In the 1980–81 NHL season, Calgary Flames centre Kent Nilsson set the single-season franchise records for both points and assists with 131 and 82 respectively. Per Hockey-Reference.com‘s era-adjusted scoring statistics, Kent Nilsson’s 131 point season is equivalent to 101 points.
Taking this into account and looking at Johnny Gaudreau‘s current 1.40 point-per-game pace, he is on pace to hit 115 points by season’s end—assuming that he dresses in all remaining Flames games before the playoffs commence on May 2—which would blow Nilsson’s adjusted mark right off the ice.
Johnny Gaudreau’s projection of 115 points would mean that he is pro-rated to finish as the lone holder for the second best season in Calgary Flames franchise history (surpassing Joe Mullen‘s 110 points in 1988–89), but it is clear that Johnny Gaudreau is quite literally having the best offensive season in Calgary Flames franchise history, factoring in the element of era-adjustments. Here’s how he stacks up among franchise leaders.
Flames single season points leaders
| Player | Season | Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Kent Nilsson (C) | 1980–81 | 131 |
| 2. Joe Mullen (RW) | 1988–89 | 110 |
| 3. Johnny Gaudreau | 2021–22 | 109 |
| 4. Bob MacMillan (RW) | 1978–79 | 108 |
| 5. Guy Chouinard (C) | 1978–79 | 107 |
Gaudreau is almost certain to pass Joe Mullen at this rate and will be second all-time. It’s unlikely that anyone will catch Nilsson’s 131 points as a raw total, but adjustments for era has Gaudreau as a clear front runner.
Flames single season assist leaders
| Player | Season | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Kent Nilsson (C) | 1980–81 | 82 |
| 2. Al MacInnis (D) | 1990–91 | 75 |
| T-3. Bob MacMillan (RW) | 1978–79 | 71 |
| T-3. Johnny Gaudreau (RW) | 2021–22 | 71 |
| 5. Gary Suter (C) | 1987–88 | 70 |
On paper, Johnny Gaudreau’s current 75 assist pace would have him finish tied with defenceman Al MacInnis’ 1990-91 campaign for second on the single season all-time assist record. That being said, it can go either way. Gaudreau could easily finish in sole possession of second, be tied with MacInnis like his pace suggests, or fall just shy of it.
Flames all time plus-minus leaders
| Player | Season | Plus-Minus |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Johnny Gaudreau | 2021–22 | +60 |
| 2. Elias Lindholm | 2021–22 | +56 |
| 3. Matthew Tkachuk | 2021–22 | +53 |
| 4. Joe Mullen | 1988-89 | +51 |
| T-5. Brad McCrimmon | 1987–88 | +48 |
| T-5. Theoren Fleury | 1990–91 | +48 |
As we stand right now Johnny Gaudreau is the sole owner of the Flames all time plus-minus record currently sitting at +60.
NHL plus-minus leaders over the past 30 years
From a historic league-wide standpoint, Johnny Gaudreau is tied with Vladimir Konstantinov‘s respective +60 rating from the 1995–96 season.
There is a chance of Gaudreau potentially surpassing this in order to become the sole holder of the highest plus-minus rating in a single season that stretches over a span of the last 30 years. Of course, his linemates are also among leaders in the past three decades too.
| Player | Season | Plus-Minus |
|---|---|---|
| T-1. Johnny Gaudreau | 2021–22 | +60 |
| T-1. Vladimir Konstantinov | 1995–96 | +60 |
| 3. Elias Lindholm | 2021–22 | +56 |
| 4. Mario Lemieux | 1992–93 | +55 |
| T-5. Matthew Tkachuk | 2021–22 | +53 |
| T-5. Scott Stevens | 1993–94 | +53 |
Flames all-time even strength points leaders
| Player | Season | ES Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Johnny Gaudreau (LW) | 2021–22 | 85 |
| 2. Kent Nilsson (C) | 1980–81 | 78 |
| 3. Johnny Gaudreau (LW) | 2018–19 | 72 |
| 4. Matthew Tkachuk (RW) | 2021–22 | 71 |
| 5. Joe Mullen (RW) | 1988–89 | 68 |
Johnny Gaudreau has officially set the Calgary Flames’ all-time single-season even strength production record sitting currently at 85.
NHL even strength points leaders in the modern era
His standing of 85 even strength points has also set the NHL’s league-wide record for even strength points in a single season in the modern era.
| Player | Season | ES Points |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Johnny Gaudreau (LW) | 2021–22 | 85 |
| 2. Connor McDavid (C) | 2017–18 | 84 |
| 3. Henrik Sedin (C) | 2009–10 | 83 |
| 4. Jaromir Jagr (RW) | 1998–99 | 82 |
This is some elite company that Gaudreau finds himself at the top of. With such a large percentage of his points coming at even strength, there’s no question that he’s one of the most complete players in the league right now.
More Gaudreau goodness
Some more statistics to take into account here include the fact that Johnny Gaudreau’s nine game-winning goals this season also has him tied with Fleury and Jarome Iginla for fifth all-time in a single season in franchise history.
Further, Johnny Gaudreau’s 1.40 point-per-game pace, as mentioned above is the third highest pace in franchise history trailing only Kent Nilsson and Guy Chouinard. Lastly, Johnny Gaudreau’s assists per game metric of 0.91 is currently the fifth best in franchise history, just slightly trailing Gary Suter’s 0.93 pace from the 1987–88 season.
What Johnny Gaudreau has done this season has been nothing short of spectacular—he most definitely deserves the Hart and is currently third in league scoring, trailing just four points behind Connor McDavid and Jonathan Huberdeau in the Art Ross race.
Photo by Gerry Thomas/NHLI via Getty Images
