 and 8 points in his 1st 4 years in the league is a pretty impressive feat for a guy who played great 2 way D and was 20-23 years old during that stretch.

I still maintain that Potvin had the best peak of any defenseman after Orr, including Bourque and Lidstrom.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

Checked the "bad teams" superstars of the 80s - Stastny, Hawerchuk, and Savard - and all of them came close at least once, but never quite hit the mark.

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

I still maintain that Potvin had the best peak of any defenseman after Orr, including Bourque and Lidstrom.

I assume you mean of the guys you saw or are you including Harvey?

It seems like many (most?) people on this board who actually saw Potvin play say this about him (I didn't see him play, except in a few video clips).

 

[Hockey Outsider]

I assume you mean of the guys you saw or are you including Harvey?

It seems like many (most?) people on this board who actually saw Potvin play say this about him (I didn't see him play, except in a few video clips).

I said any defensemen after Orr, so that would exclude Harvey and Shore.

For the record I didn't see Potvin's best years (aside from games on VCR later on) but I agree - it certainly seems like most people who actually saw Potvin live think he had a better peak than Bourque and Lidstrom. Taking everything into accounts (opinions of those of watched, stats, reputation, role on the team, playoff performances) I think you can make a solid case that he was the best of the three (though he'd rank last on an all-time list due to retiring relatively young).

 

[TheDevilMadeMe]

I said any defensemen after Orr, so that would exclude Harvey and Shore.

Aha, I interpreted "after Orr" to mean "other than Orr" as in "the best player in the league today after Crosby is...." Interesting linguistic twist for those of us who care about such things.

(though he'd rank last on an all-time list due to retiring relatively young).

True, and being fairly injury prone during the 2nd half of his career. To a lesser extent, he suffered from the Lindros/Forsberg thing of playing a style that led to quite a few injuries.

 

[Hardyvan123]

A new point to use when someone says that Lafleur's stats were inflated (often relative to Dionne's) because of the team he played on.

The 79 year was an aberration since Lemaire was injured and played in only 50 games but still scored 55 points in those games.

Make no mistake Lafleur was the offensive force of those Habs teams but there was much more talent around him than Dionne ever enjoyed.

This is important because the biggest difference often made between the 2 players is playoff success, which is more of a team situation rather than a strictly individual one.

Not that playoff success should not be taken into consideration, especially for top performers on a team like Lafleur but more that others is worse team situations should not suffer in their evaluation as players like Dionne and Hawerchcuk to name 2 have suffered on these boards IMO.

 

[matnor]

The only one missing from the list would be Doug Gilmour in 92/93 who lead his team by 53 points. The list below should be all players who lead by at least 30 points (I assembled the list quite fast so I may have made some errors):

