The Career of Wayne Gretzky

Yes, I view him as the greatest of all time.
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[@InsignificantNick]

He had 382 playoff points. For some players that's a nice little career!

[@roguefactor2646]

Jeff Skinner currently has 379 regular season points to really put it into context

[@MichaelSimonetta]

@@roguefactor2646 and hes making 9 mill

[@kidpoker9408]

his assits are 35 short of marks point total

[@11DNA11]

@@kidpoker9408 Regular season assists? Gretzky has the most points, even if he didn't score a single goal in his career.

[@kentmartin9289]

@@11DNA11 Kid Poker is talking about playoff careers. Mark Messier has the second most playoff points with 295 in 236 games. Wayne Gretzky has 260 assists (and 382 points) in 208 games.

[@dansprogis4521]

The highest score NHL sibling duo is Brent and Wayne Gretzky, Brent doing his part in netting 4 points in 13 games.

[@MrGabou77]

That is one of my favorite stats about him. The second brother pair are the Sedins at 2,111 points. The Gretzkys even beats the Statsnys brothers (3 of them including Peter who is #40 all time points leaders in the NHL).

[@raheemgaines3518]

He had two 90 point seasons after age 35. That’s remarkable.

[@andyc9979]

Exactly. Plus it was the time where scoring really dropped and goalies were amazing. Hasek, brodeur, roy, prime richter. He was always going to be the greatest ever.

[@koffrekka1605]

Selanne had also

[@kentmartin9289]

Are Selanne and Gretzky the only guys to do that? I spot checked a few players. Mario did it once. Gordie did it once, not including WHA. Messier didn't do it (he did the season he turned 35, but Gretzky got 100 the season he turned 35 so that would make 3 seasons if we counted it that way). Jagr never did it after 35. Esposito didn't do it. Related to his longevity, Gretzky is also the only player in NHL history to be the top scorer of 2 different decades. He had WAY more points than anyone else in the 80's, and he had a few more points than Jagr (2nd leading scorer) in the 90's.

[@893263007]

@@kentmartin9289 I think Martin St. Louis won the Art Ross when he was 38 or so.

[@kentmartin9289]

@@893263007 thanks for directing me at him, but St. Louis didn't have 2 90 point seasons after 35 either. He had 99 in his 35 year old season, but never hit 90 again. His Art Ross season was 60 points in the shortened 48 game season when he was 37.

[@lancemilliken9078]

Multiple 200 point seasons just blows my mind every time I read that

[@gocanuckurself1]

Hahaha right

[@rogueleader1996]

I was born in 96. And have only watched hockey from 06 on. So 200 points is literally unfathomable for me. It looks like some ridiculous unrealistic NHL video game career mode numbers. Except it is actually legit. Mind boggling

[@nicholasbenoite5847]

@@rogueleader1996 yeah it was an insane era and to be an Oilers fan at that time, it was a decade so filled with memories, it was the best hockey moments on TV for me.

[@kidpoker9408]

umm no 215 200 points vs 185 gretzky got 15 more points then 200

[@kidpoker9408]

196 and 164 in 64 games which is above 190 over 80 games

[@lazydaze3134]

Even if you took away every single goal he ever scored.....He would still be number 1 all time in points just off his assists. That's insane.

[@ryanbranigan231]

Can't even put up Gretzky numbers in a video game. Insane. The Goat Of All Goats

[@dirtykazoo2465]

Not nowadays, no. But I remember actually breaking the record a few times in NHL 96, once with Vladimir Konstantinov and once with Teemu Selanne.

[@kinggoten]

I got 190 points in a season with Malkin in NHL10, only 10min periods(with line changes) and playoffs was no where near the 47 I forget what it was I think I only managed 30, I did beat Orr's record of points for a Dman in a season with Letang tho. ***edit ohh forgot goals wasn't even close I only manged to score 63..

[@patch8376]

Ryan Branigan NHL '95, SNES. 5 minute periods. Matt Martin. Not the recently departed Leafs grinder but the rated-35 Leafs prospect defenseman. 218 points. I can't remember how many goals but somewhere between 130 and 150. Goals were easier to come by than assists in that game. A friend's older brother said he got 402 points with Yzerman. I never saw it but it seems possible in that game. Very easy to score.

[@andyholland2130]

In I think NHL 12 or 13 in be a pro I scored 100 goals and 90 something assists in my 3rd pro season and since I never would do those micro transactions to make the pro better, I think I was only a 81 rated player. I laughed that my contract extension offered by the team was a 2 year deal worth 1 million a season.

