What Is A Point In Ice Hockey? A Guide To Points In The NHL

Points in ice hockey is a common term that could refer to a stat or a position in ice hockey. When points are referred to in terms of a stat is either talking about the statistics of a player or a team. In this article, we will be looking at the meanings the word “point” has in ice hockey. First, we are starting with the point as an ice hockey stat. 

About Points In The NHL (Stat)

Points have always been a part of ice hockey. The point system currently used in the NHL is rooted in the European/British manner of awarding points. This is because the originating country of the NHL (Canada) was colonized by the British at the time ice hockey was played. 

Before the 2004-05 NHL season, there were three possible outcomes to a game; a win, loss, or tie. Back then a win was awarded two points, a loss is awarded zero points, and a tie is awarded one point to the tied teams. In addition, due to a rule during the 1999-2000 season, a team that lost in overtime was given a point for making it to overtime.

However, after the 2004-05 lockout season, ties were removed from the outcome of an NHL game and shootouts were added to serve as the final tiebreaker. The point allocation system that has been active ever since allocates two points for a win (regulation,  overtime, or shootout win), a point for an overtime or shootout loss, and zero points for a regulation loss. 

However, European leagues and international games made under the regulations of the IIHF have a newer point allocation. These leagues allocate three points for a regulation win, two points for an overtime or shootout win, one point for a regulation or shootout loss, and zero points for a regulation loss. 

How To Get Points In Ice Hockey

The way players earn points in ice hockey is different from teams in the sport. Players and teams can not lose points in ice hockey. Points earned are not taken back from teams or players. 

• Players’ Points In Ice Hockey
  As a player, there are two ways to acquire points; through goals or assists. For every goal or assist a player makes they are awarded a point.
  
  If a player scores a goal, earns a point in under Goals in his stats and this counts towards his overall point for that game, season, or career. The same also goes for assists. If a player has an assist, he earns a point under Assists in his player stat and it also counts towards his overall game point.
  
  When it comes to ice hockey, the point awarded to a player does not reduce even though he earns a primary or secondary assist. To know more about assists in ice hockey as well as primary and secondary assists, read Assists In Ice Hockey Explained: Types & Examples.
• Team Points In Ice Hockey
  Teams in ice hockey can earn points through wins and overtime or shootout losses. The amount of points they earn depends on the league they are in. North Americans have the same allocation as the NHL while European and other leagues under the IIHF follow the newer allocation system.

What Award Is Given To NHL Player With The Most Points?

There are several trophies given to players and teams in ice hockey but one peculiar trophy is the Art Ross trophy. The Art Ross trophy is a trophy given to the player that leads the leagues in total points at the end of a regular season. 

It was first awarded during the 1947-48 season and it has become one of the most prestigious trophies in the NHL. The trophy has been won by many of the biggest players in the league from legends like Wayne Gretzky, Bobby Orr, and Gordie Howe, to newer stars like Crosby, Ovechkin, and Connor McDavid to mention a few. 

Art Ross Trophy Winners In The NHL

The table below shows the winners of the Art Ross trophy for most points in an NHL season for the past 10 seasons. The point leader of the 2022-23 season is Connor McDavid

Season	Art Ross Trophy Winners	Points
2022-23	Connor McDavid	153
2021-22	Connor McDavid	123
2020-21	Connor McDavid	105
2019-20	Leon Draisaitl	110
2018-19	Nikita Kucherov	128
2017-18	Connor McDavid	108
2016-17	Connor McDavid	100
2015-16	Patrick Kane	106
2014-15	Jamie Benn	87
2013-14	Sidney Crosby	104

NHL Points Leaderboard 

The NHL point leaderboard shows the players who have the highest number of points in a game, season, or in their NHL career. Here are some of the top point leaders for different sets of players. 

Who Is The NHL Player With The Most Career Points?

The Great One, Wayne Gretzky is the NHL player with the most career points in the NHL. During his career, Gretzky earned a total of 2857 points over the span of his 20-season career length in the NHL.

During his 20-season-long career, Gretzky topped the league in points ten times winning the Art Ross trophy for seven consecutive seasons. In addition to being the NHL player with the most points, Gretzky also ranks as the NHL player with the most career goals and assists. He holds the record with 894 goals and 1487 assists.