Name | Team | Season | Points | Margin| Margin in %
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1981/82 | 212 | 107 | 102%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1982/83 | 196 | 90 | 85%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1980/81 | 164 | 89 | 119%
Mario Lemieux | PIT | 1987/88 | 168 | 89 | 113%
Mario Lemieux | PIT | 1988/89 | 199 | 84 | 73%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1983/84 | 205 | 79 | 63%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1985/86 | 215 | 77 | 56%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1986/87 | 183 | 75 | 69%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1984/85 | 208 | 73 | 54%
Wayne Gretzky | LAK | 1990/91 | 163 | 72 | 79%
Paul Kariya | ANA | 1995/96 | 108 | 64 | 145%
Steve Yzerman | DET | 1988/89 | 155 | 62 | 67%
Mario Lemieux | PIT | 1985/86 | 141 | 58 | 70%
Pavel Bure | FLO | 2000/01 | 92 | 55 | 149%
Doug Gilmour | TOR | 1992/93 | 127 | 53 | 72%
Guy Lafleur | MTL | 1978/79 | 129 | 52 | 68%
Joe Sakic | QUE | 1990/91 | 109 | 50 | 85%
Alex Ovechkin | WAS | 2005/06 | 106 | 49 | 86%
Dennis Maruk | WAS | 1981/82 | 136 | 49 | 56%
Mario Lemieux | PIT | 1992/93 | 160 | 49 | 44%
Kent Nilsson | CAL | 1980/81 | 131 | 48 | 58%
Steve Yzerman | DET | 1989/90 | 127 | 47 | 59%
Pierre Turgeon | NYI | 1992/93 | 132 | 45 | 52%
Sidney Crosby | PIT | 2005/06 | 102 | 44 | 76%
Jaromir Jagr | NYR | 2005/06 | 123 | 44 | 56%
Jaromir Jagr | PIT | 1998/99 | 127 | 44 | 53%
Wayne Gretzky | LAK | 1993/94 | 130 | 44 | 51%
Alex Ovechkin | WAS | 2007/08 | 112 | 43 | 62%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1979/80 | 137 | 43 | 46%
Ziggy Palffy | LAK | 2002/03 | 85 | 42 | 98%
Dale Hawerchuk | WIN | 1987/88 | 121 | 42 | 53%
Denis Savard | CHI | 1987/88 | 131 | 42 | 47%
Peter Stastny | QUE | 1981/82 | 139 | 42 | 43%
Joe Thornton | SJS | 2007/08 | 96 | 41 | 75%
Wayne Gretzky | LAK | 1989/90 | 142 | 41 | 41%
Joe Sakic | QUE | 1989/90 | 102 | 40 | 65%
Dino Ciccarelli | MNS | 1986/87 | 103 | 40 | 63%
Brett Hull | STL | 1991/92 | 109 | 40 | 58%
Steve Yzerman | DET | 1992/93 | 137 | 40 | 41%
Adam Oates | BOS | 1992/93 | 142 | 40 | 39%
Marcel Dionne | LAK | 1978/79 | 130 | 39 | 43%
Luc Robitaille | LAK | 1998/99 | 74 | 38 | 106%
Mike Modano | DAL | 1995/96 | 81 | 38 | 88%
Alexei Yashin | OTT | 1998/99 | 94 | 38 | 68%
Luc Robitaille | LAK | 1992/93 | 125 | 38 | 44%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1987/88 | 149 | 38 | 34%
Pat LaFontaine | NYI | 1989/90 | 105 | 37 | 54%
Jeremy Roenick | CHI | 1993/94 | 107 | 37 | 53%
Pavel Bure | VAN | 1993/94 | 107 | 37 | 53%
Bobby Clarke | PHI | 1974/75 | 116 | 37 | 47%
Marcel Dionne | LAK | 1976/77 | 122 | 37 | 44%
Mark Recchi | PHI | 1992/93 | 123 | 37 | 43%
Dale Hawerchuk | WIN | 1985/86 | 105 | 36 | 52%
Mario Lemieux | PIT | 1986/87 | 107 | 36 | 51%
Joe Thornton | SJS | 2006/07 | 114 | 36 | 46%
Phil Esposito | BOS | 1968/69 | 126 | 36 | 40%
Mark Messier | EDM | 1989/90 | 129 | 36 | 39%
Marcel Dionne | LAK | 1979/80 | 137 | 36 | 36%
Mike Bullard | PIT | 1983/84 | 92 | 35 | 61%
Sidney Crosby | PIT | 2006/07 | 120 | 35 | 41%
Guy Lafleur | MTL | 1977/78 | 132 | 35 | 36%
Teemu Selanne | WIN | 1992/93 | 132 | 35 | 36%
Vincent Damphousse | TOR | 1990/91 | 73 | 34 | 87%
Red Berenson | STL | 1968/69 | 82 | 34 | 71%
Mats Sundin | TOR | 1996/97 | 94 | 34 | 57%
Doug Weight | EDM | 1995/96 | 104 | 34 | 49%
Evgeni Malkin | PIT | 2007/08 | 106 | 34 | 47%
Jeremy Roenick | CHI | 1992/93 | 107 | 34 | 47%
Denis Savard | CHI | 1981/82 | 119 | 34 | 40%
Marcel Dionne | DET | 1974/75 | 121 | 34 | 39%
Guy Lafleur | MTL | 1979/80 | 125 | 34 | 37%
Andy Bathgate | NYR | 1956/57 | 77 | 33 | 75%
Teemu Selanne | ANA | 1997/98 | 86 | 33 | 62%
Olli Jokinen | FLO | 2005/06 | 89 | 33 | 59%
Pat LaFontaine | BUF | 1995/96 | 91 | 33 | 57%
Doug Gilmour | STL | 1986/87 | 105 | 33 | 46%
Garry Unger | STL | 1972/73 | 80 | 32 | 67%
Bobby Clarke | PHI | 1971/72 | 81 | 32 | 65%
Ilya Kovalchuk | ATL | 2003/04 | 87 | 32 | 58%
Jarome Iginla | CAL | 2007/08 | 98 | 32 | 48%
Sidney Crosby | PIT | 2009/10 | 109 | 32 | 42%
Shane Doan | PHO | 2008/09 | 73 | 31 | 74%
Miroslav Satan | BUF | 2002/03 | 75 | 31 | 70%
Peter Bondra | WAS | 1996/97 | 77 | 31 | 67%
Ilya Kovalchuk | ATL | 2007/08 | 87 | 31 | 55%
Denis Savard | CHI | 1982/83 | 121 | 31 | 34%
Guy Lafleur | MTL | 1976/77 | 136 | 31 | 30%
Mike Modano | DAL | 1996/97 | 83 | 30 | 57%
Mike Modano | DAL | 2002/03 | 85 | 30 | 55%
Brian Bradley | TBL | 1992/93 | 86 | 30 | 54%
Pavel Bure | VAN | 1997/98 | 90 | 30 | 50%
Bernie Federko | STL | 1979/80 | 94 | 30 | 47%
Jaromir Jagr | PIT | 1999/00 | 96 | 30 | 45%
Darryl Sittler | TOR | 1977/78 | 117 | 30 | 34%

