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The focus of the game prior to Gretzky's arrival, he said, especially among the Canadian teams, was on the player with the puckin getting the puck to a star player who would make the big play. Early years. Emma Gretzky Family. Wayne Gretzky said in a social media post Thursday night that his father battled Parkinson's . The Kings now boasted of numerous sellouts. "[164] His stamina is also indicated by the fact that Gretzky often scored late in the game. "[218] It was subsequently reported by various outlets that Gretzky had signed with new U.S. NHL rightsholder Turner Sports to become an analyst. 11. [183] Also in 2002, Gretzky received a star on Canada's Walk of Fame in Toronto. He won a record nine Hart Trophies as the most valuable player in the NHL. Some say I have a "sixth sense" Baloney. [184] His hometown of Brantford, Ontario, renamed Park Road North to "Wayne Gretzky Parkway" as well as renaming the North Park Recreation Centre to The Wayne Gretzky Sports Centre. Wayne Gretzky (@waynegretzky) Instagram photo. [224][225], While serving as a judge on Dance Fever, Gretzky met actress Janet Jones. He scored his all-time record of 92 goals with just 369 shots. By the end of the regular season, the signings of Gretzky and other young stars in addition to other factors had compelled enough of the hardline NHL owners to change their positions, and an agreement (technically recognized as the 1979 expansion by the NHL) was finalized. [159] But that year, Gretzky tied for first place in scoring, and won the Hart Trophy for the league's most valuable player. [185] On May 10, 2010, he was awarded The Ambassador Award of Excellence by the LA Sports & Entertainment Commission. Wayne Gretzky (@waynegretzky) Instagram photo. Gretzky shared a sweet family photo in celebration of Mother's Day on May 9, 2021. [95] The Kings were then swept by the Calgary Flames who went on to win their first Stanley Cup. An ownership dispute involving Research in Motion's Jim Balsillie (with the intention of relocating the team to Hamilton, Ontario) and the NHL itself arose, which eventually ended up in court. The Canadian coach, Punch McLean, was originally sceptical of Gretzky's ability as he was the youngest player to compete in the tournament at the age of 16. The league, which at one point iced fourteen teams, was down to seven surviving franchises. Given the pandemic and other life changes, I realize I will not be able to dedicate the time nor effort needed to support this world-class organization. Him: "Where do you skate?" [169] Defencemen found Gretzky a most elusive target. The NHL also lowered its minimum age, ensuring players such as Gretzky would not need to return to the junior level, albeit with the caveat that such previously underaged players were supposed to be placed into the 1979 NHL Entry Draft pool. Growing up, he was a competitive runner and also batted .492 for the Junior Intercounty Baseball League's Brantford CKCP Braves in the summer of 1980. Gretzky accomplished the feat in only 39games. It most recently sold for US$2.8 million. It's like Larry Bird. "Janet makes me go to hot yoga," Gretzky reveals. 99 which also runs on Wayne Gretzky Drive for its commute. In June 1978, he signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association (WHA), where he briefly played before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers. On November 2, Gretzky, goaltender Eddie Mio and forward Peter Driscoll were put on a private plane, not knowing where they would land and what team they would be joining. Wayne Gretzky, a former Canadian ice hockey player known as "The Great One," has a daughter named Emma. [199], In 2006, Moyes became majority owner of the team. [79], Gretzky had a major influence on the style of play of the Edmonton Oilers and in the NHL as a whole, helping to inspire a more team-based strategy. Wayne Gretzky of the Los Angeles Kings at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, Calif., October 10, 1989. . ", "Editorial: Gretzky endorsement of Harper a new political reality", "Emile Francis to receive Wayne Gretzky award", "Erie, McDavid Lose OHL Final As Junior Hockey Says Goodbye To An All-Time Great", "Young stars shine during Minor Hockey Week", "Wayne Gretzky rookie card sells for $3.75 million, shatters record for hockey card", Wayne Gretzky, winner of the Lionel Conacher Award and the Bobbie Rosenfeld Award: Virtual Museum of Canada Exhibit, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Wayne_Gretzky&oldid=1141939613, That he's regarded as the best player in the history of the NHL, see, That he's regarded as the greatest by many sportswriters, see, For the records he held at retirement, see, Biographical information and career statistics from, This