An extremely rare feat, the NHL has only officially deemed five players in eight different seasons to have reached the mark; Brett Hull is the most recent occurrence, having done so in 1990–91.
He scored his 50th goal on March 18, 1945, in the 50th (and final) game of the 1944–45 season on goalie Harvey Bennett of the Boston Bruins.
In recognition of his achievements, the NHL created an annual award in 1999, the Maurice "Rocket" Richard Trophy, which was donated by the Montreal Canadiens, to be presented to the top goalscorer in the league.
Hull's fans countered that Richard had achieved his record during World War II, during which many NHLers enlisted in the military.
Additionally, the counterargument noted Richard's failure to match the record in peacetime, with the caliber of the NHL not similarly hindered, even though he played in eleven 70-game seasons.
In the 1980–81 season, Mike Bossy of the New York Islanders became only the second player to score 50 goals in 50 games, 36 years after Richard had done so.
Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins was the next player to score 50 goals in 50 or fewer games, achieving the feat on January 20, 1989.
On January 28, 1992, Hull scored his 50th goal against goalie Kelly Hrudey in game number 50, a 3–3 tie in Los Angeles.
Bobby Hull, despite having never reached 50-in-50 during his NHL career, did earn a 50-in-50 season in 1974–75 with the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association.
Hull's accomplishment made him the first player to reach the mark in any professional hockey league since Maurice Richard's 50-in-50 season in 1944–45.