Top highlights of the 2025 NHL Season: Historic records, star performances, and moments that defined the year

The 2025 NHL season was filled with history in the making, players stepping up when it mattered the most. It was a season that reminded everyone why hockey connects so deeply that are worth remembering.It was a year where history shook hands with humanity. Fans saw milestones that may never repeat, touching tributes that slowed the league down for a moment and lighter flashes of personality that made the season easier to love. Altogether, this year was genuinely worth looking back on.The 2025 NHL season witnessed major milestones and memorable moments. Below are the major highlights that the NHL experienced throughout the year.Alex Ovechkin, burrowing his way into history, reached a career 895 NHL goals and officially moved past the long-time record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky, which became the defining headline of 2025. He broke the record on Sunday, April 6, 2025, scoring his 895th for the Washington Capitals against the New York Islanders at UBS Arena, beating goaltender Ilya Sorokin at 7:26 of the second period.Marc-Andre Fleury’s final NHL season stood out for one clear moment. After a 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Wild, Washington Capitals captain Alex Ovechkin called his teammates back onto the ice so they could acknowledge Fleury as he headed toward retirement. Even while chasing Wayne Gretzky’s goal record, Ovechkin made sure Fleury received that recognition, showing how big that moment was for the league.The Stadium Series tribute to Johnny Gaudreau became one of the most emotional moments of the 2025 NHL season. Columbus and Detroit honored his memory with sincerity, and the Detroit Red Wings paid a powerful tribute by arriving at Ohio Stadium wearing jerseys once worn by Johnny and his brother Matthew during their hockey careers. Both brothers tragically died on August 29, 2024, after being struck by a suspected drunk driver while bicycling in New Jersey, just before their sister’s wedding. Johnny was 31, and Matthew was 29.The 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles brought a lot of emotion along with excitement. The New York Islanders selected defenseman Matthew Schaefer with the No. 1 pick, and his moment felt especially personal. He paid tribute to his mother, Jennifer, who passed away from breast cancer in February 2024, by having her picture and signature stitched inside his suit jacket. The Islanders added a Hockey Fights Cancer ribbon to his draft jersey.Mark Scheifele’s moment carried a different kind of weight in 2025. Winnipeg Jets forward Mark Scheifele opened the scoring of Game 6 of the Western Conference Second Round against the Dallas Stars with a second-period goal after the death of his father earlier that morning. He rebounded a Kyle Connor shot and found the back of the net with 14:32 remaining in the second period. Stars and Jets fans came together for the “$55 for 55” movement, encouraging anyone who could to donate $55 to the Scheifele family’s supported charities. By the time it concluded, more than $80,000 had been raised in Brad Scheifele’s name.Connor McDavid had an outstanding season with the Edmonton Oilers, showing both leadership and consistency. He reached 1,100 career points, becoming the fourth-fastest player in NHL history to do so, and notched his ninth straight season with 60+ assists, proving he’s both a top scorer and playmaker. McDavid also scored the overtime winner for Team Canada in the 4 Nations Face-Off and led the Oilers to the Stanley Cup Final. His performance earned him a two-year, $25 million contract.In 2025, Kirill Kaprizov had a standout year with the Minnesota Wild. He signed the richest contract in NHL history, an eight-year, $136 million extension that will keep him in Minnesota through the 2033-34 season. Kaprizov became the fastest player in Wild history to score 200 career goals, surpassing Marian Gaborik (475 games) and Mikko Koivu (969 games). His performance showed he is a top scorer and a key player for the team.Also Read: Top achievers of 2025 NHL season: Meet the players who stood above the rest, featuring Alex Ovechkin and Connor McDavid