Who was the first NHL player to score 500 career goals?

Maurice Richard was the first NHL player to score 500 career goals.

The Montreal Canadiens forward reached the milestone on October 19, 1957, scoring against the Chicago Black Hawks at the Montreal Forum. Jean Béliveau assisted on the goal, and Canadiens fans gave Richard a prolonged ovation. Richard finished his regular-season career in 1960 with 544 goals, which was an NHL record at the time.

Known as the Rocket, Richard was one of hockey’s defining goal scorers. He was also the first player to score 50 goals in a season, reaching exactly 50 in 50 games during the 1944–45 season. He played his entire 18-season NHL career with Montreal and helped the Canadiens win eight Stanley Cups, including five consecutive championships from 1956 through 1960.

A frequent confusion involves counting playoff goals. Richard scored his 500th regular-season NHL goal in 1957; he had previously reached 500 when regular-season and playoff goals were combined. Wayne Gretzky, Gordie Howe, and Bobby Hull later became major members of the 500-goal club, but none was first.