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Wayne Gretzky

Joshua Silvia
2–3 minutes
Wayne Gretzky in his Edmonton Oilers uniform — the only NHL player to wear #99 after the league retired the number
Photo: Hakandahlstrom (Håkan Dahlström) Later versions were uploaded by IrisKawling at en.wikipedia. · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons
NHL · Hall of Fame

Wayne Gretzky

Wayne Douglas Gretzky

"The Great One." 4× Stanley Cup, 9× MVP, all-time leader in goals + assists + points.

Position
Center
Size
6'0" · 185 lb
Born
Jan 26, 1961 · Brantford, Ontario, Canada
Drafted
1979 · pick —
1,487
Games
894 (NHL all-time record)
Goals
1,963 (NHL all-time record)
Assists
2,857 (NHL all-time record)
Points
382
Playoff Points

Wayne Gretzky holds 61 NHL records, including career goals (894), assists (1,963), and points (2,857) — and his assist total alone would lead the NHL all-time scoring list. He won four Stanley Cups with Edmonton, the 1988 trade to Los Angeles transformed hockey's American footprint, and his #99 was retired across the entire NHL in 2000 — the only number ever retired leaguewide in any of the four major North American sports.

Draft Night

Wayne Gretzky drafted #— overall by the Edmonton Oilers (1979 NHL Draft).

Career

1978-1979Indianapolis Racers / Edmonton Oilers (WHA)Signed at 17 by the WHA Indianapolis Racers; sold to Edmonton mid-season as the WHA folded. Came over to the NHL when Edmonton joined the merger.
1979-1988Edmonton OilersFour Stanley Cups (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988), eight straight Hart Trophies, the 1985-86 215-point season. Traded to Los Angeles Aug 9, 1988.
1988-1996Los Angeles KingsThe 'trade that shook the hockey world.' Took the Kings to their first Stanley Cup Final (1993). Made hockey work in southern California.
1996St. Louis BluesBrief 18-game stint after a midseason trade.
1996-1999New York RangersThree seasons in New York to close the career; retired April 18, 1999 after a final game vs Pittsburgh.

Honors & Awards

4× Stanley Cup Champion (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988 — all Edmonton) 9× Hart Trophy (NHL MVP) 10× Art Ross Trophy (scoring title) 2× Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) 5× Lester B. Pearson Award (now Ted Lindsay) NHL #99 retired leaguewide (2000) Hockey Hall of Fame (1999, three-year wait waived)

In-depth stories

Wayne Gretzky 99: The Story Behind the Number
Wayne Gretzky's 99 came from wanting Howe's 9 in juniors and doubling up when it was taken. NHL retired the number leaguewide in 2000.
Most NHL Goals Ever: Wayne Gretzky, 894
Wayne Gretzky scored 894 career NHL goals — the all-time record (now passed by Alex Ovechkin in April 2025 at 895).

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