Thirty years ago, in 1985-86, Wayne Gretzky scored 215 points to set the all-time NHL single-season points record. That same year, 20 players scored more than the 87 points that earned Jamie Benn the Art Ross Trophy as the league's leading scorer last season, according to Hockey Reference.
Similarly, Alex Ovechkin's now-dominant 53-goal season would only have tied him for fifth place in the goal-scoring race back in the mid-80s, alongside Michel Goulet. Gretzky actually scored just 52 goals for the Edmonton Oilers in 1985-86—he barely made the top three in goal-scoring on his own team!
Gretzky's linemate Jari Kurri collected 68 goals that year, leading the league, while another Oiler, Glenn Anderson, scored 54. Also ahead of Ovechkin's current benchmark, Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders notched 61 goals in 1985-86 and Tim Kerr of the Philadelphia Flyers had 58.
The point? It is downright tough to put up points in the National Hockey League these days. Tight defensive systems that emphasize low-risk hockey and bigger, better athletes tending goal are making it harder and harder for the game's top snipers to challenge for individual scori ...
Read Full Article at Bleacher Report - NHL
Article written by Carol Schram
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