NHL 2026-27 season set to open Sept. 29 with a slate of potential career milestones

By Vancouver Television Sports Desk

The 2026-27 NHL season begins Sept. 29, and NHL.com projects that it could feature a wide range of career milestones for several of the league’s most established stars, from record-setting goals and point totals to landmark totals for goaltenders and coaches. The potential achievements span multiple teams and generations, with several players entering the season only a short distance from major statistical plateaus in goals, assists, and career points.

One of the most prominent milestones involves Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin. NHL.com reports that Ovechkin already holds the regular-season record for most goals (929) and is 21 goals away from reaching 950. The league’s preview also places him 10 goals short of Wayne Gretzky’s all-time mark of 1,016 when combining regular-season and Stanley Cup Playoffs goals, entering the season with 1,006 goals in the regular season and playoffs combined.

Another high-profile chase is centered on Pittsburgh Penguins captain Sidney Crosby. NHL.com writes that Crosby ranks second in goals among active players with 654 and could reach 700 if he scores 46 more goals. It also notes that Crosby has managed a season total of at least 46 goals once in his 21 NHL seasons, when he scored 51 in 2009-10. If Crosby reaches 36 more goals, NHL.com says he would tie Mario Lemieux for the Penguins’ all-time lead with 690.

NHL.com also highlights the possibility of multiple players reaching the 400-goal milestone during the 2026-27 season. The targets listed include Matt Duchene of the Dallas Stars, who has 387 goals and is 13 away, as well as Claude Giroux of the Ottawa Senators (379, needing 21), Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets (372, needing 28), Tyler Seguin of the Dallas Stars (376, needing 33), and Filip Forsberg of the Nashville Predators (358, needing 42).

On the assists and points side, NHL.com points to several players who could reach landmark totals over the course of the season. Three future Hockey Hall of Famers are in range for 900 assists, according to the preview: Patrick Kane of the Chicago Blackhawks, entering with 892 and needing eight; Evgeni Malkin of the Pittsburgh Penguins, entering with 874 and needing 26; and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid, entering with 811 and needing 89. NHL.com also notes McDavid had 90 assists last season and has reached 89 in a season three times in his 11 NHL seasons.

NHL.com further maps out Crosby’s position in the all-time points chase. It reports Crosby ranks seventh in NHL history with 1,761 points, is 10 points from tying Marcel Dionne for seventh at 1,771, and is 37 points from tying Ron Francis for fifth at 1,798. The preview says he could become the fifth player to reach 1,800 points, joining Gordie Howe (1,850), Mark Messier (1,887), Jaromir Jagr (1,921) and Gretzky (2,857).

Ovechkin also has a separate points milestone in focus. NHL.com says Ovechkin is entering the season with 1,687 points and needs 13 points to become the 10th player ever with 1,700 points. It adds that he could also climb the all-time list by passing Lemieux (1,723) and Steve Yzerman (1,755) to reach eighth all-time.

Beyond the two captains, NHL.com reports there could be as many as eight players reaching 1,000 points during the 2026-27 season. Jamie Benn of the Stars is listed as eight points away at 992, and Corey Perry of the Los Angeles Kings is shown at 972, needing 28 points. The preview also names Artemi Panarin of the Kings (954, needing 46), David Pastrnak of the Boston Bruins (933, needing 47), and Colorado Avalanche defenseman Brent Burns (945, needing 55). It further notes Duchene and Erik Karlsson of the Pittsburgh Penguins are each at 936 and need 64 points, while Scheifele is at 907 and needs 93 points.

Durability and games-played milestones are another thread in NHL.com’s look ahead. It lists Burns as ranking 14th all-time in games played with 1,579, and Ovechkin as ranking 15th with 1,573. NHL.com reports Burns is entering his 23rd NHL season, has played 1,007 consecutive games, and that streak ranks second all-time behind Phil Kessel (1,064). For Ovechkin, NHL.com notes he has played at least 80 games in eight seasons and is entering season No. 22.

Coaching milestones are also part of the potential storylines. NHL.com highlights longtime NHL coach Lindy Ruff, who enters the season with 1,938 games and is 62 from becoming the third coach to reach 2,000 games, behind Scotty Bowman (2,141) and Paul Maurice (2,012). It also states that Ruff has a record of 950-741-169 with 78 ties in 25 seasons with the Buffalo Sabres, New Jersey Devils and Dallas Stars. The preview adds that Ruff needs 50 more wins to reach 1,000, a number he reached last season with the Sabres.

Finally, NHL.com identifies milestone proximity in goaltending. It notes Toronto Maple Leafs goalie Sergei Bobrovsky has an outside chance to become the fourth player in NHL history with 500 wins. NHL.com reports he enters with 456 wins and is three behind Henrik Lundqvist for sixth all-time, 28 behind Ed Belfour for fifth, and 33 behind Roberto Luongo for fourth. It also flags that Bobrovsky has won at least 30 games eight times in 16 NHL seasons but has topped 40 wins only once (41 in 2016-17), suggesting the milestone may not be reached until the 2027-28 season.

NHL.com also spotlights Andrei Vasilevskiy, whose 370 wins place him 30 wins from 400 and 21st all-time. The preview says Vasilevskiy has won at least 30 games in nine straight seasons and, if he stays healthy, the two-time Vezina Trophy winner (2019, 2026) should become the 16th goalie in the 400-win club during the 2026-27 season.

Taken together, the league’s projections outline a calendar where several established players and prominent coaches could cross major career statistical thresholds in categories that often define legacies. With the season opening Sept. 29, the focus quickly shifts from preseason context to which of these milestone thresholds will be realized as games accumulate.