[@patricklee6290]

think about how easy it was for you to score with that defenseman.. Gretzky did that IN REAL LIFE and only lost to your video game character by like 3 points in his best year

[@vegasmobydick]

Not only the greatest to ever play the game, he was widely respected for being a class act. I was at the game in San Jose the afternoon Gretz scored goal #801 to tie Howe's goal scoring record, and at the LA Forum two nights later when he scored goal #802 to break it. As much as the Sharks fans were hurt by that loss, they all stood and applauded Wayne. And in LA the game was put on hold following goal #802 for a brief ceremony to pay tribute to the career that lead to that historical moment, beginning with a video of great goals he scored over the years, the presentation by Bettman of a book containing scoresheets of every game he'd scored a goal in (which was as thick as your Yellow Pages), and a few words by the Great One himself...and in this moment that was all about him, the first thing he did was thank Vancouver coach Pat Quinn and the Canucks organization and players for allowing the game to be interrupted for this ceremony. A true class act.

[@IcePlays]

If only we could see Wayne Gretzky in his prime against a modern goalie like Claude Giroux.

[@pHaT_Necron99]

Claude who?

[@sportsrook8282]

Where’s Giroux?!?

[@Ortona-43]

😂😂😂

[@youknowimright.3137]

Haha.

[@ryans413]

Ice Gretzky take on McDavid or Crosby

[@VeyrokxTheDisturbed]

It makes me laugh whenever somebody says ''it was easier back then, goaltending was terrible!''... if it was that easy then why the hell does anybody from his era even got close to his numbers?

[@doaftheloaf]

there was a guy in pittsburgh...kinda got hurt a lot though.

[@kentmartin9289]

Yeah, in terms of not getting close. He averaged over 200 points a season during a 6 year span which I would call his peak. During those 6 years the highest point total anyone else had was... 147 by Mike Bossy. An incredible season, but not within 50 of Gretzky's average in those days.

[@jasmeg2844]

It's hard to discuss because most people's thinking is so binary when it comes to this. I think Gretzky is the greatest player of all time, yet *at the same time* his stats are grossly inflated by an era when hockey was simultanously less professional and higher scoring. Being 50 points ahead of your peers back then is the equivalent of 30 points today, which can be further cut down by the fact that everyone today has pretty much the same hyper professional training regimes to optimize their skills. Today you can't pull ahead of your peers that must just because of freak talent and having managed to find the right way to train yourself. The average player today is both more talented and better trained.

[@kentmartin9289]

@@jasmeg2844 "Being 50 points ahead of your peers back then is the equivalent of 30 points today". Agreed! Which is to say, it's completely unprecedented these days. Before Gretzky the biggest gap between 1st and 2nd was 26 points. Lemieux had 1 scoring championship 31 points ahead of 2nd which is more than anybody not named Gretzky. In the 2000's the biggest gap was 17 points, which was done once by Crosby and once by Kane. Gretzky's top scoring championship gaps were 79, 75, 74, 73, 72, 65, and 32, which is to say 6 times had had much MORE than 50 points ahead of 2nd best. That's the 7 biggest margins of victory in the scoring championship by number of points. He also has the 6 largest margins of victory by percentage, ranging from 69% higher than 2nd place to 44% higher than 2nd place.

[@11DNA11]

I always drop the fact that 2 line passes were a thing AND players of this era don't need to worry about defenders hooking them from the redline to the goal. Imagine having 2 guys in a line. Wayne Gretzky and Jari Kurri. One finishes with 215 points. Then one is behind the other for 84 points. That much Gretzky led Kurri in scoring.

[@XaviRonaldo0]

Only player ever to score 200 points in a season and did it FOUR times. Absolutely insane.

[@randombutrelevant1606]

Imagine him shooting on GT's that are 6'6" and 220lbs vs guys 5'10" and 185? Or vs D men that are averaging 6'4" vs 6' being a 'big defenceman' Amazing how anyone scores, not to mention the size of the gear (all for goalie 'safety' of course)

[@jimmykarlsson2567]

And today the biggest superstars only have 110-120 points.

[@southpaw788]

Lemieux had 199 points in a season, so friggin' close

[@XaviRonaldo0]

@@southpaw788 and he missed quite a few games that season too

[@rjhaney2614]

Wayne Gretzky has more 200+ point seasons than he does 70- point seasons.