page was last edited on 27 February 2023, at 17:34. [55], In his second season, Gretzky won the Art Ross (the first of seven consecutive) with a then-record 164points, breaking both Bobby Orr's record for assists in a season (102) and Phil Esposito's record for points in a season (152). [32] While in the air, Skalbania worked on the deal. Gretzky has made several TV appearances, including as a Dance Fever celebrity judge, and acted in a dramatic role alongside Victor Newman in The Young and the Restless in 1981. On 26-1-1961 Wayne Gretzky was born in Brantford, Ontario. [72] The Oilers also won the Stanley Cup with Gretzky in 1985, 1987 and 1988. She and Johnson posed beside her father Wayne and mom Janet, while their two boys sat beneath them in the cutest . His mother was of English, and some Cornish and Irish, descent. (the family evidently spoke Ukrainian). [9] Gretzky became executive director for the Canadian national men's hockey team during the 2002 Winter Olympics, in which the team won a gold medal. Like his hero, Gordie Howe, Gretzky possessed "an exceptional capacity to renew his energy resources quickly." He made them skate to his level and pass and finish up to his level or they would be embarrassed. Analyzing Gretzky's hockey skills, he says, "What we take to be creative genius is in fact a reaction to a situation that he has stored in his brain as deeply and firmly as his own phone number." [204] The Canadian team won the gold medal, its first in 50years. His mom, Phyllis Gretzky, was born October 14, 1941 and passed away on December 19, 2005. [96] For the second year in a row, the Kings eliminated the defending champions in the first round when they defeated the Flames in six games, but also for the second year in a row their season ended in a second round sweep, this time at the hands of Gretzky's former team. [162] He weighed "about 170 pounds" for the better part of his career. Gretzky became the youngest player to score 50goals, but was not eligible for the Calder Memorial Trophy, given to the top NHL rookie, because of his previous year of WHA experience. To stop them without it, that was interference. I don't care if you're Carl Lewis, you can't outskate that little black thing. [209] During the Games' opening ceremony, Gretzky, basketball player Steve Nash, skier Nancy Greene, and speed skater Catriona Le May Doan jointly lit the Olympic cauldron inside the ceremony venue of BC Place. [145] Statistics support the contention: whereas Phil Esposito, who had set the previous goal-scoring record, needed 550 shots to score 76 goals, Gretzky netted his 76th after only 287 shotsabout half as many. [107], However, the chemistry everyone expected with winger Brett Hull never developed. During Gretzky's coaching tenure, the Coyotes did not reach the postseason, and their best finish in the Western Conference standings was 12th. Skalbania offered to play a game of backgammon with Winnipeg owner Michael Gobuty, the stakes being if Gobuty won, he would get Gretzky and if he lost, he had to give Skalbania a share of the Jets. [281], A number of awards and trophies have been created under his name. Gretzky's professional relationship with Keenan was thus never particularly warm, and the coach's public rebukes effectively ended any realistic prospect of Gretzky remaining in St. Louis once he became a free agent. Gretzky played for 10 years with the Oilers, with Sather as coach. [120], The final game of Gretzky's career was a 21overtime loss to the Pittsburgh Penguins on April 18, 1999, in Madison Square Garden. Courtesy Heritage Auctions [142], He passed and shot with prodigious skill. [203] American fans online began calling Gretzky a "crybaby"; defenders said he was merely borrowing a page from former coach Glen Sather to take the pressure off his players. [202] The Coyotes' performance declined in 200607, as the team ended the season 15th in their conference. [211], Although Gretzky had previously stated he would not participate in any "old-timers exhibition games",[212] on November 22, 2003, he took to the ice to help celebrate the Edmonton Oilers' 25th anniversary as an NHL team. They all wanted to play like Gretzky. Trevor is the most successful sibling . But I'm Canadian to the core. Gretzky informed McNall that his prerequisites for a deal to take place were that Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski join him as teammates in Los Angeles. [182], In 2002, the Kings held a jersey retirement ceremony and erected a life-sized statue of Gretzky outside the Staples Center; the ceremony was delayed until then so that Bruce McNall, who had recently finished a prison sentence, could attend. [12] The family moved into a house on Varadi Avenue in Brantford seven months after Wayne was born, chosen partly because its