Wayne Gretzky
A child prodigy who scored 378 goals in one youth season, Gretzky joined the Edmonton Oilers in 1979 and exploded into stardom. By 1981-82 he shattered the single-season goal record with 92 and topped 200 points, making him a phenomenon. He led the Oilers to four Stanley Cups in the 1980s.
Backyard Prodigy
Gretzky learned the game on a backyard rink his father built in Brantford, Ontario. By age ten he scored 378 goals in a single youth season, drawing national media attention.
The Oilers Dynasty
Joining Edmonton in 1979, 'The Great One' rewrote the record book and led a dynamic young team to four Stanley Cups. His vision and anticipation set him apart from every contemporary.
Growing the Game
His blockbuster 1988 trade to Los Angeles is credited with igniting hockey's popularity across the United States. After retiring in 1999, the NHL retired his number 99 for all teams.
Career Timeline
- 1979Begins NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers
- 1980Wins first of nine career MVP awards
- 1982Scores record 92 goals in a single season
- 1984Wins first Stanley Cup with Edmonton
- 1986Records 215 points, an all-time single-season high
- 1988Traded to the Los Angeles Kings, growing US hockey
- 1989Passes Gordie Howe as NHL's all-time scoring leader
- 1994Becomes NHL career goals leader, surpassing Howe
- 1999Retires holding 61 NHL records
- 1999Inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
Biggest Hits
- Gretzky's number 99 was retired league-wide by the NHL, an honor given to no other player.
- His career assists total alone (1,963) exceeds the total career points of every other NHL player in history.
Portrait: Rick Dikeman · CC BY-SA 3.0 · via Wikimedia Commons