[@dirtykazoo2465]

I believe it was during the 83-84 season, with both Gretzky and Fuhr out, that the Hartford Whalers had arguably their best game in the NHL when they beat the Oilers 11-0

[@doaftheloaf]

fuhr was an average goalie behind a superteam in edmonton.

[@jockejocke1]

Actually, Fuhr played that game. It was February 12, 1984 and Hartford did win 11-0. Fuhr's ice time was 31:22 and he allowed 7 goals. Moog's ice time was 28:38 and he allowed 4 goals.

[@MrOctober44]

​@@doaftheloafThat and they had Moog who was just as good if not better then Fuhr

[@xxxxST3xxxx]

Damn, I did not realize he didn't play the full 83-84 season - he was on pace for his best season (94 goals, 222pts)

[@gocanuckurself1]

Nothing is ever enough for Wayne Gretzky. You can never ship back enough to fully compensate the loss of Gretzky.

[@doaftheloaf]

well, i don't think it would have been wise for the pens to offer lemieux, but...

[@MrBlazemaster525]

LOL there used to be a rule in the Philippine basketball league where a certain player could only be traded for a short list of other players(the list was about 2-3 guys at its longest) in order to preserve competitive balance. That's where Gretzky shoulda been - kind of guy where his no-trade clause was limited to a short-list of other phenoms(which might have been just Mario)

[@PancakesAndHammers2426]

He is one of the many reasons why I love this sport. Thank you Gretzky!

[@jeffsandy5088]

He is the reason we have most of the current teams in the U.S.

[@dghvdhfhhb6405]

Jeff Sandy Especially the California Teams. Cause he turned the LA Kings Franchise into what it is now

[@dominicpancella3012]

If he had decided to hang up the skates after 1988, he would have played 697 games in the regular season-scoring 583 goals and 1,086 assists-and 120 in the playoffs-scoring 80 goals and 172 assists and winning 4 Stanley Cups. He still would have 8 Hart trophies, a Lady Byng, 7 first-team all-NHL selections and 2 second-team, and 2 Canada Cup appearances. He still would have the all-time single-season records for goals, assists, and points (including 7 of the top 10 seasons all time), the single-postseason records for assists and points, and the all-time record for hat tricks with 43 (for good measure, he also had 7 in the playoffs, which would tie him with Hall of Famers Jari Kurri and Rocket Richard). His 583 goals would rank 20th, squarely between Hall of Famer Mark Recchi (577) and Kurri (601). His 1,086 assists would be 7th all time between Hall of Famer Adam Oates (1,079) and the still-active future Hall of Famer Joe Thornton (1,106 at the time of this writing). His 1,669 points would be 8th, between Hall of Famers Joe Sakic (1,641) and Mario Lemieux (1,723). His 80 playoff goals would tie Claude Lemieux for 8th; his 172 playoff assists would be 2nd behind only Hall of Famer Mark Messier (186); and his 252 points in the postseason would put also him 2nd, between Kurri (233) and Messier (295). Among players with at least 50 career games played, his marks of 0.84 goals/game would be 3rd all time behind Hall of Famers Newsy Lalonde (1.26) and Joe Malone (1.13) and 1st in the expansion era, 1.56 assists/game would push his already-first career mark a little further ahead of Mario Lemieux (1.13), and 2.39 points/game would again be 1st and gain him ground on Lemieux (1.88). He did all that and then played 11 more seasons. No one else not named Mario Lemieux has ever been able to put up as many points in a season as Gretzky's best season for assists (in 1988-89, Steve Yzerman had 155 points, compared to 163 assists for Gretzky in 1985-86). There was no one like him, and there never will be another like him.

[@alvalankerofficial]

He had 2 Hat Tricks in that last playoff year in 97 with the Rangers. One against Florida in round 1 and 1 against the Flyers in the Conference Finals. Rangers and Gretzky almost made it to the Finals that year, that was a great team.