yard was flat enough to make an ice rink in winter. [241][242] Only McNall's name was engraved on the Grey Cup as team owner, but in November 2007, the CFL corrected the oversight, adding Gretzky's and Candy's names. Gretzky continued doing this throughout his NHL career. instagram.com. [178] He was inducted into the IIHF Hall of Fame in 2000. [109], Gretzky ended his professional playing career with the New York Rangers, where he played his final three seasons and helped the team reach the Eastern Conference Finals in 1997. At the moment, Janet Jones and Wayne Gretzky have five kids: Paulina, Ty, Trevor, Tristan, and Emma. After losing the first game of a best-of-three final series against the Soviets, Gretzky propelled Canada with a five-assist performance in the second game, including the game-winning pass to Lemieux in overtime, to extend the tournament. In 1980, when an exercise physiologist tested the recuperative abilities of all of the Edmonton Oilers, Gretzky scored so high that the tester said he "thought the machine had broken. [156], Much has been written about Gretzky's highly developed hockey instincts, but he once explained that what appeared to be instinct was, in large part, the effect of his relentless study and practice of the game, in co-operation with his coaches. Brantford further inducted Gretzky into its "Walk of Fame" in 2004. "Our family is thrilled to become the new guardians of this world-class hobby treasure." The Gretzkys had to legally challenge the Canadian Amateur Hockey Association to win Wayne the right to play in a different area, which was disallowed at the time. [43][44] Gretzky finished third in the league in scoring at 110points, behind Robbie Ftorek and Ral Cloutier. In October 2016, he returned to the Oilers as a minority partner and vice-chairman of their parent company, Oilers Entertainment Group. [192], In 2005, rumours began circulating that Gretzky was about to name himself head coach of the Coyotes, but were denied by Gretzky and the team. The WHA had long sought to arrange some sort of merger with the NHL, but were constantly rebuffed by a group of hardline owners in the older league. [246], Gretzky's appeal as a product endorser far surpassed that of other hockey players of his era. [69], Gretzky was named an officer of the Order of Canada on June 25, 1984, for outstanding contribution to the sport of hockey. By the time I was ten, I had eight years on skates instead of four, and a few seasons' worth of ice time against ten-year-olds. Wayne dropped off his daughter Emma at Court 8 in the Indian Wells Tennis Garden. The Wayne Gretzky International Award is presented by the United States Hockey Hall of Fame to honour international individuals who have made major contributions to the growth and advancement of hockey in the United States. [282][283] The Wayne Gretzky 99 Award is awarded annually to the Most Valuable Player in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs. [126] His 17 points remain the most scored by a 16-year-old in the World Junior Championships. Him: "If you get cut off, what are you gonna do?" [50], In his first NHL season, 197980, Gretzky was awarded the Hart Memorial Trophy as the NHL's Most Valuable Player (the first of eight in a row) and tied for the scoring lead with Marcel Dionne with 137points. He, almost alone among the Canadians, seemed to take to the larger ice surface as if it offered more opportunity instead of obligation His playing time soared, as he was being sent on not just for power plays but double shifts and even penalty kills. Gretzky led the tournament for the fourth and final time with 12 points in seven games. Wayne Gretzky and Janet Jones' almost all big family captioned in one snap as they mark their 33rd wedding anniversary. Gretzky addressed those comments by saying he spoke out to protect the Canadian players, and the tirade was not "staged". [144] He had a fast and accurate shot. "Gretzky uses this room to insert an extra beat into his actions. [34], One of the highlights of Gretzky's season was his appearance in the 1979 WHA All-Star Game. May 26, 2021 at 6:25 p.m. "The Great One" is headed from the front office to a cable television studio. Sara Marie Cusick thought she and her boyfriend, Ty Robert Gretzky, son of hockey great Wayne Gretzky and founder of The Gretzky Hockey School, were going to his parents house to celebrate his younger brother's high school graduation.However, he had another idea and proposed in the gazebo with a ring his grandmother had given him. Together, they have two children, Tatum and River Johnson. [280] The Lady Byng Trophy, awarded for sportsmanship and performance, was presented to Gretzky five times between 1980 and 1999. Phyliss, his wife of 45 years, died of lung . He is survived by their five children: Wayne, Keith, Glen, Brent and Kim, and several grandchildren. Just a Regular Blue Jersey", "Hockey; Rangers Waste Gretzky's Gifts Again", "In Signing Messier, Canucks' Persistence Paid Off", "NHL & WHA Yearly Leaders and Records for Assists", "Cole: Bobby Orr was The One, not The Great One", "List of 16-year old World Junior Championship players", "Wayne Gretzky never thought he would make this team", "Hasek Stares Down Canada in Shootout, 21", "Finland Stuns Canada, 32, to Win Bronze Medal", "To figure Gretzky's greatness just tally up the numbers", "Duhatschek: In the City of Angels, NHL mends fences with The Great One", "Wayne Gretzky pays respects to Islanders great Mike Bossy, who passed away at 65 - Forever Blueshirts: A site for New York Rangers fanatics", "Edmonton Oilers have had some of the NHL's best enforcers", "Gloves Off: The 10 Top NHL Enforcers of All Time", "Walking in the footsteps of hockey inaction", "Gretzky officially welcomed into Hockey Hall of Fame", "Perfect setting: Gretzky's number retired before All-Star Game", "Gretzky jersey ceremony turns into L.A. lovefest", "Plus: N.H.L.Phoenix; Gretzky's Role To Be Limited", "Canucks spoil Great One's coaching debut", "Minnesota Wild 1, Phoenix Coyotes 2 Final", "Gretzky returns with five-year extension", "Gretzky moved to tears as Russia beats Canada 20", "Wayne Gretzky, in China, says NHL letting its stars play in Olympics is 'better for everyone', "Canada Roster 2010 Olympic Winter Games", "Anxious moments during cauldron malfunction", "People chase Gretzky through the streets of Vancouver", "Oilers will play Canadiens in outdoor game", "Fans, players bundle up for historic game", "Wayne Gretzky returns to Oilers in executive role", "Wayne Gretzky stepping away from role with Edmonton Oilers", "Bo-ners, Re-gretz and Mike-believe Two-line Head In Forms", "Gotta See It: Wayne Gretzky's very brief 'Simpsons' cameo", "Why won't Wayne Gretzky pick up his Order of Canada? Paulina Gretzky is starring in OVO's latest campaign alongside her father, Wayne Gretzky, and the rest of their family.. On Thursday, OVO, the Canadian fashion label established by hip-hop . He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. [115], In 1997, prior to his retirement, The Hockey News named a committee of 50hockey experts (former NHL players, past and present writers, broadcasters, coaches and hockey executives) to select and rank the 50greatest players in NHL history. [233] Trevor is a former minor league baseball player. After she said, "Yes," a banner flew by that read . Gretzky was named to the club on November 29, 1997. He left in 2021 to become an analyst on Turner Sports' NHL coverage. The family moved into a house on Varadi Avenue in Brantford seven months after Wayne was born, chosen . [16] Additionally, Walter gave the advice to "skate where the puck's going, not where it's been". . [186] Gretzky was named one of the 100 Greatest NHL Players in 2017. [66], The Edmonton Oilers finished first overall in their last WHA regular season. [272][273][274][275][276] In 2014, Gretzky praised Harper at a United for Ukraine Gala event in Toronto calling him "one of the greatest prime ministers ever". Wayne Gretzky's daughter Paulina delivered her baby with . [194] Gretzky made his coaching debut on October 5,[195] and won his first game, on October 8 against the Minnesota Wild. Where Gretzky differed from others in his development was in the extraordinary commitment of time on the ice. [213], Thirteen years later, on December 31, 2016, Gretzky participated in the Winter Classic Alumni Game, which was held between teams of former Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues players two days before the 2017 Winter Classic. Five years later, the tournament was revived and renamed the World Cup in 1996. In one of the snaps, the family were pictured in a living room. Ultimately, it was Racers owner Nelson Skalbania who, on June 12, 1978, signed 17-year-old Gretzky to a seven-year personal services contract worth US$1.75million. Football wasn't even Trevor's best sport either - that . "[148], Commentators have noted Gretzky's uncanny ability to judge the position of the other players on the iceso much so that many suspected he enjoyed some kind of extrasensory perception. Wayne Douglas Gretzky was born on January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario, the son of Phyllis Leone (Hockin) and Walter Gretzky. Me: "Away from the guy, not towards him. Mark Messier, who attended the game along with other representatives of the Edmonton Oilers' dynasty, was the last.