The Next Level: 2008-2009 NHL 20-plus goal scorers

It's the slow season when it comes to Minnesota high school hockey. The only burning question coming up soon will be how high Zach Budish (Edina) and Mr. Hockey's Nick Leddy (Eden Prairie) will go in next week's NHL entry draft.

In the coming weeks, I'm going to throw some stats at you from the leagues at the next level starting with the NHL.

120 NHL players made the 20-plus goals club in 2009. Of those 120 players, 22 were born in the United States, six players in Minnesota. New York and Michigan followed Minnesota with four players each and then Wisconsin with three.

1. Zach Parise - New Jersey Devils | 45 goals
Born in Minneapolis, MN on 07/28/1984 | Played for Shattuck-St. Mary's Prep School

2. David Backes - St. Louis Blues | 31 goals
Born in Minneapolis, MN on 05/01/1984 | Played for Spring Lake Park High School

3. Jamie Langenbrunner - New Jersey Devils | 29 goals
Born in Cloquet, MN on 07/24/1975 | Played for Cloquet/Esko/Carlton High School

4. Jason Blake - Toronto Maple Leafs | 25 goals
Born in Moorhead, MN on 09/02/1973 | Played for Moorhead High School

5. Matt Cullen - Carolina Hurricanes | 22 goals
Born in Virginia, MN on 11/02/1976 | Played for Moorhead High School

6. Blake Wheeler - Boston Bruins | 21 goals
Born in Robbinsdale, MN on 08/31/1986 | Played for Breck School
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From the 120 players in the 20-plus goals club, I put a list together of the total number of goals by country. Canada, of course, had by far the most players with 20-plus goals in the league in 2009. Canadian-born players made up 42.5% of the 120, or 51 players.

Because the number of goals by the Canadians were so much more than any other country, I am including the number of goals by Canadian provinces as well. Players from 12 different countries made the 20-plus goals club. Of the thirteen provinces and territories in Canada, five did not have a player represented.

Make note that these are players that were born in these countries and provinces and did not necessarily grow up there. These are regular season goals only.

1. Canada - 1415 total goals - 51 players
2. USA - 593 goals - 22 players
3. Ontario (Canada) - 565 goals - 19 players
4. Russia - 308 goals - 9 players
5. Alberta (Canada) - 297 goals - 11 players
6. Sweden - 266 goals - 10 players
7. Czech Republic - 264 goals - 11 players
8. Quebec (Canada) - 163 goals - 6 players
9. Saskatchewan (Canada) - 161 goals - 6 players
10. Finland - 124 goals - 5 players
11. Manitoba (Canada) - 80 goals - 3 players
12. British Columbia (Canada) - 67 goals - 3 players
13. Germany - 59 goals - 2 players
14. Slovakia - 51 goals - 2 players
15. Newfoundland (Canada) - 49 goals - 2 players
16. Ukraine - 46 goals - 2 players
17. Nova Scotia (Canada) - 33 goals - 1 player
18. Kazakhstan - 28 goals - 1 player
19. Slovenia - 27 goals - 1 player
20. Ireland - 25 goals - 1 player

NHL top 10 goal scorers and their birth country:

1. Alex Ovechkin (Born in 1985 - Russia) - Washington Capitals | 56 goals
2. Jeff Carter (1985 - Ontario, Canada) - Philadelphia Flyers | 46 goals
3. Zach Parise (1984 - Minnesota, USA) - New Jersey Devils | 45 goals
4. Ilya Kovalchuk (1983 - Russia) - Atlanta Thrashers | 43 goals
5. Rick Nash (1984 - Ontario, Canada) - Columbus Blue Jackets | 40 goals
6. Eric Staal (1984 - Ontario, Canada) - Carolina Hurricanes | 40 goals
7. Thomas Vanek (1984 - Austria) - Buffalo Sabres | 40 goals
8. Michael Cammalleri (1982 - Ontario, Canada) - Calgary Flames | 39 goals
9. Dany Heatley (1981 - Germany) - Ottawa Senators | 39 goals
10. Patrick Marleau (1979 - Saskatchewan, Canada) - San Jose Sharks | 38 goals
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Of the 120 20-plus goal scorers, here is how many goals were scored by the year the players were born:

1. Players born in 1984 - 425 goals - 14 total players in the 20-plus goals club
- The Top Five:
- 1. Zach Parise - New Jersey Devils | 45 goals
- 2. Thomas Vanek - Buffalo Sabres | 40 goals
- 3. Rick Nash - Columbus Blue Jackets | 40 goals
- 4. Eric Staal - Carolina Hurricanes | 40 goals
- 5. Alexander Semin - Washington Capitals | 34 goals
2. 1985 - 386 goals - 13 players
3. 1980 - 267 goals - 10 players
4. 1982 - 265 goals - 10 players
5. 1987 - 235 goals - 8 players
6. 1976 - 228 goals - 9 players
7. 1983 - 220 goals - 8 players
8. 1979 - 219 goals - 8 players
9. 1981 - 163 goals - 6 players
10. 1972 - 151 goals - 6 players
11. 1988 - 123 goals - 5 players
12. 1978 - 102 goals - 4 players
13. 1986 - 100 goals - 4 players
14. 1973 - 97 goals - 4 players
15. 1975 - 81 goals - 3 players
16. 1977 - 60 goals - 2 players
17. 1974 - 53 goals - 2 players
18. 1970 - 48 goals - 2 players
19. 1968 - 23 goals - 1 player
20. 1990 - 23 goals - 1 player

Ages 19 to 41 are represented in the 20-plus goals club.
Average birth year of the 120 players: 1981
Median birth year of the 120 players: 1979
Mean birth year of the 120 players: 1984
Oldest player with 20+ goals: Mark Recchi (41 years old) - Boston Bruins | 23 goals
Youngest player: Steven Stamkos (19 years old) - Tampa Bay Lightning | 23 goals