The NHL's Most Efficient Short-Career Scorers
Six players who maintained elite scoring rates in abbreviated NHL careers.
When discussing NHL scoring excellence, I instinctively focus on career longevity and cumulative statistics. But hidden within hockey's archives is a group of players who maintained elite scoring rates while playing between 200 and 400 NHL games. These six players all sustained the exceptional pace of 0.9 points per game (per Stathead) or higher – a threshold that places them among the game's most efficient scorers.
1. Réal Cloutier (318 games, 1.08 PPG, 1979-1985)
At the top of this exclusive list sits Réal Cloutier, whose 1.08 points per game stands as the highest mark among these short-tenure players. After dominating the WHA, Cloutier brought his scoring touch to the NHL when the leagues merged in 1979. His NHL stats tell the story of an elite talent: 146 goals and 198 assists for 344 points in 318 games. With a 15.9% shooting percentage and nearly three shots per game, Cloutier's efficiency was remarkable.
His NHL career ended prematurely at age 28 following conflicts with Buffalo coach Scotty Bowman1.
2. Cy Denneny (329 games, 1.02 PPG, 1917-1929)
Playing in hockey's early era, Denneny posted numbers that remain impressive a century later: 247 goals and 89 assists for 336 points in 329 games. His goal-scoring rate of 0.75 per game would translate to approximately 62 goals in today's 82-game season.
Denneny's innovative approach to shooting and his strategic use of defensemen as screens helped him secure five Stanley Cup victories during his career2. Cy was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1959.
3. Gordie Drillon (312 games, 0.95 PPG, 1936-1943)
Before World War II service interrupted his career, Drillon established himself as one of the game's most efficient scorers. His statistics show great balance: 155 goals and 140 assists for 295 points in 312 games. Of his 155 goals, 128 came at even strength, with 23 on the power play and 4 while shorthanded. His NHL career, which included both a scoring title and Stanley Cup victory, ended when he left to serve in World War II. After the war, Drillon transitioned to coaching and later worked as a Maple Leafs scout.
His contributions to hockey were recognized with his 1975 induction into the Hockey Hall of Fame.
4. Babe Dye (272 games, 0.93 PPG, 1919-1931)
Dye's goal-scoring prowess is evident in his statistics: 203 goals and 50 assists for 253 points in 272 games. His 0.75 goals per game average ranks tied for second all-time (with Mario Lemieux and Cy Denneny) among players with 200+ games, trailing only Mike Bossy's 0.76.
Starting with the Toronto St. Patricks in 1919, Dye led the NHL in points twice (1922-23 and 1924-25) and won a Stanley Cup in 1922.
A devastating leg injury during the Chicago Black Hawks' 1927 training camp derailed his career, though he remains the St. Patricks/Maple Leafs' all-time franchise points-per-game leader.
Beyond hockey, Dye was also a professional baseball player in the International League and a halfback for the Toronto Argonauts, before his posthumous Hockey Hall of Fame induction in 1970.
5. Mark Pavelich (355 games, 0.93 PPG, 1981-1992)
The undrafted "Miracle on Ice" Olympian found success in the NHL, recording 137 goals and 192 assists for 329 points in 355 games.
After playing a single season for HC Lugano in Switzerland, Pavelich joined the New York Rangers under his Olympic coach Herb Brooks, recording 76 points (33G, 43A) in his 1981-82 rookie season - second only to Anders Hedberg's 78-point rookie campaign in 1978-79.
His most memorable moment came on February 23, 1983, when he became the first American to score five goals in an NHL game - a record that stood until Tage Thompson matched it in 2022.
Despite his 19.2% shooting percentage and versatile scoring touch (48 power play goals, 6 shorthanded), Pavelich's NHL career was cut short when a coaching change brought a more defensive style.
He briefly played for the Minnesota North Stars and San Jose Sharks, notably assisting on the Sharks' first-ever goal before retiring in 1992.
6. Marián Šťastný (322 games, 0.91 PPG, 1981-1986)
Before joining the NHL at age 29, Šťastný had already built an impressive international resume, winning two World Championship gold medals and representing Czechoslovakia in two Olympics and the 1976 Canada Cup.
In 1981, he joined his brothers Peter and Anton with the Quebec Nordiques as part of one of hockey's most intriguing defection stories, becoming just the third trio of brothers to play on the same NHL team.
His scoring touch translated immediately to North American hockey: 121 goals and 173 assists for 294 points in 322 games, supported by an efficient 19.1% shooting percentage.
After four seasons in Quebec, he played his final NHL year with the Toronto Maple Leafs before finishing his career in Switzerland.
Beyond hockey, Šťastný later became vice-chairman of the Slovak World Congress, using his platform to advocate for religious freedom and human rights in his homeland.
Closing Thoughts
These six players represent a unique chapter in NHL history – careers that burned bright but brief. Their points-per-game rates rival many Hall of Famers, yet circumstances from injuries to war service to political restrictions limited their NHL tenures. While their careers may have been abbreviated, their scoring efficiency ensures their place among hockey's most intriguing statistical cases.
Each player's story reminds us that greatness in hockey isn't solely measured by longevity. Sometimes, it's captured in the efficiency of players who, for various reasons, graced the NHL stage for only a brief but brilliant moment.
Stay tuned for the next dive into another statistical oddity from sports history. Have a suggestion for a statistical achievement that deserves analysis? Share it in the comments below, or if you're a subscriber, email boxscorebrain@substack.com.
In Buffalo, Réal Cloutier reportedly had conflicts with Sabres' coach Scotty Bowman, known for benching offensive players who didn't focus enough on defense. Despite scoring 24 goals and 60 points in his only full season with the Sabres, he was sent to the minor leagues the following year and retired at 28. Source: Wikipedia.
Cy Denneny, despite not being the fastest skater, possessed one of the league's most deceptive and accurate shots, allowing him to score rapidly. He was among the first players to use opposing defensemen as screens and would often beat goaltenders with head fakes and low shots. Denneny was also a pioneer in using a curved blade, which enabled him to take high-rising shots and "sinkers" that fooled goaltenders. Additionally, he was known for his physical play and often acted as an enforcer for his linemates, Jack Darragh and Frank Nighbor. Source: Wikipedia.