[@bobsmith962]

Yes he was a great player... In any era

[@wallstreetoneil]

He played his entire career through the Clutch & Grab era. Let that sink in - and if you don't quite get it, think about it until you do - if you've never personally played it is hard to really appreciate what that means but it had an enormous effect on the ice as you couldn't get away from a person because the stick would immediately be put on your hip pulling you back. I never made the pros but I was a pretty good player and grew up watching him. I also later raised a goalie son who recently just didn't get drafted but I lived the goalie school life raising him + I coached top level kids hockey all the way up through draft year so I truly understand how modern goal tending has changed the game. For me, now, Gretzky would score less goals, but I say this honestly, I think he would get more assists. Without clutch & grab ability, I honestly don't think you could get the puck off of him. Imagine him on the ice today, in his prime, with no ability to hook him once he got the puck - he would basically have the puck for the entire shift or until he set up a shot on net.

[@KingMinosxxvi]

80 through 85 were the highest scoring years in NHL history GPG per team....by far.....lemieux was treated way worse then gretszky

[@sammyweed4771]

I played for 20 years. Best sport ever

[@danzemacabre8899]

"He's pretty good, not bad" the understatement of the century

[@lancemilliken9078]

Wayne was the only guy that could look cool wearing a turtleneck on the ice

[@felixeur1276]

Lance Milliken Thomas Plecanec too can pull it off

[@puknut]

Thank you for this sir! Wayne Gretzky was my childhood, my idol. My boys know exactly who he is and what he accomplished. Complete and utter madness what he did.

[@JeffCfreeradiorevolution]

I think it's still premature to call him the GOAT... Karl Alzner could still catch him!

[@danielsteigerwald26]

Not Alzner--definitely brooks orpik!!

[@tx9mdy653]

Daniel Steigerwald that's a close one

[@jasonfire3434]

Don't sleep on the real GOAT Virtanen

[@11DNA11]

Cmon. John Scott is better than Alzner!

[@nicholasbenoite5847]

@@11DNA11 I think Yakapov still got a shot.

[@holup2691]

You’ve helped put into perspective how maddeningly good he was. It’s something I’ve been lazy about learning. What an unreal hockey player. Jesus Christ almighty.

[@XaviRonaldo0]

The fact he was still putting up those numbers for NYR in the thick of the dead puck era at his age he was at that time is another surreal thing.

[@brooke-3615]

Wayne has done so much for the sport, not only formerly, but contemporarily, too. He's creating hockey academies in China which could help them immensely on the world stage.

[@duaneday5474]

I'm in the camp that believes Greatzky scores if he gets to take the shootout attempt in Nagano. I can't even imagine how difficult it was for Wayne to sit that one out...it was excruciating to watch on TV. It was a tough pill to swallow. The greatest hockey player of all-time benched in the biggest game in Canadian hockey history at the time.

[@kylestoddart]

Brendan Shanahan took that shot. If i remember correctly.

[@duaneday5474]

the lowest point in Canadian internationally hockey history including all the hate received nationwide during the 4 games in Canada during 1972 summit series.

[@moshameem99]

Yeah. F*** that Marc Crawford. Never liked that fool.

[@jaythompson5102]

Things about Gretzky I think that are forgotten are his insane will to win/passion and his athleticism. His 92 goal season year check the videos he was so fast and agile, yes he wasn't the fastest but he had a hell of a lot of breakaways and danced defenders side to side like nobody has ever done before or since.

[@zaboknowsbest13]

Not an explosive athlete but a lateral super athlete.

[@johnjackie91]

Oh yes, the greatest hockey star of all time who lives up to his fame. Fantastic :)

[@michaelfrazia4569]

great breakdown...well presented. I'm a stat guy and this was an excellent way to go through his numbers

[@andyc9979]

You can't say how great gretzky is on a gretzky video without someone freaking out over Mario. Like of course Mario was amazing. One of the best ever. No one denies that. He was ridiculous. Happy to have seen them both. For someone who didn't see them they were both better than people describe. Was unfair how good they were.

[@JeffKing310]

Plus - his last seasons with Rangers were in the dead puck era. 97 or 90 points then is still quite impressive.

[@Electricalphil]

@King Carriere You don't know what you are talking about.

[@Electricalphil]

@King Carriere Lol. "no presence". Yet he still has almost 100 points. Go back to the crack pipe buddy.

[@dvas2686]

@King Carriere Well, he averaged 102 points per season over his last ten seasons starting in 1990. This is also while missing half of one season due to injury, another half season due to lockout and a partial last year. So, he seemed to still carry a presence in the 1990's. Of course, who could knock him for his dwindling last ten years after he averaged 184 points a season over his first ten.

