January 24 in Hockey

# January 24 in Hockey History

January 24 has established itself as a significant date on the NHL calendar, marked by multiple milestone achievements spanning nearly four decades. From the legendary accomplishments of the 1980s to the recent milestones of the modern era, this date reflects the evolution of player longevity and production across different generations of professional hockey.

The Iconic 1986 Milestone

The most historically significant January 24 achievement occurred in 1986 when Mike Bossy reached 1,000 career points. This milestone represented a watershed moment in NHL history, solidifying Bossy's legacy as one of the league's elite offensive players. Bossy's consistency and goal-scoring prowess made his 1,000-point plateau a prestigious achievement during an era when such milestones were considerably rarer than in subsequent decades.

Recent Era Dominance

The frequency of January 24 milestones has increased dramatically in recent years, reflecting broader trends in player longevity and the extended careers enabled by modern sports medicine and training regimens.

In 2023, the date witnessed three separate milestone achievements. Erik Johnson reached 900 career games—a precursor to his subsequent milestone—while Marcus Johansson and Colton Sissons achieved their 800th and 500th games respectively. These overlapping accomplishments demonstrated how January 24 functioned as a focal point for multiple career trajectories converging.

The 2024-2025 season has proven particularly prolific for this date. J.T. Miller achieved 600 career points in 2024, followed by the remarkable back-to-back milestones in 2025: Nikolaj Ehlers reached 500 career points while Erik Johnson surpassed 1,000 career games. Johnson's achievement represents only the second time in recorded January 24 history that a player reached the 1,000-game plateau, marking him among an exclusive group of iron-man performers.

Supporting Milestones

Additional notable achievements on January 24 include Drew Doughty's 500th career point (2021), Nathan MacKinnon's 600th career game (2022), Kyle Clifford's 500th career game (2018), and Sami Kapanen's 800th career game (2008). These milestones illustrate the consistency with which January 24 has produced career-defining moments across various player archetypes—from two-way forwards to defensemen to scoring specialists.

Looking ahead, John Carlson is projected to reach 600 career assists on January 24, 2026, continuing the trend of this date serving as a milestone marker for established veterans approaching the twilight of their careers.

By the Numbers