• during season 1981-82, passed a record that stood for 35 years: 50 goals in 50 games.
• Gretzky completed this feat in 39 games
• only player in NHL history to break the two hundred-point mark.
• Gretzky became the first hockey and Canadian to be named Associated Press Male Athlete of the Year.
•also named "Sportsman of the Year" by sports illustrated and Newsmaker of the year by Canadian press
• by the time he finished playing for the oilers, he held or shared 49 NHL records, which in itself was a record.

• the oilers won the Stanley Cup in 84 (1st of 5 in 7 years) always won with Gretzky
• named officer of the Order of Canada on June 25, 1984, for outstanding contribution to the sport of hockey.