[@kentmartin9289]

@King Carriere no presence in the 90's, and yet had the highest single season point total in the 90's with 163, and also had the most points scored in the 90's with 940 compared to 928 for Jagr in second place. And yes, he is the only player to have lead 2 different decades in scoring (he lead the 80's by more than 800 points). Even his last season in the NHL when he scored less than a point per game for the first time in his career, he lead the Rangers in points.

[@XaviRonaldo0]

Whilst Jagr was scoring over 100

[@lechiffre5078]

He was sickeningly amazing.

[@raymondleemanpaper]

I was a teenage Canucks fan in 80s and I get to watch Wayne gets like hat trick everytime playing against the Canucks. It seems like every scoring record he had was against a Canucks goalie. Didn't appreciate it then and only realized what a special era it had been.

[@capt.danieldavidson6291]

Another excellent Player Profile. Thanks for taking the time to put all of those numbers together Shannon. CBC needs to give you a spot after Grapes Retires!!!

[@EGlideKid]

I view him the same way, Shannon. I'm "old school" and I revere much about the players of my youthful memories. Someone may touch him one day, but until then, it's no contest. This took you a lot of work and we appreciate it!!!

[@thebhawks39]

Love these hall of fame videos keep them up!

[@cpnstbn1266]

I grew up a leafs fan but the first jersey I ever owned was a 99 kings jersey. Every kid wanted one at the time

[@MF-dt5uu]

Just subscribed. a lot of catching up to do! but so far - love the vids! great content presented in an awesome way. Keep it up man!

[@johnk6123]

Great video bud. Game 7 Cup Finals aboot to start and this was the perfect video to watch before things kick off. GO BRUINS!!!

[@abj136]

The biggest stat not discussed is his lead over other players. People say well, 200 is because it was a high-scoring era, but look at who was second (probably an Oiler) and how far behind was second. Who was the best scorer among all the other teams? How far behind? Gretzky would regularly get 50% more points than anybody else. Who else in the history of hockey could claim that?

[@adamscott2801]

One of my favorite players growing up

[@thecommish1976]

Congrats on your first 100K, so many more to come. To paraphrase the famous speech in Field of Dreams by James Earl Jones, "You remind us all of that once was good; and it can be again. This game; it's a part of our past, Shannon. It reminds us of all that once was good, and that could be again. People will come, people will most definitely come to watch videos made by The Hockey Guy."

[@RParmable]

Videos like this make you my GoTo! Props Shannon. Back in the day “we just got used to” Wayne’s achievements.

[@scott4259]

Pretty sure I watched this video when you made it Shannon but it came up in my recommendations and it was well worth another watch.

[@herbbevor130]

Great video! I know it's over 4 years old now, but Gretzky was also part of the 1996 "World Cup of Hockey" (new name for Canada Cup). Canada was then famously upset by the USA, with Richter being MVP. 👍

[@JHockeyFan]

Tomas Tatar got a 1st, 2nd, & 3rd, but somehow (LA) Gretzky got some scrubs and a 5th.

[@viperswhip]

@@michaelb4833 This is one of the funniest comments I've ever read, thank you.

[@doaftheloaf]

@@viperswhip well, 99 was about 10 years older. maybe tatar can still catch him. he's just gotta get 5 points a game for a few years.

[@viperswhip]

@@doaftheloaf Well, the Gretzky trade was about money, Pocklington claimed to be broke, well, for a Rich asshole anyway. No doubt the trade ended up being good for the NHL and the growth of Hockey, but damn I wish LA had beat Montreal in the finals.

[@charlesmarlowstanfield]

You spent 20 minutes talking about how great Gretzky was, and I'm pretty sure you didn't spend enough time.

[@joebras2]

You are so amazing . I know you know but daily you make many people happy !!!

[@gdeyell9471]

Great video Shannon. I just discovered your channel, and have enjoyed going down the rabbit hole of many of your videos (and just noticed your other channel the other day...which happens to have bunnies on it :) ) I grew up a massive Gretzky fan. I am currently a big Ovi fan, and hope he beats his goal scoring record.....but, that's not why I'm commenting. I don't think many people realize how bad Gretzky's injury was in 92. He almost had to sit the entire year out, and almost retired. I also think that this injury caused his regression/decline to speed up. Having said that - even if you look at his post-Edmonton years (LA, STL, NYR) - he still has a PPG of 1.501896. This would put him in 3rd all time (right above Bossy). If you translate that PPG over his entire career - he still finishes with 2,233 points. I bring this up because a lot of people said he sucked after leaving Edmonton. Hell, he still had a HOF career (and had 1 Hart; 2 Ross; 3 other seasons of top-5 Hart) Now, if we look at his post-injury seasons (92/93 - 98/99) -- He still had a PPG of 1.217213. Now, I realize that's nowhere near his Edmonton days - but, that still places him between Esposito and Lafleur all time. If you translate that over his entire career, he would finish with 1,809 points (3rd all time). Not bad for a guy who "sucked" (as some people claim) in those years. And that places him right between two legendary players

