When Was Wayne Gretzky Drafted? The Unconventional Journey of “The Great One”
Wayne Gretzky—known worldwide as “The Great One”—isn’t just the greatest hockey player of all time; he’s a legend who rewrote the game. His jaw-dropping records and unmatched skill made him an icon, but did you know Gretzky was never drafted into the NHL? His path to professional hockey was as extraordinary as his brilliance on the ice. Let’s dive into how Gretzky bypassed the NHL Draft altogether and began his legendary career in a way only he could.
A Prodigy from Day One
From the moment Wayne Gretzky laced up his skates, it was clear he was something special. Born on January 26, 1961, in Brantford, Ontario, Gretzky was a child prodigy who dominated local leagues and obliterated minor hockey records. By his teenage years, his name was already making waves far beyond the rinks of Ontario.
At just 16 years old, Gretzky joined the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds in the Ontario Major Junior Hockey League (OMJHL). There, he put up an astonishing 182 points in just 64 games during the 1977–78 season. Fans and scouts alike knew he was destined for greatness. But there was a catch: NHL rules at the time didn’t allow players under 20 to be drafted.
A Rule That Changed Everything
In the 1970s, NHL draft rules required players to be at least 20 years old to enter the league. That left Gretzky, born in 1961, with a dilemma—wait years to play in the NHL or find another way to jumpstart his professional career. Spoiler alert: waiting wasn’t an option for someone as driven as Gretzky.
Taking the WHA by Storm
In 1978, at just 17 years old, Gretzky made a bold move. He signed a groundbreaking personal services contract with the World Hockey Association’s (WHA) Indianapolis Racers. The deal, worth $1.75 million over seven years, was unheard of for a teenager and cemented his status as hockey’s next big star.
Gretzky only played eight games for the Racers before the struggling franchise folded. But what seemed like a setback turned into the opportunity of a lifetime. The Edmonton Oilers, another WHA team, acquired his contract in November 1978. It was here, with the Oilers, that Gretzky began building the legacy we all know today, dominating the WHA in its final season before the league merged with the NHL.
Gretzky’s journey into professional hockey wasn’t just unique—it was a testament to his unparalleled talent and drive. While most players waited for their moment in the NHL Draft, Gretzky took his destiny into his own hands, carving a path that would forever change the sport.
The NHL Merger and the Gretzky Loophole
In 1979, hockey history took a sharp turn when the WHA merged with the NHL, bringing four teams into the league: the Edmonton Oilers, Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Nordiques, and Hartford Whalers. But here’s the twist—the NHL didn’t force WHA teams to give up their star players to the draft. That loophole allowed the Edmonton Oilers to keep a young phenom named Wayne Gretzky, skipping the draft altogether and setting the stage for his legendary career.
Why Gretzky’s NHL Entry Was One-of-a-Kind
Wayne Gretzky’s path to the NHL was anything but ordinary. Most players had to go through the draft, but Gretzky found a shortcut thanks to the WHA. At just 17 years old, he signed with the Indianapolis Racers in 1978 because the NHL wouldn’t allow players under 20 to turn pro. The WHA didn’t have the same age restrictions, making it the only viable option for Gretzky to start his professional career.
When the Racers went belly-up financially, Gretzky was traded to the Edmonton Oilers, still in the WHA at the time. By the time the WHA folded and the Oilers joined the NHL in 1979, Gretzky was under a personal services contract. Instead of going into the draft with other WHA talents, he stuck with Edmonton, becoming the cornerstone of their franchise. The NHL made an exception for Gretzky, but as a consequence, bumped Edmonton to the last pick in the draft order.
The Legacy Begins
In his first NHL season (1979–80), Gretzky wasted no time proving why he was special. He won the Hart Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player—a feat he repeated for an incredible eight consecutive seasons. By the time he retired in 1999, Gretzky had shattered records left and right, including:
- Most career points (2,857)
- Most goals (894)
- Most assists (1,963)
Gretzky wasn’t just a player; he was a revolution, a force that forever changed the game.
Marchessault and the Undrafted Connection
Fast forward to today, and Jonathan Marchessault became the first undrafted player since Gretzky to win the Conn Smythe Trophy. But their “undrafted” stories couldn’t be more different.
You might think, “Didn’t the draft exist back when Gretzky started?” It did—the NHL’s first entry draft was in 1963. But here’s the catch: Gretzky wasn’t eligible. Back then, the NHL didn’t allow players under 20 to sign contracts. The WHA, however, had no such rules, which is why 17-year-old Gretzky signed with the Racers in 1978. By the time the Oilers joined the NHL, he was already a pro, making him ineligible for the draft.
Unlike Gretzky, Marchessault went undrafted in the traditional sense. Passed over by every team in the 2011 NHL Draft, he took the long road, grinding through the AHL with the Connecticut Whale before landing an NHL entry-level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. His big break came in the 2017 expansion draft when he joined the Vegas Golden Knights, eventually leading them to a Stanley Cup and earning playoff MVP honors.
A Legacy of the WHA: When was wayne gretzky drafted?
The WHA didn’t just give Gretzky his start—it changed the NHL forever. It forced the league to lower its minimum age for players and rethink the draft process. The WHA’s disruption gave the NHL some of its biggest stars and ensured new talent pipelines for the future.
Gretzky’s undrafted status isn’t just a quirky footnote in hockey history—it’s a reminder of how one player, one league, and one loophole can rewrite the rules of the game. And now, players like Marchessault continue to prove that sometimes, the best stories come from the unlikeliest paths.
