NHL Single Season Assist Leaders

All Time NHL Records
Single Season NHL Records
Career Points Leaders Most Points in a Season
Career Goals Leaders Most Goals in a Season
Career Assists Leaders Most Assists in a Season
Career PIM Leaders Most Penalty Minutes in a Season
Career Wins Leaders Most Wins in a Season
Career Shutouts Leaders Most Shutouts in a Season
Career GAA Leaders 50 Goal Seasons

It shouldn't come as much surprise that Wayne Gretzky heads the list of most assists in an NHL season. Gretzky's 163 assists in 1985-96 is simply amazing. Mario Lemieux's 114 assists in 1988-89 is the only season in the top 11, that doesn't have Wayne Gretzky's name beside it.

Only 13 times in the history of the NHL has a player gone over 100 assists in a season; Gretzky did it 11 times, Lemieux and Orr once. In the Top 50 single season assists leaders, there are only 2 defenseman, Bobby Orr 5 times and Paul Coffey 4 times.
Joe Thorton (92) and Sidney Crosby (84) are the most recent entries in to the Top 50, with both occurring in 2006-07.

NHL Single Season Assist Leaders
Rk Player Team Asts. Year
1Wayne GretzkyEdmonton Oilers1631985-86
2Wayne GretzkyEdmonton Oilers1351984-85
3Wayne GretzkyEdmonton Oilers1251982-83
4Wayne GretzkyLos Angeles Kings1221990-91
5Wayne GretzkyEdmonton Oilers1211986-87
6Wayne GretzkyEdmonton Oilers1201981-82
7Wayne GretzkyEdmonton Oilers1181983-84
T8Mario LemieuxPittsburgh Penguins1141988-89
T8Wayne GretzkyLos Angeles Kings1141988-89
T10Wayne GretzkyEdmonton Oilers1091987-88
T10Wayne GretzkyEdmonton Oilers1091980-81
T12Wayne GretzkyLos Angeles Kings1021989-90
T12Bobby OrrBoston Bruins1021970-71
14Mario LemieuxPittsburgh Penguins981987-88
15Adam Oates Boston Bruins 971992-93
16Joe Thornton Boston Bruins
San Jose Sharks 		962005-06
T17Pat LaFontaine Buffalo Sabres 951992-93
T17Doug GilmourToronto Maple Leafs951992-93
T19Mario Lemieux Pittsburgh Penguins 931985-86
T19Peter Stastny Quebec Nordiques 931981-82
T21Ron Francis Pittsburgh Penguins 921995-96
T21Joe Thornton San Jose Sharks 922006-07
T21Wayne Gretzky Los Angeles Kings 921993-94
T21Mario LemieuxPittsburgh Penguins921995-96
25Mario LemieuxPittsburgh Penguins911992-93
T26Bobby Orr Boston Bruins901973-74
T26Paul Coffey Edmonton Oilers901985-86
T26Adam Oates St. Louis Blues 901990-91
T26Steve Yzerman Detroit Red Wings 901988-89
T26Wayne Gretzky Los Angeles Kings 901991-92
T31Bobby Clarke Philadelphia Flyers 891974-75
T31Bobby ClarkePhiladelphia Flyers891975-76
T31Bobby OrrBoston Bruins891974-75
T34Denis Savard Chicago Blackhawks871981-82
T34Bryan Trottier New York Islanders 871978-79
T34Bobby OrrBoston Bruins871969-70
T34Jaromir Jagr Pittsburgh Penguins 871995-96
T34Denis SavardChicago Blackhawks871987-88
T34Mario LemieuxPittsburgh Penguins871991-92
T40 Peter Forsberg Colorado Avalanche 861995-96
T40Paul CoffeyEdmonton Oilers861983-84
T40Denis SavardChicago Blackhawks861982-83
T40Wayne Gretzky Edmonton Oilers 861979-80
T44 Sidney Crosby Pittsburgh Penguins 842006-07
T44Marcel Dionne Los Angeles Kings 841979-80
T44Doug Gilmour Toronto Maple Leafs 841993-94
T44Paul CoffeyEdmonton Oilers841984-85
T44Mark Messier Edmonton Oilers 841989-90
T49Jaromir Jagr Pittsburgh Penguins 831998-99
T49Paul Coffey Pittsburgh Penguins 831988-89
T49Mike Bossy New York Islanders 831981-82

Updated: Oct. 16th 2009

Sources:
Hockey-Reference.com
Wikipedia.org
Statshockey.net
2007 NHL Official Guide and Record book