Who led the NHL in goals in 1979-80? Charlie Simmer of the Los Angeles Kings, Danny Gare of the Buffalo Sabres and Blaine Stoughton of the Hartford Whalers tied for the league lead with 56 goals each.
It remains a remarkable piece of NHL history. Three players finished a season tied for the goal-scoring lead, with Simmer reaching 56 goals despite playing just 64 games.
The 1979-80 season was also the NHL's first following the collapse of the World Hockey Association. Four former WHA franchises: the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Hartford Whalers and Quebec Nordiques, joined the NHL for the season.
1979-80 NHL Goal Scoring Leaders
| Player | Team | Goals | Games |
| Charlie Simmer | Los Angeles Kings | 56 | 64 |
| Danny Gare | Buffalo Sabres | 56 | 76 |
| Blaine Stoughton | Hartford Whalers | 56 | 80 |
Charlie Simmer – Los Angeles Kings
If today's Rocket Richard Trophy rules were applied to the 1979-80 season, Charlie Simmer would have shared the award with Gare and Stoughton. The trophy did not yet exist; it was first awarded following the 1998-99 NHL season.
What makes Simmer's performance particularly impressive is that he scored his 56 goals in only 64 games. That works out to 0.875 goals per game.
Simmer played on the famous Triple Crown Line with Marcel Dionne and Dave Taylor. He scored another 56 goals the following season, giving him consecutive 50-goal campaigns.
Those were the only two 50-goal seasons of Simmer's injury-plagued NHL career. Originally drafted by the California Golden Seals, Simmer played for the Seals, Cleveland Barons, Los Angeles Kings, Boston Bruins and Pittsburgh Penguins. He finished his NHL career with 342 goals in 712 regular-season games.
Danny Gare – Buffalo Sabres
Danny Gare scored his 56 goals in 76 games for the Buffalo Sabres. It was the second 50-goal season of his NHL career after he scored exactly 50 for Buffalo in 1975-76.
A second-round pick of the Sabres in the 1974 NHL Amateur Draft, Gare developed into one of Buffalo's most dangerous goal scorers. He spent the majority of his career with the Sabres before also playing for the Detroit Red Wings and Edmonton Oilers.
Gare finished his 13-year NHL career with 354 goals in 827 regular-season games.
Blaine Stoughton – Hartford Whalers
Blaine Stoughton completed the full 80-game schedule for the Hartford Whalers in 1979-80 and scored 56 goals. It was Hartford's first season in the NHL after the franchise moved over from the WHA.
The season marked Stoughton's first NHL 50-goal campaign. He reached the milestone again in 1981-82 when he scored 52 goals for the Whalers.
Originally selected seventh overall by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 1973 NHL Amateur Draft, Stoughton played in both the NHL and WHA during his professional career.
His NHL teams included the Pittsburgh Penguins, Toronto Maple Leafs, Hartford Whalers and New York Rangers. In the WHA, Stoughton played for the Cincinnati Stingers, Indianapolis Racers and New England Whalers. He also scored 52 goals for Cincinnati in 1976-77.
Why Was the 1979-80 Goal-Scoring Race Unusual?
The three-way tie between Simmer, Gare and Stoughton makes the 1979-80 scoring race one of the more unusual in NHL history. All three finished with exactly 56 goals despite playing significantly different numbers of games.
Simmer needed just 64 games to reach 56. Gare played 76 games, while Stoughton appeared in all 80. Simmer therefore had easily the highest goals-per-game rate of the three.
The season also came during an important transition in professional hockey. Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec and Hartford had entered the NHL following the end of the WHA, increasing the league to 21 teams.
1979-80 NHL Goal Scoring FAQ
Who scored the most goals in the NHL in 1979-80?
Charlie Simmer, Danny Gare and Blaine Stoughton tied for the NHL lead with 56 goals each.
How many games did Charlie Simmer play in 1979-80?
Simmer played 64 regular-season games for the Los Angeles Kings and scored 56 goals.
Who scored 56 goals for the Buffalo Sabres in 1979-80?
Danny Gare scored 56 goals in 76 games for Buffalo.
How many goals did Blaine Stoughton score for Hartford in 1979-80?
Stoughton scored 56 goals while playing all 80 games for the Hartford Whalers.
Did the Rocket Richard Trophy exist in 1979-80?
No. The Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy was introduced for the 1998-99 NHL season. It is awarded annually to the NHL's leading regular-season goal scorer.
