Wayne Gretzky Hart Memorial Trophy
The Great One: nine Hart Trophies (eight with Edmonton, one with Los Angeles), and four Stanley Cups with Edmonton.
Wayne Douglas Gretzky ( GRET-skee; born January 26, 1961) is a Canadian former professional ice hockey player and head coach. He played 20 seasons in the National Hockey League (NHL) for four teams from 1979 to 1999. Nicknamed "the Great One", he has been called the greatest ice hockey player ever by the NHL based on surveys of hockey writers, ex-players, general managers and coaches. Gretzky is the leading career point scorer and assist producer in NHL history and has more assists than any other player has total career points. He is the only NHL player to total over 200 points in one season, a feat he accomplished four times. In addition, Gretzky scored more than 100 points in 15 professional seasons. At the time of his retirement in 1999, he held 61 NHL records: 40 regular season records, 15 playoff records, and six All-Star records.
Quick Facts
- Total wins with edmonton
- 8
- Consecutive wins
- 8 (1980-1987)
Lore & Background
Gretzky played ten seasons with the Edmonton Oilers after the NHL-WHA merger, setting many scoring records and leading them to four Stanley Cup championships. He was traded to the Los Angeles Kings where he played eight seasons, leading them to the 1993 Stanley Cup Final. He played briefly for the St. Louis Blues before finishing his career with the New York Rangers. He won nine Hart Trophies as the most valuable player—eight with the Oilers and one with the Kings—along with 10 Art Ross Trophies for most points in a season, two Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP and five Lester B. Pearson Awards as the most outstanding player as judged by his peers. He led the league in goal-scoring outright or tied six times (1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1986, 1987) and assists 13 times. He also won the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy for sportsmanship and performance five times.
Reader's Guide
Gretzky's first NHL season with the Oilers was 1979-80. He won the Hart Memorial Trophy nine times in his career.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times did Wayne Gretzky win the Hart Memorial Trophy with Edmonton?
He secured the league's Most Valuable Player award eight times while wearing the orange and blue jersey. This achievement stands as a testament to his dominance during the franchise's golden decade.
Did he win these awards in consecutive seasons?
Yes, he won every year from 1980 through 1987 without interruption. This streak remains an unbreakable record in National Hockey League history.
Is the Hart Trophy named after Wayne Gretzky?
No, the trophy honors the league MVP and is named after Dr. William Hart. Gretzky simply holds the record for most wins by a single player with this specific team.
What era of hockey does this record represent?
These victories defined the Oilers' dynasty throughout the entire 1980s. They highlight a period where individual excellence directly correlated with team championships in Edmonton.
Can any other Oilers player match this MVP total?
No other player has ever come close to matching eight MVP awards during their time with the club. His performance set a standard for individual value that remains unmatched by any successor.
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