[@JeffKing310]

You’re right - 1992-93 wasn’t a short season. Gretzky has back issues that kept him out. The problem started with a Gary Suter hit in the 1991 Canada Cup.

[@Losrandir]

Strange blunder there!

[@jfayiii]

@@Losrandir It's understandable, he mixed it up with the '95 season.

[@mnmade9062]

I already could repeat all of this because I know it so well, but it was fun to watch you go through it just to have my mind blown again. One thing you touched on that I don’t think gets enough focus is his years with the Rangers. I lived in NYC at the time and can recall the excitement of having Gretz & Messier back together that first year. Wayne had 97 points that year at age 35! Having them lose to Philly in the conference finals that season was heartbreaking, and it ruined the ending of a fairytale in the making. Then, after Mess leaves the next season Gretzky still gets 90 points at age 37!! That’s incredible. Finally, he gets 63 points at age 38, which is still amazing when you consider that a 63 point season in today’s NHL likely puts a player as the elite on his team, if not the team’s leading scorer in most cases. BEST EVER. I was fortunate to have Wayne’s career run from the time I was ages 4 until 24; the period when I played and fell in love with the game, and still had the naïveté of youth that allowed me to watch in wonder as Gretzky wrote his story. Having that Lemieux character show up was pretty cool too.

[@canoilers]

I love how people still call him a puck hog even though he's the all time leading scorer just with his assists alone. That makes me laugh every time people say that.

[@JDGaming1218]

Hard to be a puck hog when you have 100+ assists lol. I don’t get those people

[@dansprogis4521]

Ive literally never heard that before

[@nicholasbenoite5847]

@@dansprogis4521 yeah I never heard that before either. Seems kinda made up or those joking knowing he has that many assists.

[@sracher1584]

canoilers who called him that???!!

[@PhillyLeotardo25]

canoilers no reasonable person says that

[@Pfagnan]

TOTALLY DOMINATED HIS ERA!!

[@MANSIKKAPUURO-jl9zm]

ONE OF MY IDOLS

[@nneichan9353]

Amazing, amazing player.

[@andrewcarroll7641]

Who was the quickest player to reach 1000 points? Wayne. Who was the 2nd quickest player to reach 1000 points? Wayne. That’s the best stat ever. His only competition was himself. Wayne Gretzky dominated his contemporaries in the battle feild of the mind and that’s why he’s #1 by a LANDSLIDE. Wayne was a Wizard and his stats put him above and beyond anyone, on any team, at any time & in any sport… ever.

[@alangris365]

He played in Canada Cup 1981, with Perreault and Lafleur . The Best line ever.

[@doaftheloaf]

um...lemieux was on his line in 87.

[@alangris365]

@@doaftheloaf ya I was at the game. Two guys don’t make a line lol

[@craigskiff6500]

Shannon, I am glad to see you made the correction for 1992-93. I was just about to call you out that Wayne had that back injury in that season.

[@GreenHornet553]

If anyone looks at those numbers and still goes "yeah, but...", they are clueless. I will sadly admit that I started watching hockey right after Gretzky retired. But even I would never be silly enough to argue that anyone now could even remotely equal his talent. He truly was a one of a kind talent. And it's a damn shame that, while the NBA was having Bird vs Magic, the NHL never got Wayne vs Mario while both were still in their primes. *sigh* Anyways, great video Shannon.

[@XaviRonaldo0]

I would argue Super Mario never had a prime with his struggles to stay healthy. He's the 'what if' 🐐. Look at his PPG numbers. They aren't far behind Gretzky's

[@TREMVan]

great teammate and great leader too.

[@astewart9410]

Will always be my all-time favourite hockey player, ever. I grew up in a town of 300 people, and in the mid 80s my dad took me to Toronto to Maple Leaf Gardens to see the championship Oilers destroy the Leafs. We were in the lower bowl and we went around to where the players exit the ice and I was right there, I could have reached out and grabbed his jersey (I didn’t). I will never forget that experience. Unbelievable player. We are unlikely to ever see another of his caliber. Superlatives don’t begin to cover what he accomplished.