 

[matnor]

And here are the players with who had more than a 50% lead on the second scorer on the team:

Name | Team | Season | Points | Margin| Margin in %
Jimmy Herberts | BOS | 1924/25 | 24 | 16 | 200%
Pavel Bure | FLO | 2000/01 | 92 | 55 | 149%
Paul Kariya | ANA | 1995/96 | 108 | 64 | 145%
Joe Malone | QUB | 1919/20 | 49 | 29 | 145%
Cy Denneny | OTS | 1917/18 | 46 | 26 | 130%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1980/81 | 164 | 89 | 119%
Mario Lemieux | PIT | 1987/88 | 168 | 89 | 113%
Luc Robitaille | LAK | 1998/99 | 74 | 38 | 106%
Newsy Lalonde | MTL | 1920/21 | 43 | 22 | 105%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1981/82 | 212 | 107 | 102%
Ziggy Palffy | LAK | 2002/03 | 85 | 42 | 98%
Mike Modano | DAL | 1995/96 | 81 | 38 | 88%
Vincent Damphousse | TOR | 1990/91 | 73 | 34 | 87%
Alex Ovechkin | WAS | 2005/06 | 106 | 49 | 86%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1982/83 | 196 | 90 | 85%
Joe Sakic | QUE | 1990/91 | 109 | 50 | 85%
Cy Denneny | OTS | 1924/25 | 42 | 19 | 83%
Wayne Gretzky | LAK | 1990/91 | 163 | 72 | 79%
Nels Stewart | MTM | 1927/28 | 34 | 15 | 79%
Howie Morenz | MTL | 1926/27 | 32 | 14 | 78%
Newsy Lalonde | MTL | 1919/20 | 46 | 20 | 77%
Sidney Crosby | PIT | 2005/06 | 102 | 44 | 76%
Andy Bathgate | NYR | 1956/57 | 77 | 33 | 75%
Nels Stewart | MTM | 1925/26 | 42 | 18 | 75%
George Hay | DTC | 1927/28 | 35 | 15 | 75%
Joe Thornton | SJS | 2007/08 | 96 | 41 | 75%
Shane Doan | PHO | 2008/09 | 73 | 31 | 74%
Mario Lemieux | PIT | 1988/89 | 199 | 84 | 73%
Normie Himes | NYA | 1929/30 | 50 | 21 | 72%
Doug Gilmour | TOR | 1992/93 | 127 | 53 | 72%
Ebbie Goodfellow | DTF | 1930/31 | 48 | 20 | 71%
Red Berenson | STL | 1968/69 | 82 | 34 | 71%
Miroslav Satan | BUF | 2002/03 | 75 | 31 | 70%
Mario Lemieux | PIT | 1985/86 | 141 | 58 | 70%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1986/87 | 183 | 75 | 69%
Billy Burch | HAM | 1923/24 | 22 | 9 | 69%
Alexei Yashin | OTT | 1998/99 | 94 | 38 | 68%
Guy Lafleur | MTL | 1978/79 | 129 | 52 | 68%
Peter Bondra | WAS | 1996/97 | 77 | 31 | 67%
Steve Yzerman | DET | 1988/89 | 155 | 62 | 67%
Garry Unger | STL | 1972/73 | 80 | 32 | 67%
Mariusz Czerkawski | NYI | 1999/100 | 70 | 28 | 67%
Nels Stewart | MTM | 1929/30 | 55 | 22 | 67%
Tommy Williams | WAS | 1974/75 | 58 | 23 | 66%
Bobby Clarke | PHI | 1971/72 | 81 | 32 | 65%
Guy Charron | KCS | 1975/76 | 71 | 28 | 65%
Joe Sakic | QUE | 1989/90 | 102 | 40 | 65%
Dino Ciccarelli | MNS | 1986/87 | 103 | 40 | 63%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1983/84 | 205 | 79 | 63%
