Following the conclusion of the 2025-26 NHL regular season on Thursday, Colorado Avalanche superstar Nathan MacKinnon has officially won the Maurice “Rocket” Richard Trophy as the league's leading goal scorer.
MacKinnon tallied a career-high 53 goals in 80 games, beating out Montreal Canadiens winger Cole Caufield, who posted 51 this year, also a career-best. It was the second time MacKinnon reached the half-century mark in his career, as he posted 51 goals during the 2023-24 season.
He's a Rocket man 🏆🚀
— P - Colorado Avalanche (@Avalanche) April 17, 2026
Congratulations to Nathan MacKinnon on winning the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy! pic.twitter.com/hdpc19IGfQ
The Cole Harbour, N.S. native also tied the mark for the sixth-most goals in a single season in the history of the Avalanche/Quebec Nordiques. Mikko Rantanen, holds the franchise record for most goals since the franchise moved to Denver, scoring 55 during the 2022-23 season. MacKinnon ended up leading the Avalanche with 127 points, good for third in the league behind Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Kucherov (130) and Art Ross Trophy winner and Edmonton Oilers captain Connor McDavid (134).
MacKinnon has tallied 420 goals and 722 assists for 1,142 points in 950 regular-season games in the NHL, with another 125 points in 95 Stanley Cup playoff games.