[123]. [271] Earlier in 2015, Gretzky endorsed Patrick Brown during his successful campaign for the leadership of the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario. Who says anticipation can't be taught? Gretzky became known for setting up behind his opponent's net, an area that was nicknamed "Gretzky's office". . [84], Two hours after the Oilers won the Stanley Cup in 1988, Gretzky learned from his father that the Oilers were planning to deal him to another team. [226] According to Gretzky, Jones does not recall his being on the show. Former NHL star Wayne Gretzky and his wife Janet have listed their Colonial-style mansion for $22.9 million. Trevor signed with the Cubs the next month. Dan Robson. [237], Gretzky owned or partnered in the ownership of two sports teams before becoming a partner in the Phoenix Coyotes. As the Bailey family built their lasting tribute to Ace, the Bavis . [126], Gretzky's international career highlight arguably came three years later at the 1987 Canada Cup. Skalbania told Gretzky he would be moved, offering him a choice between the Edmonton Oilers and the Winnipeg Jets. [110] The Rangers were defeated in the Conference Finals in five games by the Philadelphia Flyers, despite Gretzky leading the Rangers in the playoffs with 10goals and 10assists. Walter Gretzky, CM, OOnt (October 8, 1938 - March 4, 2021) was a Canadian philanthropist who was best known as the father of Canadian ice hockey icon Wayne Gretzky.. An avid hockey player as a youth, and a keen analyst of the game, he built a backyard rink for his children, and coached Wayne continually from the age of three, devising creative exercises and drills, and teaching him profound . Walter Gretzky, the ultimate Canadian hockey dad who taught and nurtured the Great One, has died. [166], According to Gretzky, lacrosse was where he learned to protect himself from hard checks: "In those days you could be hit from behind in lacrosse, as well as cross-checked, so you had to learn how to roll body checks for self-protection. [199], Gretzky was executive director of the Canadian men's hockey team at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. In front of the net, eyeball to eyeball with the goaltender he will hold the puck one extra instant, upsetting the anticipated rhythm of the game, extending the moment. Marie Greyhounds selected Gretzky, even though Walter Gretzky had told the team Wayne would not move to Sault Ste. Winding up for the slapshot, he will stop for an almost imperceptible moment at the top of his arc, like a golfer with a rhythmic swing." Wayne Gretzky junior career. Love you all, 33 years Happy Anniversary." Wayne Gretzky and actress Janet Jones attend the "The . [254][255] Gretzky also made an appearance on the music video for Nickelback's "Rockstar". [29] His coach at the Edmonton Oilers, Glen Sather, said, "He was so much more intelligent. Paulina Gretzky, Wayne's Daughter, announced on Instagram that her and PGA Tour golfer Dustin Johnson are expecting their second child. [25] According to Walter, the "capper" was being booed on "Brantford Day" at Toronto's Maple Leaf Gardens in February 1975. He originally wanted to wear number9for his hockey hero Gordie Howebut it was already being worn by teammate Brian Gualazzi. [126] Gretzky did not win his first international competition until the 1984 Canada Cup, when Canada defeated Sweden in a best-of-three finals. [146], Veteran Canadian journalist Peter Gzowski wrote that Gretzky seemed to be able to slow down time. [187], Almost immediately after retirement, several NHL teams approached Gretzky about an ownership role. The Gretzkys are basically the royal family in Canada and they will be adding a new member to their family very soon. [16] On the backyard rink, nicknamed the "Wally Coliseum", winter was total hockey immersion with Walter as mentor-teacher as well as teammate. [126] Canada nevertheless won in two games by scores of 41 and 42. [45] Gretzky captured the Lou Kaplan Trophy as rookie of the year,[35] and helped the Oilers to first place in the league.[46]. A video tribute toward the end of the service included pictures from the early days on the backyard rink, Wayne's triumphs, Walter on the ice teaching kids, the Gretzky memorabilia in the family . He is in the NHL Hall of Fame, and is widely considered one of the greatest hockey players ever. 224. [42], On Gretzky's 18th birthday, January 26, 1979, Pocklington signed him to a 10-year personal services contract (the longest in hockey history at the time) worth C$3million, with options for 10 more years. You saw him but when you reached out to grab him your hands felt nothing, maybe just a chill." On May 25, 2021, Gretzky announced that he would step down from his role with the Oilers, stating that "The Oilers, their fans, and the city of Edmonton have meant the world to me and my family for over four decadesand that will never end. Wayne Gretzky, former National Hockey League player, speaks during the Rancho Mirage Speaker