American NHL Player With The Most Career Points 

Brett Hull stands as the American-born NHL player with the most career points recording 1391 points in 1269 NHL games. Even though he stands as the top American player in points, he ranks no.25 on the NHL career point leaderboard. Brutt played in five NHL teams, with his last team being the Phoenix Coyotes. 

NHL Defenseman With The Most Career Points

With 1579 points in 1612 NHL games, Ray Bourque stands as the NHL defenseman with the most career point. In addition, he ranks no.11 on the NHL all-time career points board with 410 goals and 1169 assists in his career. Ray Bourque played for the Colorado Avalanche and Boston Bruins during his time in the NHL.  

Which NHL Player Has The Highest Points In A Season?

Wayne Gretzky has the NHL record for most points in a season recording 215 points at the age of 24 during the 1958-86 season. In addition, of the top ten positions for players with the most point in an NHL season, Gretzky takes up eight spots leaving only Mario Lemieux at no.5 and 8. 

Ranking	Player	Points
1	Wayne Gretzky	215
2	Wayne Gretzky	212
3	Wayne Gretzky	208
4	Wayne Gretzky	205
5	Mario Lemieux	199
6	Wayne Gretzky	196
7	Wayne Gretzky	183
8	Mario Lemieux	168
9	Wayne Gretzky	168
10	Wayne Gretzky	164

NHL Player With The Most Points In The 2021-22 Season

Ranking number one in the NHL point leaderboard for the 2021-22 season is Connor McDavid with 123 points. The centerman of the Edmonton Oilers topped the league with 44 goals and 79 assists to win the Art Ross trophy. 

Ranking	Player	Points
1	Connor McDavid	123
2	Johnny Gaudreau	115
3	Jonathan Huberdeau	115
4	Leon Draisaitl	110
5	Kirill Kaprizov	108
6	Auston Matthews	106
7	Steven Stamkos	106
8	Matthew Tkachuk	104
9	J.T. Miller	99
10	Mitchell Marner	97

NHL Player With The Most Point In The 2022-23 Season

During the 2022-23 regular season, McDavid repeated his dominance in the league by topping the leagues with a higher point margin. McDavid earned 153 points, having 25 more points than second-place, Leon Draisaitl. Finishing first in the 2022-23 regular season earned him his fifth Art Ross trophy in the NHL.

Ranking	Players	Points
1	Connor McDavid	153
2	Leon Draisaitl	128
3	David Pastrnak	113
4	Nikita Kucherov	113
5	Nathan MacKinnon	111
6	Jason Robertson	109
7	Matthew Tkachuk	109
8	Mikko Rantanen	105
9	Ryan Nugent-Hopkins	104
10	Elias Pettersson	102

Point As A Position In Ice Hockey

A point in ice hockey can also refer to a position. When we refer to a point in ice hockey as a position, it is a name given to a player’s position when he is near the blue line in the offensive zone (attacking zone). 

This means that a player is in the offensive zone but close to the blue line which serves as an indicator between the neutral zone and the offensive zone. Moreover, when a player is said to be playing a point in ice hockey, he is not in the neutral zone or defensive zone. 

Any player can take up a point position in ice hockey. However, in some instances, it is more likely for defensemen men to play point. 

Point as a position takes its name from an ice hockey defensive position, point, and cover point. 

Advantage Of A Point In An Hockey Game

These are some of the advantages of the point position in an ice hockey game.

• Allows For Quick Defense
  When a player takes up the space of defense he has the ability to make quick interceptions of shots that are made into the neutral zone by the opposing player. The point position also gives a player the ability to clear the puck shot into the neutral zone and send it back into the offensive zone.  
• Strengthens Offense
  Clearing the puck and sending it back into the offensive zone gives room for a rebound or deflection from a forward close to the net. In addition, since forwards do not need to chase the puck into the neutral zone, they can maintain a tight level of attack on the opposing team.
  
  Also, a player that takes up the point position can score goals from his position. Although this is not very common, a player who is excellent at slap shots can make one from the point if he sees a clear shot. 
• Makes For An Efficient Power Play
  During a powerplay, a point can be a good way to make the best of a powerplay. From his position close to the blue line of the offensive zone, he can serve as an extra wheel, passing the puck around the offensive zone. 

Conclusion

There you have it, the two instances in which the word “point” could be used to refer to. Points in ice hockey can refer to a position or stat. As a hockey stat, it tells us about the number of games won or lost, as in a team’s stat, and for players the number of goals and assists. 

Thanks for reading.