Johnny Gottselig | CHI | 1938/39 | 39 | 15 | 63%
Vic Ripley | CHI | 1928/29 | 13 | 5 | 63%
Alex Ovechkin | WAS | 2007/08 | 112 | 43 | 62%
Teemu Selanne | ANA | 1997/98 | 86 | 33 | 62%
Mike Bullard | PIT | 1983/84 | 92 | 35 | 61%
Joe Malone | MTL | 1917/18 | 48 | 18 | 60%
Billy Burch | NYA | 1928/29 | 16 | 6 | 60%
Ray Ferraro | NYI | 1994/95 | 43 | 16 | 59%
Theoren Fleury | CAL | 1997/98 | 78 | 29 | 59%
Olli Jokinen | FLO | 2005/06 | 89 | 33 | 59%
Billy Burch | NYA | 1926/27 | 27 | 10 | 59%
Howie Morenz | MTL | 1928/29 | 27 | 10 | 59%
Steve Yzerman | DET | 1989/90 | 127 | 47 | 59%
Ilya Kovalchuk | ATL | 2003/04 | 87 | 32 | 58%
Brett Hull | STL | 1991/92 | 109 | 40 | 58%
Kent Nilsson | CAL | 1980/81 | 131 | 48 | 58%
Mats Sundin | TOR | 1997/98 | 74 | 27 | 57%
Mike Modano | DAL | 2001/02 | 77 | 28 | 57%
Pat LaFontaine | BUF | 1995/96 | 91 | 33 | 57%
Mats Sundin | TOR | 1996/97 | 94 | 34 | 57%
Mike Modano | DAL | 1996/97 | 83 | 30 | 57%
Daniel Alfredsson | OTT | 1995/96 | 61 | 22 | 56%
Dennis Maruk | WAS | 1981/82 | 136 | 49 | 56%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1985/86 | 215 | 77 | 56%
Jaromir Jagr | NYR | 2005/06 | 123 | 44 | 56%
Ilya Kovalchuk | ATL | 2007/08 | 87 | 31 | 55%
Jarome Iginla | CAL | 2003/04 | 73 | 26 | 55%
Bill Cowley | BOS | 1940/41 | 62 | 22 | 55%
Alexei Yashin | OTT | 1993/94 | 79 | 28 | 55%
Mike Modano | DAL | 2002/03 | 85 | 30 | 55%
Pat LaFontaine | NYI | 1989/90 | 105 | 37 | 54%
Wayne Gretzky | EDM | 1984/85 | 208 | 73 | 54%
Dustin Penner | EDM | 2009/10 | 63 | 22 | 54%
Jeff Friesen | SJS | 1997/98 | 63 | 22 | 54%
Brian Bradley | TBL | 1992/93 | 86 | 30 | 54%
Dale Hawerchuk | WIN | 1987/88 | 121 | 42 | 53%
Jaromir Jagr | PIT | 1998/99 | 127 | 44 | 53%
Jeremy Roenick | PHO | 1999/100 | 78 | 27 | 53%
Bill Carson | TOR | 1927/28 | 26 | 9 | 53%
Jeremy Roenick | CHI | 1993/94 | 107 | 37 | 53%
Pavel Bure | VAN | 1993/94 | 107 | 37 | 53%
Red Sullivan | CHI | 1954/55 | 61 | 21 | 52%
Dale Hawerchuk | WIN | 1985/86 | 105 | 36 | 52%
Miroslav Satan | BUF | 2001/02 | 73 | 25 | 52%
Ryan Getzlaf | AND | 2007/08 | 82 | 28 | 52%
Pat LaFontaine | NYI | 1990/91 | 85 | 29 | 52%
Pierre Turgeon | NYI | 1992/93 | 132 | 45 | 52%
Howie Morenz | MTL | 1929/30 | 50 | 17 | 52%
Wayne Gretzky | LAK | 1993/94 | 130 | 44 | 51%
Robert Lang | WAS | 2003/04 | 74 | 25 | 51%
Mario Lemieux | PIT | 1986/87 | 107 | 36 | 51%
Pavel Bure | VAN | 1997/98 | 90 | 30 | 50%
Ron Francis | HAR | 1987/88 | 75 | 25 | 50%
Alexei Yashin | OTT | 1997/98 | 72 | 24 | 50%

