The NHL retired jersey number 99 league-wide in honor of Wayne Gretzky in 2000.
The retirement took place at the 2000 NHL All-Star Game, making Gretzky the only player whose number has been retired across the entire NHL. Individual teams had already retired numbers for their own legends, but a league-wide retirement is a much rarer distinction. The decision followed Gretzky’s retirement from professional hockey in 1999.
Gretzky wore 99 throughout his most famous playing years, although he originally wanted number 9, inspired by Gordie Howe. A teammate already wore 9, so Gretzky adopted 99 instead. The number became inseparable from his nickname, “The Great One.”
Gretzky finished his NHL career with 894 regular-season goals, 1,963 assists, and 2,857 points. Those achievements help explain why 99 was treated as a league-wide symbol rather than merely an Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues, or New York Rangers team number.