Wayne Douglas Gretzky is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and former head coach. He was born in Brantford, Ontario on January 26, 1961. Often called "The Great One," he spent 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL), playing for the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers, achieving various milestones that are still unmatched by any other player.
After retiring in 1999, Wayne Gretzky was immediately inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame, skipping the waiting period. The NHL retired his jersey number 99 across the league. He was named to the IIHF Centennial All-Star Team and inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2000. In 2012, he received the Order of Hockey in Canada. Gretzky led Canada to Olympic gold as executive director in 2002 and became part-owner and later head coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. After leaving the Coyotes in 2009, he joined the Edmonton Oilers as vice-chairman in 2016. He left in 2021 to become an NHL analyst for Turner Sports.
Wayne Gretzky Awards
Wayne Gretzky received numerous awards throughout his career. He won the Lou Kaplan Trophy as WHA Rookie of the Year in 1979. Gretzky earned the Hart Memorial Trophy as NHL MVP nine times (1980–87, 1989) and the Art Ross Trophy as the scoring champion 10 times. He was recognized for his sportsmanship with the Lady Byng Trophy five times and won the Lester B. Pearson Award five times, voted by players as the league’s best. He claimed the Conn Smythe Trophy twice as the playoff MVP and led his teams to four Stanley Cup victories (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988). Gretzky also achieved success internationally, winning the Canada Cup three times.
| Award | Number of Wins / Year(s) | Description |
| Lou Kaplan Trophy | 1979 | WHA Rookie of the Year |
| Hart Memorial Trophy | 9 times (1980–87, 1989) | NHL Most Valuable Player (MVP) |
| Art Ross Trophy | 10 times | NHL Scoring Champion |
| Lady Byng Trophy | 5 times | Recognized for Sportsmanship |
| Lester B. Pearson Award | 5 times | Voted by Players as League’s Best |
| Conn Smythe Trophy | 2 times | Playoff Most Valuable Player |
| Stanley Cup | 4 times (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988) | NHL Championship |
| Canada Cup | 3 times | International Championship |
Wayne Gretzky Milestones
According to The Hockey Writers, Wayne Gretzky achieved many incredible milestones during his career. He scored his first NHL goal on October 14, 1979, and became the fastest player to reach 1,000 points on December 19, 1984. In 1981, he set a record by scoring 50 goals in just 39 games and became the quickest to reach 500 goals in 1986. Gretzky still holds the record for most goals in a season with 92, achieved in 1981-82. On October 26, 1990, he became the first player to reach 2,000 points, and by 1989, he had broken Gordie Howe's points record. He finished his career with 894 goals, 1,963 assists, and 2,857 points, making him the all-time leader in every category. His final game was on April 18, 1999, ending a legendary 20-year career.
| Milestone | Date / Year | Description |
| First NHL Goal | October 14, 1979 | Scored in his debut NHL season. |
| Fastest to 1,000 Points | December 19, 1984 | Reached 1,000 points faster than any other player. |
| 50 Goals in 39 Games | 1981 | Set a record for the fewest games to reach 50 goals. |
| Most Goals in a Season (92) | 1981-82 | Holds the record for most goals in a single season. |
| First to 2,000 Points | October 26, 1990 | Reached 2,000 career points, a historic first. |
| Broke Gordie Howe’s Points Record | 1989 | Surpassed Howe's long-standing points record. |
| Career Total | 894 Goals, 1,963 Assists, 2,857 Points | All-time leader in goals, assists, and points. |
| Final Game | April 18, 1999 | Retired after 20 seasons, ending a legendary career. |
Wayne Gretzky Records
According to The Hockey Writers, Wayne Gretzky, known as "The Great One," set numerous records throughout his career, many of which are considered unbreakable. Some of his most remarkable achievements include scoring 92 goals in a single season, recording 163 assists in another season, and becoming the only player with over 2,000 career points, ending with 2,857. He also holds the record for 50 goals in just 39 games and a 51-game point streak. Gretzky's 1,963 career assists and 1,072 professional goals further highlight his dominance. He won nine Hart Trophies as the league’s MVP and 10 Art Ross Trophies as the leading scorer.
| Record / Achievement | Details |
| Most Goals in a Season | 92 goals (1981-82) |
| Most Assists in a Season | 163 assists |
| Only Player with 2,000+ Career Points | 2,857 career points |
| 50 Goals in 39 Games | Fastest to reach 50 goals |
| Longest Point Streak | 51 consecutive games |
| Career Assists Record | 1,963 assists |
| Most Professional Goals | 1,016 goals |
| Hart Trophies (MVP) | 9 times |
| Art Ross Trophies (Leading Scorer) | 10 times |
Read More: How many Stanley Cups did Gretzky win?
FAQs on Wayne Gretzky
A. Wayne Gretzky won four Stanley Cup Championships with the Edmonton Oilers
A. Wayne Gretzky holds/shares at least 61 regular, postseason, and All-Star Game records.
A. Wayne Gretzky retired on April 18, 1999.
A. Wayne Gretzky is 63 years old.
