In 2017, the NHL named Gretzky to what anniversary group?

In 2017, the NHL named Gretzky to its 100 Greatest NHL Players anniversary group.

The NHL created the list as part of its centennial celebrations, marking 100 years since the league’s founding in 1917. A 58-member selection panel chose the players, drawing on more than 1,800 years of combined hockey experience. Gretzky was an automatic-seeming choice for a list intended to represent the league’s greatest players.

The complete group was revealed in stages during the 2016–17 season, with the final selections announced at an NHL 100 Gala in Los Angeles in January 2017. Gretzky was presented as the sport’s statistical and historical benchmark.

He retired in 1999 after 20 NHL seasons and finished with 894 regular-season goals, 1,963 assists and 2,857 points. The anniversary list is different from the NHL First All-Star Team, which is selected for individual seasons, and from Stanley Cup or franchise-specific teams.