When you look at his per-season point production, it’s no wonder Wayne Gretzky is referred to as the Great One.
Had BetMGM’s online sportsbook been around during his prime, his hockey odds of being the top point-getter each season would have been shorter than Danny DeVito.
While point production cannot be compared from generation to generation, it’s hard to imagine Gretzky’s 215-point record season in 1985-86 ever being eclipsed.
Even 2025 NHL Hart Trophy favourite Connor McDavid can only dream of surpassing that otherworldly total.
Gretzky holds the top four spots for most points in a season, with Mario Lemieux coming in at fifth place.
Gretzky has eight of the top 10 highest-point seasons, and Lemieux (1988-89 and 1987-88) has the other two.
What Were Wayne Gretzky’s Best Seasons in the NHL?
1. 1985-86
In the season of all seasons, Gretzky notched 215 points in 80 games. His record-setting tally consisted of 52 goals and 163 assists, a 2.69 points-per-game ratio.
The 163 assists are the most helpers in a single season. The Oilers, somewhat surprisingly, didn’t win the Stanley Cup in Gretzky’s record-setting season. That honour went to the Montreal Canadiens.
It was also the last time Gretzky eclipsed 200 points.
2. 1981-82
The Great One scored 212 points in his third NHL season, finishing 65 points ahead of second-place Mike Bossy. He scored 92 goals, the most anyone has ever netted in a season.
Gretzky added 120 helpers and finished with an astonishing plus-80 rating. Of his 92 goals, 74 were scored at even strength. He had 12 game-winners and finished with a 24.9 shooting percentage, both career highs.
3. 1984-85
While the 208-point haul was the third most in Gretzky’s career, it was his plus-100 rating that was equally impressive. Shockingly, that outrageously high plus/minus isn’t a record, with Bobby Orr’s plus-124 and Larry Robinson’s plus-120 taking first and second on that particular list.
The Great One finished the season with 73 goals and 135 assists in 80 games. It was the fourth season in a row and the last where he netted at least 70 goals.
A Stanley Cup triumph capped off the season, Gretzky’s second with the Oilers.
4. 1983-84
Gretzky tallied 2.77 points per game in 1983-84, which was the most of his career. It’s also the highest rate in NHL history.
He had 205 points in 74 games (87 goals and 118 assists) and won his first Stanley Cup. It was also the season he scored the most power-play goals of his career (20).
Oh, and to top it all off, Gretzky finished 79 points ahead of second-leading scorer Paul Coffey, the most significant discrepancy from first to second in his 21-year NHL career.
5. 1982-83
Gretzky regressed in 1982-83, scoring 16 points less than the previous season. Mind you, he still managed to notch 196 points, making it the most trivial regression of all time.
He scored 71 goals and added 125 assists. It was also the season Gretzky spent the most time in the sin bin, with 52 penalty minutes.
6. 1986-87
The least impressive of his six best seasons still ended with Gretzky scoring 183 points in 79 games. He had 62 goals and 121 assists, finishing 75 points ahead of second-leading scorer and teammate Jari Kurri.
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