How Many Stanley Cups Does Wayne Gretzky Have?

Wayne Gretzky is often touted as the greatest hockey player of all time, but how many championships has he actually won?

How many Stanley Cups does Gretzky have? 

Wayne Gretzky has four Stanley Cups during his time in the NHL, each with the Edmonton Oilers. It’s worth noting that Wayne Gretzky also acquired nine Hart Memorial Trophies, five Lady Being Trophies, two Conn Smythe Trophies, and ten Art Ross trophies. 

Over the years, several notable hockey players have entered the rink and made a name for themselves. However, few are touted as the greatest player ever to touch the ice, Wayne Gretzky. The question remains, particularly for those who are new to the game, who exactly is this mysterious hockey player? What about his career made him stand out in the National Hockey League? 

Who is Wayne Gretzky?

Wayne Gretzky was born in 1961 in Brantford, Ontario for those who may not follow hockey too closely or those who simply don’t know about his background. He began to skate young when his father built an ice rink in the family backyard, where he also began to learn the valuable skills of shooting and stick handling.

At six, Gretzky had already begun playing in a novice hockey league with boys nearly double his age. This led to an impressive hockey junior career, culminating in being the youngest player and leading scorer in the 1977 Junior World Cup Competition. Gretzky eventually joined the NHL and had an incredible ice hockey career before retiring from professional play after the 1998-1999 season. Currently, Wayne Gretzky is a TV analyst and enjoys time with his family. 

The Career Progression of Wayne Gretzky

Given the hype around Wayne Gretzky, it’s only natural to wonder what his 20-year professional hockey career was like. This hockey hall of fame star’s professional career began in 1977 during his time in the Ontario Hockey League. During this time, Gretzky played for the Peterborough Petes, followed by the Salt Ste. Marie Greyhounds, where he had 70 goals and 112 assists in our 64 regular season games. 

The World Hockey Association

Signed on as an underage junior in 1978, Gretzky finally joined the WHA under the Indianapolis Racers. What was meant to be a promising career with this team was cut short when he was traded to the Edmonton Oilers, Peter Driscoll, and Ed Mio for cash and future considerations. Following his first game with the Oilers, he went on to score 43 goals and have 62 assists in 72 regular-season games, along with ten goals and ten assists in 13 playoff games. He was also awarded the title of WHA Rookie of the Year and the second-team All-Star. 

The National Hockey League

It was in the NHL that Gretzky’s career truly took off, as these are the years during which he won his Stanley Cups. He won four Stanley Cups, specifically, each of which was with the Edmonton Oilers. However, his first official NHL debut was in the 1979 season when he was reclaimed by the Oilers as an underage junior just before the expansion draft. In the four seasons leading up to this first Stanley Cup victory, Gretzky acquired numerous trophies and playoff MVP honours. 

The 1983-84 Season

During his fifth season (total) on the Oilers, Gretzky led his team to their first Stanley Cup championship. During this season, he also won his fifth consecutive Hart Trophy and four consecutive Art Ross Trophy, along with setting the NHL record for goals in one season, including playoffs. 

The 1984-85 Season

During the 1984-1985 season, Gretzky led the Oilers to their second Stanley Cup victory while also winning both of the aforementioned trophies again. On top of this, Gretzky hit his 1,000th career point this season while breaking his own NHL record for assists (135) in the regular season. 

The 1986-87 Season

The 1986-1987 season saw Gretzky reach his 500th NHL goal while collecting another Hart Trophy and Art Ross Trophy, on top of setting an NHL record for hat tricks. This all culminated in another Stanley Cup victory for the Oilers at the end of the season. 

The 1987-88 Season

Finally, the 1987-1988 season was the last where Gretzky walked away with a Stanley Cup championship. During this season, he tied Mike Bossy’s career record for seasons with 40 or more goals while also setting the record for the most consecutive 100-point seasons. 

After the 1987 season, Wayne Gretzky was traded to the LA Kings, where he continued to set records and received MVP honours but never secured another Stanley Cup. He played for another decade with the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues. He signed as a free agent with the New York Rangers before finishing his career in a 2-1 overtime loss to the Penguins against his greatest foe Mario Lemieux. In later years, he briefly owned the Phoenix Coyotes before returning to the Oilers as a Vice Chairman for a few years. 

Over his career, Wayne Gretzky set numerous records in Canada and the United States, which allowed him to secure his place among his peers as the leading goal scorer and all-around best player in the league. 

Who has the most cups in the NHL?

The team with the most Stanley Cups in the NHL is the Montreal Canadiens, who have lifted the trophy 24 times, far outpacing the second-place Toronto Maple Leafs, who have only lifted the trophy 13 times. The most Stanley Cups ever won by a single player, however, goes to Henri Richard, who secured 11 total championship rings across a career spanning two decades. 

How many playoff games did Wayne Gretzky play in?

Throughout his 20-year career, Wayne Gretzky played in over 200 Stanley Cup playoffs and world hockey association playoffs among the top players in the league, which is a feat not seen by many other players in the league. 

Did Wayne Gretzky win four Stanley Cups in a row?

Contrary to popular belief, Wayne Gretzky did not win four Stanley Cups in a row. He almost achieved this, but was off by one season. He won the Stanley Cup back-to-back in the 1983-84 and 1984-85 seasons, followed by another back-to-back victory from 1986-87 and 1987-88.