5 major milestones we are likely to see next season.

The 2024-25 National Hockey League season appears poised to be the site of many major milestones next season, with several big names in the league looking to break through some pretty big plateaus.

Of course there are going to be far too many to list here today, and no doubt some that I am expecting to see broken will be derailed by injuries or other factors. That being said I've picked out a few that I think have a realistic chance to be attained next season, barring any truly major catastrophes.

#1 Sidney Crosby surpasses Joe Sakic on the all-time scoring list.

This is one of the bigger ones and it also happens to be one that I think we are almost certain to see this coming season. Crosby currently has 1,596 career points in the NHL and will need to reach 1,641 in order to catch Joe Sakic, that's just 45 points.

Crosby has only scored less than 45 points once in his entire NHL career and that came during the 2011-12 NHL regular season where Crosby had 37 points in just 22 games. I think this one is in the bag.

#2 Connor McDavid will reach 1,000 career points in the NHL.

The 1,000 point milestone is a major one for any NHL player and that will be no exception for the man that many consider to be the very best hockey player in the world today. Much like in the case of Crosby catching Sakic, it would take a major catastrophe for McDavid to miss out on this one when you consider the fact that he currently has 982 points over his 645 game NHL career thus far.

McDavid has averaged well over 100 points per season over the course of his last 8 seasons, so this milestone seems like it will be reached and then some.

#3 Evgeni Malkin scores his 500th career NHL goal.

Malkin has got this one in the bag.

Although the 37 year old wnger has shown signs of slowing down as of late there's no question that Malkin will easily reach this particular milestone. Over his 1145 game career, Malkin has put up 498 goals in the regular season and needs just 2 more to reach the 500 goal plateau.

Malkin is a shoe-in for this one if he can remain healthy for even just a part of the season.

#4 Patrick Kane scores his 500th career NHL goal.

Patrick Kane will have a much harder time reaching his milestone than Evgeni Malkin will, but after a strong comeback with the Red Wings last season I do believe this one is within reach.

Kane has scored 471 goals over his 1230 game NHL career and showed he hadn't lost his scoring touch last season, putting up 20 goals for the Red Wings over just 50 games in what was for him a shortened season.

Kane will need 29 goals to reach the milestone, and if he can replicate what he did last season over a full 82 game schedule it seems likely he will get there.

#5 Brad Marchand will reach 1,000 career points in the NHL.

This is by far the biggest long shot on the list with Marchand needing a total of 71 points next season to reach the 1,000 points milestone.

Making matters even more difficult for Marchand will be the fact that he has put up fewer points than that the last two seasons, with 67 points over 82 games last season and 67 points over 73 games the previous year. That being said in the 6 seasons prior Marchand was averaging over 80 points per season, so it is certainly within his capabilities to put up 71 points this year.

Marchand will need to have a great season to reach his own personal milestone, but I do believe it is within his reach.