How Wayne Gretzky Led the Oilers to 4 Stanley Cup Victories

Wayne Gretzky is one of the greatest players in NHL history, with over 60 records still in his name at the time of writing. Below we have detailed Gretzky's path to success, focusing on his career in the Edmonton Oilers. As you take in his illustrious career, you will learn more about what it means to be truly at the peak of your profession. There is a good reason that he is still held up to this day as the greatest player who ever lived.

Gretzky's Career

Wayne Gretzky started skating at the young age of two. He was very skilled and after only four years he played as an all-star along with children almost double his age.

After many years of playing and dominating minor hockey in Canada, in 1978 Wayne Gretzky ended up joining the Indianapolis Racers of the upstart World Hockey Assoc., he was later traded to the Edmonton Oilers who were also part of the WHA.

In 1979, the Edmonton Oilers joined the NHL. While his feats were famous among the WHA, Gretzky's new position in the NHL allowed more people to see his skill on the ice.

Between 1979 and 1988, Gretzky dominated the NHL, breaking numerous goal scoring records and more importantly leading the Edmonton Oilers to 4 Stanley Cup Championships.

Still, Gretzky did not remain with the Oilers. In 1988, he was traded to the Los Angeles Kings who he managed to lead to the Stanley Cup finals in 1993.. Since then, he has played for the St. Louis Blues, before ending his illustrious career as a member of the New York Rangers in 1999.

Gretzky's Method

Wayne Gretzky was not an imposing hockey player, that is not where his skill lied. Instead, it was his amazing vision which made him one of the very best to ever play the game. He was able to read the play at every moment, working out the best place to be and how to respond to any situation that may occur.

Hockey players who have faced him have also lauded his ability to improvise. Gretzky is often described as spontaneous and an outside-the-box thinker. 

While many people think this is an innate ability, Gretzky has often instead attributed this capability to his father's teachings while growing up in Brantford Ontario. While he only played on a small backyard ice rink, it was enough to get a good idea about how to play in a way that others do not expect.

Gretzky's Statistics

Wayne Gretzky has played a total of 1,487 games in the NHL. In that time, he scored 894 goals, of which 91 were game-winning, for a total of 0.6 goals per game. The NHL also lists him as having taken 5,088 shots in that time, giving him a scoring percentage of 17.6% one of the highest in history.

While Wayne played for over 25 years, his best seasons were in the early eighties. During that time, his goal average was much higher, reaching a peak of 92 goals in the 1981 season alone. This gave him a goal percentage of almost 25%, which would be a boon to any team.

Four Stanley Cups

Gretzky won various accolades during his amazing career. Still, there are few as prestigious as his Oilers team winning the Stanley cup 4 times. He is so admired for this fact that his statue in Edmonton, Alberta, features him hoisting the Stanley Cup above his head.

In total, Gretzky was the captain of the Edmonton Oilers for five seasons, between 1983 and 1988. 

Celebrating Wayne Gretzky

Over the years, fans have bought many different pieces of memorabilia to celebrate this famous celebrity. The Wayne Gretzky throwback jersey is only one of them. Now that you know so much more about Wayne Gretzky, you might be one of them too.

Whether you are a Oilers, Blues, or Rangers fan, we have every Gretzky jersey you can think of. If you are interested in a custom throwback jersey of this amazing player you should visit customthrowbackjerseys.com. We are well known for our high-quality products. Each jersey is crafted to perfection so you won’t have to worry about getting a cheap version that will fall apart in a few months. Get yourself one of the most recognizable jerseys of all time from Custom Throwback Jerseys today!