Wild's Kirill Kaprizov surpasses Wayne Gretzky in NHL playoff goals per game

The 24-year-old forward is now 6th all-time in playoff goals per game.

Apr. 19, 2026 at 3:19am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting a hockey player scoring a goal, with sharp, overlapping planes of forest green, iron range red, and gold colors representing the Minnesota Wild team palette.Kaprizov's playoff scoring prowess places him among the NHL's all-time greats.Dallas Today

Minnesota Wild star Kirill Kaprizov has surpassed NHL legend Wayne Gretzky in one key playoff statistic. Kaprizov's 0.62 goals per game in the postseason now ranks 6th all-time, ahead of Gretzky's 0.59 goals per game. The 24-year-old Russian forward accomplished this feat with a goal and two assists in the Wild's 6-1 rout of the Dallas Stars to open the 2026 NHL playoffs.

Why it matters

Kaprizov's impressive playoff scoring rate puts him in elite company, joining the likes of Mario Lemieux, Mike Bossy, and Maurice Richard. As a relatively young star playing for a smaller-market team in Minnesota, this achievement helps cement Kaprizov's status as one of the NHL's premier talents and a rising postseason performer.

The details

According to data from Hockey Reference, Kaprizov's 0.62 goals per game in the playoffs ranks 6th all-time, ahead of Gretzky's 0.59. The top 5 are Mario Lemieux (0.71), Mike Bossy (0.66), Barry Pederson (0.65), and Maurice Richard (0.621). Kaprizov has scored 16 goals in 26 career playoff games for the Wild.

  • Kaprizov scored a goal and added two assists in the Wild's 6-1 win over the Dallas Stars on April 19, 2026 to open the 2026 NHL playoffs.

The players

Kirill Kaprizov

A 24-year-old Russian forward for the Minnesota Wild who is now 6th all-time in NHL playoff goals per game.

Wayne Gretzky

Considered the greatest hockey player of all time, Gretzky averaged 0.59 goals per game in his illustrious NHL playoff career.

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What they’re saying

“Kirill Kaprizov's .62 goals per game in his playoff career (16 in 26 games) ranks 6th in NHL history (min. 10 games)”

— Michael Russo, Reporter

The takeaway

Kirill Kaprizov's torrid playoff scoring pace has elevated him into the company of NHL legends like Wayne Gretzky, further cementing his status as one of the league's elite young talents. As the Wild continue their playoff run, all eyes will be on Kaprizov to see if he can maintain this historic scoring rate.