The Wayne Gretzky Record Book

Wayne Gretzky playing for the Edmonton Oilers v New Jersey Devils
Bruce Bennett / Getty Images

Wayne Gretzky holds or shares 61 National Hockey League records: 40 for the regular season, 15 for the Stanley Cup playoffs, and six for the NHL All-Star Game. Here's a summary of what is almost certainly the most amazing career record in the history of sports:

Wayne Gretzky's Career Records

The Great One, as Gretzky is known, is the leading scorer in NHL history. Here are some of the highlights of the career records he holds:

  • Most Points. 2,856 (1,485 games, 894 goals, 1,962 assists)
  • Most Points, Including Playoffs. 3,238 (2,856 regular season and 382 playoffs)
  • Most Goals. 894
  • Most Goals, Including Playoffs. 1,016 (894 regular season and 122 playoffs)
  • Most Assists. 1,962
  • Most Assists, Including Playoffs. 2,222 (1,962 regular season and 260 playoffs)
  • Most Goals by a Center. 894
  • Most Assists by a Center. 1,962
  • Most Points by a Center. 2,856
  • Most 40-or-More Goal Seasons. 12
  • Most Consecutive 40-or-More Goal Seasons. 12 (1979-80 to 1990-91)
  • Most 50-or-More Goal Seasons. 9 (tied with Mike Bossy)
  • Most 60-or-More Goal Seasons. 5 (tied with Mike Bossy)
  • Most Consecutive 60-or-More Goal Seasons. 4 (1981-82 to 1984-85)
  • Most 100-or-More Point Seasons. 15
  • Most Consecutive 100-or-More Goal Seasons. 13 (1979-80 to 1991-92)
  • Most Three-or More Goal Games. 50 (37 three-goal games; nine four-goal games; four five-goal games)
  • Most Overtime Assists: 15
  • Highest Assists-per-Game Average: 1.321 (1,962 assists in 1,485 games)

Wayne Gretzky's Single Season Records

Gretzky played 20 seasons in the NHL, retiring after the 1998-99 season and was quickly inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame. Here are his single-season records.

  • Most Points in a Single Season. 215 (1985-86, 80-game schedule)
  • Most Points in a Single Season, Including Playoffs. 255 (1984-85; 208 points in 80 regular season games and 47 points in 18 playoff games)
  • Most Goals in a Single Season. 92 (1981-82, 80-game schedule)
  • Most Goals in a Single Season, Including Playoffs. 100 (1983-84, 87 goals in 74 regular season games and 13 goals in 19 playoff games)
  • Most Goals, 50 Games from Season Start. 61 (1981-82 and 1983-84)
  • Most Assists in a Single Season. 163 (1985-86, 80-game schedule)
  • Most Assists in a Single Season, Including Playoffs. 174 (1985-86, 163 assists in 80 regular season games and 11 assists in 10 playoff games)
  • Most Points by a Center in a Single Season. 215 (1985-86, 80-game schedule)
  • Most Goals by a Center in a Single Season. 92 (1981-82, 80-game schedule)
  • Most Assists by a Center in a Single Season. 163 (1985-86, 80-game schedule). Gretzky also holds second through fifth positions.
  • Most Three-or-More Goal Games in a Single Season. 10 (1981-82, six three-goal games; three four-goal games; one five-goal game). Tied in 1983-84, six three-goal games and four four-goal games.
  • Longest Consecutive Assist Scoring Streak in a Single Season. 23 games - 48 assists (1990-91)
  • Longest Consecutive Point-Scoring Streak in a Single Season. 51 games - 61 goals, 92 assists for 153 points (Oct. 5, 1983 to Jan. 28, 1984)
  • Longest Consecutive Point-Scoring Streak from Start of Season. 51 games - 61 goals, 92 assists for 153 points
  • Highest Goal-per-Game Average in a Single Season. 1.18 (1983-84, 87 goals in 74 games)
  • Highest Assists per Game Average in a Single Season. 2.04 (1985-86, 163 assists in 80 games)
  • Highest Points per Game Average in a Single Season (Among Players with 50-or More Points). 2.77 (1983-84, 205 points in 74 games)

Wayne Gretzky's Single-Game Records

In his first NHL season, Gretzky set the single-game record for most assists by a rookie, displaying even early in his career the potential he possessed.

  • Most Goals in a Single Period. 4 (tied with 10 other players); Feb. 18, 1981
  • Most Assists in a Single Game. 7 (tied with Billy Taylor); Feb. 15, 1980; Dec. 11, 1985; and Feb. 14, 1986
  • Most Assists in a Single Road Game. 7 (tied with Billy Taylor); Dec. 11, 1985
  • Most Assists in a Single Game by a Player in his First NHL Season. 7; Feb. 15, 1980

Wayne Gretzky's Playoffs Records

Named  MVP of the Stanley Cup playoffs in both 1985 and 1988, Gretzky has an impressive list of post-season records.

  • Most Playoff Goals. 122
  • Most Playoffs Assists. 260
  • Most Playoffs Points. 382 (122 goals and 260 assists)
  • Most Game-Winning Goals in Playoffs. 24
  • Most Three -or-More Goal Games in Playoffs. 10 (eight three-goal games, two four-goal games)
  • Most Points in a Single Playoff Year. 47 (1985, 17 goals and 30 assists in 18 games)
  • Most Assists in a Single Playoff Year. 31 (1988, 19 games)
  • Most Points in Final Series. 13 - three goals and 10 assists (1988, four games plus suspended game vs. Boston)
  • Most Assists in Final Series. 10 (1988, four games, plus suspended game vs. Boston)
  • Most Assists in One Series Other Than Final. 
    14 - 1985 Conference Finals (six games vs. Chicago)
    (tied with Rick Middleton)
  • Most Shorthanded Goals in a Single Playoff Year:
    3 (1983, two vs. Winnipeg in division semifinals; one vs. Calgary in division finals - tied with five other players)
  • Most Assists in a Single Playoff Game. 6 - April 9, 1987, at Edmonton (tied with Mikko Leinonen)
  • Most Points in One Playoff Period. 4 (1 goal, 3 assists) - April 12, 1987, at Los Angeles, third period (tied with nine other players)
  • Most Assists in One Playoff Period. 3 (has been recorded on 70 occasions; Gretzky has had three assists in one period five times) 
  • Most Shorthanded Goals in a Single Playoff Game. 2 - April 6, 1983, at Edmonton (tied with eight other players)

Wayne Gretzky's NHL All-Star Game Records

Gretzky played in 18 NHL All-Star Games and was voted to the starting lineup nine times.

  • Most All-Star Game Goals. 13 (in 18 games played)                                                                 
  • Most All-Star Game Goals in One Game. 4 (1983 Campbell Conference; tied with three players)
  • Most All-Star Game Goals in One Period. 4 (1983 Campbell Conference, third period)
  • Most All-Star Game Points in One Period. 4 (1983 Campbell Conference, third period; (tied with Mike Gartner and Adam Oates)
  • Most All-Star Game Points, Career. 25 (13 goals, 12 assists in 18 games)
  • Most All-Star Game Assists, Career. 2 (tied with four players)