NHL Records: The Art of ‘The Apple’—The Single-Season Assists Leaderboard
In the fast-paced world of professional hockey, the "apple"—the assist—is a testament to vision, unselfishness, creativity, and elite hockey IQ. While goal scorers often grab the headlines, the architects of the play define the game’s greatest eras. When we look at the NHL’s all-time list for most assists in a single season, we aren't just looking at a statistic; we are looking at “The Great One’s” personal diary.
The Gretzky Era: A Statistical Dynasty
To discuss the “Top 15 All-Time Assists in One Season” list is to essentially recap the career of Wayne Gretzky. Occupying an astounding 11 of the top 15 positions, Gretzky’s numbers remain the "gold standard" of sports records. His peak, the 1985-86 season, saw him record a mind-bending 163 assists. To put that in perspective, only a handful of players in history have even reached 163 total points in a season. Wayne Gretzky didn’t just play the game; he saw it three (or more) seconds before anyone else, turning the ice into his own personal chessboard.
Cool Fact: In 1985-86, Wayne Gretzky posted a 163-Assist season; if he did not score even one goal, he would have still won the Art Ross Trophy.
Joining the 100-Assist Club: Lemieux, Orr, McDavid, and Kucherov
While Wayne Gretzky owns the lion’s share of the record book, a few titans have managed to breach the "100-Assist Club." Mario Lemieux holds the record with 114 assists in 1988-89, and, in 1970-71, legendary defenseman, Bobby Orr became the first player to reach the 100-Assist season (102). More recently, Connor McDavid and Nikita Kucherov joined this pantheon in 2023-24, proving that elite playmaking is still alive in the modern, high-speed era.
Cool Fact: On April 15, 2024, Connor McDavid became the fourth player in NHL history to reach the 100-Assist season; 9-2 win over the San Jose Sharks. Two days later, on April 17, 2024, Nikita Kucherov became the fifth player in NHL history to reach the 100-Assist season; 6-4 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs.
100-Assist Club: The Ultimate Playmaking Legacy
Whether it was Wayne Gretzky’s office behind the net or Bobby Orr’s end-to-end rushes, the “Top 15 All-Time Assists in One Season” list represents the pinnacle of teamwork. Simply put, the ability to find a teammate through a seam remains one of the most beautiful skills in hockey.