Which NHL player recorded the most assists in one regular season?

Wayne Gretzky recorded the NHL record for most assists in one regular season, producing 163 in 1985–86.

Gretzky reached the total in 80 games with the Edmonton Oilers. His 163 assists were more than any other player’s entire point total that season except his own, and they helped him finish with 215 points.

The record illustrates Gretzky’s unusual playmaking role. He could score at an extraordinary rate, but he also anticipated passing lanes and created chances for teammates before defenders could react. The 1985–86 Oilers finished first overall and won the Presidents’ Trophy.

Gretzky also holds the next several highest single-season assist totals in NHL history. Mario Lemieux’s 160 assists in 1988–89 are the closest widely recognized total, leaving Gretzky’s mark just three assists higher.