The legend of Wayne Gretzky began before he ever formally stepped onto NHL ice in the traditional sense of a draft pick. "The Great One" actually signed with the World Hockey Association's (WHA) Edmonton Oilers as a 17-year-old phenom in 1978, inking a ground-breaking 10-year personal services contract. This move brought him to professional hockey a year before the WHA's eventual merger with the National Hockey League.
When the WHA folded in 1979 and four of its teams, including the Oilers, were absorbed into the NHL, Gretzky was automatically included as part of the Oilers' protected roster. This meant he bypassed the standard NHL entry draft process entirely, making his NHL debut not as a drafted rookie, but as an already established professional with a year of WHA experience under his belt. It was an unconventional path for perhaps the greatest player to ever grace the game, setting the stage for an immediate and unprecedented impact.
His Explosive NHL Debut
Gretzky's transition to the NHL was nothing short of spectacular. In his inaugural 1979-80 NHL season, he immediately proved his WHA performance was no fluke, tying for the league lead in points with 137 (51 goals, 86 assists) and winning his first of eight consecutive Art Ross Trophies as the league's top scorer. He also captured his first Hart Memorial Trophy as the league's Most Valuable Player, an award he would also win an incredible eight straight times. His early career trajectory was a steep climb to the pinnacle, swiftly redefining offensive records and laying the foundation for the Edmonton Oilers dynasty that would dominate the 1980s. From his unconventional entry, Gretzky wasted no time carving out his unparalleled legacy.