 

[VanIslander]

The 50-point lead calculus isn't just arbitrary, it's modern biased. In 1939 the top scorer (Toe Blake) only had 47 points! An equally arbitrary lesser number ought to have been applied to older eras.

Nice to see matnor's percentage analysis chart. To give a clearer picture of earlier era, pre-modern expansion, here are the pre-1970s NHL players with who had more than a 50% lead on the second scorer on the team:

Name | Team | Season | Points | Margin| Margin in %
Jimmy Herberts | BOS | 1924/25 | 24 | 16 | 200%
Joe Malone | QUB | 1919/20 | 49 | 29 | 145%
Cy Denneny | OTS | 1917/18 | 46 | 26 | 130%
Newsy Lalonde | MTL | 1920/21 | 43 | 22 | 105%
Cy Denneny | OTS | 1924/25 | 42 | 19 | 83%
Nels Stewart | MTM | 1927/28 | 34 | 15 | 79%
Howie Morenz | MTL | 1926/27 | 32 | 14 | 78%
Newsy Lalonde | MTL | 1919/20 | 46 | 20 | 77%
Andy Bathgate | NYR | 1956/57 | 77 | 33 | 75%
Nels Stewart | MTM | 1925/26 | 42 | 18 | 75%
George Hay | DTC | 1927/28 | 35 | 15 | 75%
Normie Himes | NYA | 1929/30 | 50 | 21 | 72%
Ebbie Goodfellow | DTF | 1930/31 | 48 | 20 | 71%
Billy Burch | HAM | 1923/24 | 22 | 9 | 69%
Nels Stewart | MTM | 1929/30 | 55 | 22 | 67%
Johnny Gottselig | CHI | 1938/39 | 39 | 15 | 63%
Vic Ripley | CHI | 1928/29 | 13 | 5 | 63%
Joe Malone | MTL | 1917/18 | 48 | 18 | 60%
Billy Burch | NYA | 1928/29 | 16 | 6 | 60%
Billy Burch | NYA | 1926/27 | 27 | 10 | 59%
Howie Morenz | MTL | 1928/29 | 27 | 10 | 59%
Bill Cowley | BOS | 1940/41 | 62 | 22 | 55%
Bill Carson | TOR | 1927/28 | 26 | 9 | 53%
Red Sullivan | CHI | 1954/55 | 61 | 21 | 52%
Howie Morenz | MTL | 1929/30 | 50 | 17 | 52%

