It’s now been done 189 times, but the National Hockey League went the first 27 years of existence before it was done for the first time. In 1944-45, during a 50 game schedule, Maurice ‘Rocket’ Richard became the first NHL player to score 50 goals in a single season.
Since 1998-99, the Rocket Richard Trophy has been given to the NHL player who scores the most goals during the regular season. Ironically, it was just Richard’s second full season in the league, 1944-45, and he would never reach 50 goals again. It also wasn’t a good enough performance to earn the Hart Trophy. That accolade went to teammate and points leader Elmer Lach.
The Rocket played in the NHL from 1942-43 to 1959-60, all with the Montreal Canadiens. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1961.
It wasn’t until 1960-61 that the feat was accomplished again. This time, it was another member of the Montreal Canadiens. Bernie ‘Boom Boom’ Geoffrion scored exactly 50 goals but he played 64 of the team’s 70 games, 14 more than it took Richard many years before. Ironically, the Rocket retired after the previous season and 1960-61 was the first year without him in the Canadiens lineup since 1942.
In 1960-61, Geoffrion was awarded the Art Ross Trophy and the Hart Trophy. It was his second of two Art Ross Trophies, having won his first in 1954-55. It was the only time he would win the Hart.
It was Geoffrion’s only 50 goal season. He played in the NHL from 1950-51 to 1967-68 with the Canadiens and New York Rangers. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.
Bobby Hull scored 50 just a season later, in 1961-62, after playing the full 70 game schedule for the Chicago Black Hawks. He also led the league in points, earning his second of three Art Ross Trophies. Actually, he tied with Andy Bathgate of the New York Rangers but won the tie break by having more goals.
Hull played in the National Hockey League from 1957-58 to 1971-72 with Chicago. He returned to the NHL for one last season in 1979-80 after playing the entire lifetime of the WHA. In his final season, he split between the Winnipeg Jets and Hartford Whalers. Although the Hart Trophy went to Jacques Plante of the Canadiens in 1961-62, Bobby would win the award twice during his career. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.
Phil Esposito became the fourth different player to score 50 or more when he shattered Hull’s mark of 58 goals with an unthinkable 76 in 1970-71. It was the first of five consecutive seasons with 50 or more goals for the Boston Bruins. It was also the first of four consecutive years that Esposito would take home the Art Ross Trophy. He won five over his career.
Phil played in the NHL from 1963-64 to 1980-81 with the Black Hawks, Bruins and New York Rangers. He won the Hart Trophy twice and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1984.
That same year, Johnny Bucyk achieved his only 50 goal season over a very long and successful career to become the fifth difference person to achieve the alllusive accomplishment. Bucyk played in the NHL from 1955-56 to 1977-78 with the Detroit Red Wings and Boston. He became an honoured member of the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1981.