[@Chillin24Seven]

Gretzky today would also be the best player we’ve ever seen. He wasn’t better because he was a freak of nature that was bigger, stronger, faster than everyone else. He was more creative and smarter and saw the ice better than anyone else.

[@dvas2686]

One correction, '92 - '93 was not a shortened season. Gretzky was out of the lineup for half the season with a back injury after taking a few cheap hits in the early 1990's - Suter in the 91 Canada cup was especially damaging. Certainly this helped lead to his diminished play. I can recall that his playing style also slightly changed around this time, likely to protect himself.

[@boopus221]

Great presentation...

[@blueshirtshockey93]

Incredible ❤

[@mfc8778]

Thanks THG I always love looking at all the greatest players stats because it's so interesting to see how good they all were. I believe that there are three G.O.A.T.S of hockey at each position. Forwards = Gretzky Defenders = Orr Goalies = The Dominator There can be a case for Lemieux for the forward position

[@111oooo]

If you look at pure talent it is IMO Orr, Gretzky, Lemieux, and now McDavid. Again for pure talent, if you add in leadership, toughness and showing up for big games you add in Howe, Richard, Beliveau and Crosby

[@kennethfisher1564]

I agree. An eighteen year old Gretzky is still a Phenom today. My personal favorite, and I still claim, if Lemieux had the same health throughout his career, a few more of Gretzkys' records would be taken over. Go look up some videos of his Gretzkys prowess during his heyday in Edmonton. Gretzky is still a player like Lemieux and Jagr, a player none of our current stars can follow. Gretzky is a Phenom. Perhaps a first and last.

[@rivahkillah]

In before some kid stats guru tries to suggest there are better players currently playing but all they really demonstrate is their lack of hockey wisdom.

[@SolidPain6624]

rivahkillah all they say is “today’s players are bigger and faster” and that’s not even always true. I would take mental ability over physical ability when the game is on the line... kids today just pay attention to stats or pay attention to the goalie equipment of old and that’s their only excuse

[@maxd8410]

I really wish I had been alive to see him play. I can't fathom a player today scoring 200+ points

[@XaviRonaldo0]

150 for McDavid isn't out of the question. That's today's version of 200 I guess

[@doomedtolinger2213]

Was hitchhiking in calif when I got picked up by a minor league player headed north-- we got to talking hockey of course and I asked him what he thought made Wayne such a phenomenal player. (he had briefly played with him in LA) He responded by saying that part of the reason Wayne seemed soooo fast was that he just always knew where the puck was going TO BE-- thereby getting to the spot before anyone else on the ice. Thought it was a nice insight at the time...

[@Mitchnagel58]

Wayne Goatzky

[@GreenHornet553]

I tell you hwat.

[@brooke-3615]

How's employment been since 2BC has folded?

[@JustLynnYT]

Hank, I thought you didn't like hockey? Reference to the episode when Boomhauer went to Canada. Hank tells him don't come back a hockey fan.

[@Mitchnagel58]

@@JustLynnYT Just part of the show. I'm actually married to a brazillian model, not Peggy for example.

[@JustLynnYT]

@@Mitchnagel58 Oh shit 👀

[@ripapa6355]

I can't believe I still get cranky whenever I remember the Olympic shootout snub.

[@ripapa6355]

2 years later, still get cranky about the shootout snub.

[@ripapa6355]

3 years later, still cranky about that shootout snub.

[@ozy75]

Thank you! Gretzky drove up the quality of what we expect in a player today, but they are still not near the level of him. He made the league great and why hockey is where it is... (there are others who are near his level but none as great).

[@neutralevil1917]

Anatoly Tarasov, the creator and former head coach of Soviet juggernaut called the Red Army, was shocked by Gretzky. He said, he has never ever seen so smart player. And Tarasov knew a thing or two about smart players!

[@ronskii7437]

Glad you upgraded your webcam

[@KapitanPisoar1]

THREE of the greatest playing at the same time...

[@September2004]

He was also at the 1981 Canada Cup.