Series at The Show in Rancho Mirage, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 23, 2023. . Published Aug 7, 2019. [220] Gretzky was a guest host of the American late night variety show Saturday Night Live in 1989. "You never knew what he was going to do", said hockey Hall of Famer Igor Larionov. [40] The WHA All-Stars were coached by Jacques Demers, who put Gretzky on a line with his boyhood idol Gordie Howe and Howe's son, Mark. Wayne will be forever regarded as the greatest of all-time at his craft. "Absolutely", Gretzky said. "[143] In his first two seasons in the NHL, his deft passing skills helped earn him a reputation as an ace playmaker, and so opposing defencemen focused their efforts on foiling his attempts to pass the puck to other scorers. [271], Gretzky's career achievements include many awards and honours. The Gretzky Family (Instagram) Similarly, Trevor Douglas was born the third child and second son on 1992 September 14, 14. By age two, Wayne was trying to score goals against Mary using a souvenir stick. [181] Also in Edmonton, the local transit authority assigned a rush-hour bus route numbered No. [34], Gretzky scored his first professional goal against Dave Dryden of the Edmonton Oilers[35] in his fifth game, and his second goal four seconds later. The children and grandchildren of people who . "They're loving us not doing well", he said, referring to American hockey fans. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL). He was 82. Gretzky was one of six players voted to the International Ice Hockey Federation's (IIHF) Centennial All-Star Team. . I moved because I was traded and that's where my job is. [264][265], Gretzky has written several books, including Gretzky: An Autobiography (1990), with Rick Reilly,[266] and 99: My Life in Pictures (1999), with John Davidson and Dan Diamond. [227] Gretzky proposed in January 1988,[228] and they were married on July 16, 1988, in a lavish ceremony the Canadian press dubbed "The Royal Wedding". [118] Following the contest, in a departure from the usual three stars announcement, Gretzky was awarded all three stars. It marked the first time Gretzky did not finish as the tournament's leading scorer with seven points in eight games for fourth overall. [150], Despite his lack of strength, Gretzky had remarkable physical stamina. "[80], In this, Gretzky added his considerable influence as the preeminent NHL star of his day to that of the Soviets, who had also developed a more team-style of play, and had successfully used it against the best NHL teams, beginning in the 1972 Summit Series. Wayne hails from a large family of five children. [102] During the 199495 NHL lock-out, Gretzky and some friends (including Mark Messier, Marty McSorley, Brett Hull and Steve Yzerman) formed the Ninety Nine All Stars Tour and played eight exhibition games in various countries. With a private gym in their home, it's easy for the fitness-focused couple to stay active. Wayne Gretzky speaks during a promotional event for the Beijing Kunlun Red Star in his role as global ambassador for the team on Sept. 13, 2018. . [23] By age 13, he had scored over 1,000goals. Him: "Which means" [216], In October 2016, Gretzky returned to the Oilers as a partner and vice-chairman of the team's parent company, Oilers Entertainment Group, to work closely with owner Daryl Katz and Oilers Entertainment Group CEO Bob Nicholson on the business side of the Oilers' operation.[217]. Both McNall and Pocklington quickly agreed. He reached one milestone in this last season, breaking the professional total (regular season and playoffs) goal-scoring record of 1,071, which had been held by Gordie Howe. He led the tournament in scoring with 12 points en route to a second-place finish to the Soviet Union,[126] losing 81 in the final. [2], Born and raised in Brantford, Ontario, Gretzky honed his skills on a backyard rink and regularly played minor hockey at a level far above his peers. Gretzky captured nine Hart Trophies as the most valuable player, 10 Art Ross Trophies for most points in a season, two Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP and five Lester B. Pearson Awards (now called the Ted Lindsay Award) for most outstanding player as judged by his peers. Wayne Gretzky as an NHL owner and coach. [126], Leading up to the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan, it was announced that NHL players would be eligible to play for the first time. [86] At first, Gretzky did not want to leave Edmonton, but he later received a call while on his honeymoon from Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall, who asked permission to meet and discuss the deal. [54] The Calder was instead awarded to Boston Bruins defenceman Ray Bourque. [116], The 199899 season was his last as a professional player.