One season in the NHL in which a hockey player scores 40 or more goals is routine for a player like Alexander Ovechkin. This mark has been surpassed 623 times in the history of the overseas elite league. This was not uncommon, especially during the 1970s and 1980s.
The 2019-20 season saw five players crack the 40-goal mark in the NHL regular season, even though the season was interrupted by a coronavirus outbreak. Last season, when teams played only 56 games, Auston Matthews was even able to reach that milestone.
Once in a while, however, somebody shows up to score more than forty goals in a single season, and then you never hear about them again in that context. Some manage to do it early in their careers, and others find the right chemistry with their teammates and manage to double their usual number of goals. In the chapters below, you will find the 20 most surprising 40-goal scorers in NHL history.
Season 2010/11 was one of the best in the history of the Vancouver Canucks. And much of the credit goes to Daniel Sedin. This Swedish forward has scored around 30 goals per season throughout his career, compared to his brother Henrik who has hovered between 80 and 100. However, Daniel has been absolutely phenomenal in 2010/11. He became the Canadian top scorer with 41 goals and 63 assists. He never scored more than 100 points in his career, before or after. Likewise, he has not topped the 40-goal mark in any other season.
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