(1961-) Canadian ice-hockey player, probably the best in the history of the National Hockey League (NHL). Gretzky played with the Edmonton Oilers 1979–88 and with the Los Angeles Kings from 1988. He took just 11 years to break the NHL scoring record of 1,850 goals (accumulated by Gordie Howe over 26 years) and won the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's most valuable player of the season a record nine times (1980–87, 1989). By the start of the 1990–91 season he had scored 1,979 goals.
Born in Brantford, Ontario, Gretzky played hockey from a very young age. He signed with the Edmonton Oilers 1979 at the age of 18.
A prolific goal scorer, he scored a record 215 points in the 1981–82 season. He went on to lead his team to the championship twice (1985, 1988) and in 1984 established the record of scoring or assisting in a score in 51 consecutive games. Traded to the Los Angeles Kings 1988, he continued to lead the league in goal points and assists during most seasons.
CAREER HIGHLIGHTS
Stanley Cup
1984, 1985, 1987, 1988
Hart Memorial Trophy (NHL’s most valuable player)
1980–87, 1989
Ross Trophy (most points in regular season)
1981–87, 1990–91