[@jload1]

You mentioned Hawerchuck in the ‘87 Canada Cup. He actually won the faceoff that led to the goal

[@Jackrabbit9961]

Greatest passer to ever play the game. Only 13 times has a 100 assists in a season happened. 12 are Gretzky. The only other player was Bobby Orr who tied for 12th highest assists in a season. I feel blessed to have gotten to the Great One play.

[@jasonw7521]

One of the most prolific scorers the league will ever see.

[@PonAdidas]

The most dominant player in the history of the NHL.

[@DarkDestroyer98]

The three straight 200 PLUS seasons has always awed me. Also his back was never the same after the Suter hit in the 91 Canada Cup.

[@doaftheloaf]

one of the three times he was ever hit.

[@gocanuckurself1]

The true God of the sport of Hockey!!!!!!!!!! The Great One!!!!!!!!!

[@benkeating3053]

Ive never seen a more clear data set that indicates the talent pool that came in during the 91 draft and how it changed the game.

[@markjohnson9455]

The fact that it takes 20 minutes to outline his accomplishments tells you what Gretzky did in his career. His best attribute is how he transcended the sport like Michael Jordan and Tom Brady (others) did in their sports.

[@mikeway2223]

Love your thoughts on the greatest to ever skate.

[@The_Great_Whodini]

Shannon, you should totally do a northeast round trip, and it would be way too expensive, but a lot of fun to think about, so go from vancouver to edmonton, to winnipeg, to minnesota, chicago, detroit, to toronto then buffalo, then ahl games in rochester and syracuse and then north at the syracuse intersection, up to ottowa and then montreal, go to boston, down to ny(x2), then philly, pittsburgh, columbus, then back up to canada through michigan into ontario and then calgary and then back to vancouver

[@nich586]

I still have the ticket stub to the game of when Gretz scored 5 goals to complete 50 goals in 39 games. Nothing short of magic. No words for that.

[@staticon1976]

can I buy that stub off you? or better yet can you gift it to me?

[@nich586]

@@staticon1976 Sorry, not a chance. My father took me to that game (and many more) and it reminds me of him.

[@nicholasbenoite5847]

@@nich586 aww that's very cool. Congrats on that .. So .. $5.00 should do it? 😁 Kidding of course..

[@eagledriver5546]

No matter what era you like, Wayne was the best. Like him or hate him, he deserves that. And hes so modest about his accomplishments. I grew up in his era so im lucky to remember seeing his greatness, along with lemieux, messier and others. People can pick apart what he could or could not do now but its so irrelevant.

[@salutlouichecestmath]

If Alzner played center in the 80s, chances are he would've put those numbers too.

[@tx9mdy653]

Would've done better tbh

[@mr.waffles7599]

Karl Alzner : Do Montreal fans dislike Alzner ? Haven't paid attention since he left the Caps. Let's Go Caps

[@patch8376]

Shane Bryan he wants to win in the playoffs. That's why he came to Montreal.

[@Azore]

I like him but I personally think he's overpayed. 3 - 3.2 millions would've been fine.

[@mr.waffles7599]

Patch 83 Gotta make it to playoffs to win ... I believe

[@nezzie]

It's 4.45 AM here and I have been up waaay too long and then you post a 20 min vid of Gretzky, and in a Rangers shirt too. 😫 Oh well, who needs sleep anyway. 😋

[@jockejocke1]

Är det Landsort i din kanalbild?

[@nezzie]

@@jockejocke1 Det är det, good catch!

[@joakimhillman1801]

great one

[@brandonblanchette]

Notif squad strong

[@leststoner]

The great one!!

[@answeris4217]

The most impressive thing to me was that there's a handful of players with 100 assist. I think it's Orr, Lemieux and Gretzky is the list and Gretzky did it what 11 or 12 times.

[@feeneysmechanical6215]

Can't wait till you do a video on Bobby Orr

[@cliffordkinney6307]

I am glad I was able to catch the great one on his last season with Edmonton too bad they destroyed my Bruins in 4-0 still hurts as i was there in game 3

[@Ballpython77]

in 93 he was on a rampage in the playoffs until he met Montreal and my all time favorite player, Guy Carbonneau shut him down to 1 point in 5 games.

[@LowLightMike]

1992-93 short season was because his back injury finally caught up to him. Gary Suter jammed him into the boards in the 1991 Canada Cup, and it took a while for the injury to eventually result in needing to take time off.

[@LowLightMike]

....and you just caught that yourself. You do great work, Shannon :)

[@scottylarock7175]

Ovi broke his EN goals record last night