NHL’s Top 10 Goal Scorers Over the Last 5 Seasons

When you look at the top 10 NHL goal scorers over the past five seasons (2021-22 through 2025-26), a number of things jump out right away. First, who’s actually on top (and who’s not), and then what that really says about who’s been most consistent at finding the back of the net.

You can also spot a few surprises—names you expect might be higher (or lower), and a couple that maybe don’t get talked about enough. For me, the whole point of sorting it out is to see what the list is hinting at: who’s dominating because they’re in the right role, who’s locked in year after year, and what hockey fans already understand about why elite goal scorers remain elite.

Let’s take a quick look:

Top 10 NHL Goal Scorers (Last 5 Seasons)

Rank	Player	Goals	Games Played	Goals/Game
1	Leon Draisaitl	235	377	0.62
2	Auston Matthews	229	355	0.65
3	David Pastrňák	220	395	0.56
4	Connor McDavid	214	387	0.55
5	Nathan MacKinnon	210	385	0.55
6	Kirill Kaprizov	203	316	0.64
7	Alex Ovechkin	199	339	0.59
8	Tage Thompson	198	348	0.57
9	Jason Robertson	196	377	0.52
10	Kyle Connor	192	357	0.54

The Biggest Surprises Are?

The biggest surprise, honestly, is that McDavid isn’t #1 in goals in this window. He’s still up there (214 is elite), but it’s Draisaitl owning the top spot. That lines up with the reality that Draisaitl has been one of the NHL’s most dangerous finishers, while McDavid’s game has always been built around creating offence in multiple ways.

Another surprise: Matthews is right on his heels with 229 goals. That’s basically “no one has been able to stop Toronto’s engine” territory. It’s especially interesting because Matthews has had a couple of poor seasons by his standards.

The leading name (Draisaitl) is ahead because he’s consistently scoring at an elite level year after year and racking up a ton of goals across a pretty heavy number of games. The graphic also hints at something else: this isn’t just about one hot season—it’s about sustained production.

Might There Be Any Changes Next Season?

As for changes next season, the short answer is: yes. This list could shift fast. If players like Matthews keep getting the same kind of prime opportunities, or if a guy like Pastrnak continues to find his scoring rhythm, they can jump spots just by adding a couple dozen goals.

Meanwhile, injuries, line chemistry, power-play role changes, and goalie matchup trends can all swing goal totals more than people expect over the course of a year. So even though Draisaitl looks like the boss right now, the standings aren’t locked in stone—this kind of chart is always one season away from getting shaken up.

The bottom line is that Draisaitl leads because he has been the most consistent finisher. Matthews is right behind him despite seasons that didn’t feel like peak Matthews. McDavid proves that greatness isn’t always captured by goals alone.

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