One notices lots from early era NHL and not so many from the Original Six era, just Bathgate and Sullivan actually. Interesting. What do you make of it?

 

[Hockey Outsider]

The only one missing from the list would be Doug Gilmour in 92/93 who lead his team by 53 points.

Thanks for the list! So we did a pretty good job putting the list together.

One notices lots from early era NHL and not so many from the Original Six era, just Bathgate and Sullivan actually. Interesting. What do you make of it?

Small sample sizes. The season lengths were quite short pre-Original Six era, so a hot streak by the team's leading scorer (and/or a cold streak by the team's next best scorer) could make a big impact on the percentage lead.

A hot streak with even an extra 5-10 points might not be huge on a percentage basis over 82 games, but it could make a big difference when the season is only a few dozen games long.

 

[pappyline]

Not sure why they are almost all from the early era. maybe because the top players got a lot more ice time.

Regarding Sullivan in 54-55, Chicago really didn't have a top flight player until Litzenberger joined the team in december, was put on Sullivan's line & went on a roll. If you count litz's Hab stats the difference drops to about 20%. If Litz had been there the whole year he likely would have finished ahead of sullivan.

Bathgate in 56-57 is interesting. Shows how valuable he was & how little depth that team had even though they made the playoffs.


'

 

[Hardyvan123]

The 50-point lead calculus isn't just arbitrary, it's modern biased. In 1939 the top scorer (Toe Blake) only had 47 points! An equally arbitrary lesser number ought to have been applied to older eras.

Nice to see matnor's percentage analysis chart. To give a clearer picture of earlier era, pre-modern expansion, here are the pre-1970s NHL players with who had more than a 50% lead on the second scorer on the team:

Name | Team | Season | Points | Margin| Margin in %
Jimmy Herberts | BOS | 1924/25 | 24 | 16 | 200%
Joe Malone | QUB | 1919/20 | 49 | 29 | 145%
Cy Denneny | OTS | 1917/18 | 46 | 26 | 130%
Newsy Lalonde | MTL | 1920/21 | 43 | 22 | 105%
Cy Denneny | OTS | 1924/25 | 42 | 19 | 83%
Nels Stewart | MTM | 1927/28 | 34 | 15 | 79%
Howie Morenz | MTL | 1926/27 | 32 | 14 | 78%
Newsy Lalonde | MTL | 1919/20 | 46 | 20 | 77%
Andy Bathgate | NYR | 1956/57 | 77 | 33 | 75%
Nels Stewart | MTM | 1925/26 | 42 | 18 | 75%
George Hay | DTC | 1927/28 | 35 | 15 | 75%
Normie Himes | NYA | 1929/30 | 50 | 21 | 72%
Ebbie Goodfellow | DTF | 1930/31 | 48 | 20 | 71%
Billy Burch | HAM | 1923/24 | 22 | 9 | 69%
Nels Stewart | MTM | 1929/30 | 55 | 22 | 67%
Johnny Gottselig | CHI | 1938/39 | 39 | 15 | 63%
Vic Ripley | CHI | 1928/29 | 13 | 5 | 63%
Joe Malone | MTL | 1917/18 | 48 | 18 | 60%
Billy Burch | NYA | 1928/29 | 16 | 6 | 60%
Billy Burch | NYA | 1926/27 | 27 | 10 | 59%
Howie Morenz | MTL | 1928/29 | 27 | 10 | 59%
Bill Cowley | BOS | 1940/41 | 62 | 22 | 55%
Bill Carson | TOR | 1927/28 | 26 | 9 | 53%
Red Sullivan | CHI | 1954/55 | 61 | 21 | 52%
Howie Morenz | MTL | 1929/30 | 50 | 17 | 52%

