What number did Wayne Gretzky wear for his entire NHL career? He wore number 99. The number became inseparable from Gretzky during his 20-season NHL career, first with the Edmonton Oilers and later with the Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, and New York Rangers.
Gretzky originally admired Gordie Howe and had hoped to wear number 9. When that number was unavailable early in his career, he chose 99 instead. The choice quickly became iconic as he established himself as the NHL’s dominant scorer and earned the nickname “The Great One.”
The NHL retired number 99 league-wide in 2000, making Gretzky the only player whose number has been retired by every NHL team. That distinction is why fans sometimes confuse his number with team-specific retired numbers, such as 4, 7, or 11 worn by other hockey legends.