One notices lots from early era NHL and not so many from the Original Six era, just Bathgate and Sullivan actually. Interesting. What do you make of it?

Small sample sizes so easier for small runs to appear larger and also lack of secondary assists being given out (less total points overall/goal) are the 2 most obvious that come to mind without looking at it too deeply.

 

[vadim sharifijanov]

A new point to use when someone says that Lafleur's stats were inflated (often relative to Dionne's) because of the team he played on.

but lafleur had better teammates, which helped him be more better than them...

 

[lextune]

For the record I didn't see Potvin's best years (aside from games on VCR later on) but I agree - it certainly seems like most people who actually saw Potvin live think he had a better peak than Bourque and Lidstrom. Taking everything into accounts (opinions of those of watched, stats, reputation, role on the team, playoff performances) I think you can make a solid case that he was the best of the three (though he'd rank last on an all-time list due to retiring relatively young).

I saw most of Potvin's career.

If we define peak as best single season; I have to go with Bourque in 89/90.
I would, however, give the edge in prime, (best 3 or 4 year stretch), to Potvin.

 

[100mph slapshot]

This is a question based on a discussion on the main board. How many players have led their team in scoring by at least 50 points?

Here's what we have so far:

Player | Season | Team | Margin
Guy Lafleur|1989|Montreal|52
Joe Sakic|1991|Quebec|50
Mario Lemieux|1986|Pittsburgh|58
Mario Lemieux|1988|Pittsburgh|89
Mario Lemieux|1989|Pittsburgh|84
Paul Kariya|1996|Anaheim|64
Pavel Bure|2001|Florida|55
Steve Yzerman|1989|Detroit|62
Wayne Gretzky|1981|Edmonton|89
Wayne Gretzky|1982|Edmonton|107
Wayne Gretzky|1983|Edmonton|90
Wayne Gretzky|1984|Edmonton|89
Wayne Gretzky|1985|Edmonton|73
Wayne Gretzky|1986|Edmonton|77
Wayne Gretzky|1987|Edmonton|75
Wayne Gretzky|1991|Los Angeles|72

Close calls
- Lemieux barely misses on a fourth season (in 1993 he led the Penguins by 49 points).
- Ovechkin led the 2006 Capitals in scoring by 49 points.
- Maruk led the 1982 Capitals in scoring by 49 points.

It's stunning how much Gretzky dominates this list. These numbers are so unreal they almost seem made up.

I thought Dionne would have done it, but his largest margin was 39 points in 1979.

Kariya and Selanne both had 108 points in 95-96. Selanne was traded to Anaheim during the season.

 

[Dennis Bonvie]

Also as I have noted elsewhere Potvin leading his team in points by 4, 14, 3 and 8 points in his 1st 4 years in the league is a pretty impressive feat for a guy who played great 2 way D and was 20-23 years old during that stretch.

This is a remarkable feat.

Potvin pretty much played at an all-star level right out of junior. He was already built like a pro, not a kid.

I saw him play an exhibition game in New Haven and he beat the crap out of some minor leaguer who apparently thought it would be a good idea to challenge the whiz kid.

 

[I Hate Blake Coleman]

Kariya and Selanne both had 108 points in 95-96. Selanne was traded to Anaheim during the season.

Selanne still only scored about 37 or so points in a Duck uniform that season though.

 

[seventieslord]

Selanne still only scored about 37 or so points in a Duck uniform that season though.

I agree, I would look at it the same way for the purposes of this question.