Apr 4, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Wayne Gretzky speaks during a press conference with Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (not pictured) after the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Capital One Arena. Ovechkin scored the 893rd and 894th goals of his career, tying Gretzky for most all-time goals in NHL history at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Apr 4, 2025; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Wayne Gretzky speaks during a press conference with Washington Capitals left wing Alex Ovechkin (not pictured) after the game against the Chicago Blackhawks at Capital One Arena. Ovechkin scored the 893rd and 894th goals of his career, tying Gretzky for most all-time goals in NHL history at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Amber Searls-Imagn Images
Wayne Gretzky started his legendary NHL career with the Edmonton Oilers. However, his league career could have started with the New Jersey Devils if it weren't for the one NHL Draft rule.
The Devils, who were called the Colorado Rockies at the time, possessed the No. 1 overall pick in the 1979 NHL Entry Draft. That summer, the NHL barred teams from signing players under 20, outside the draft on professional contracts.
With that, they were poised to sign a young star like Gretzky in the draft since the rule mandated that the 18-year-old must be a part of it. But it didn’t happen for the Devils because the NHL decided to let the Oilers protect Gretzky as one of the skaters despite his age.
They did it since the Oilers owner, Peter Pocklington, was likely to take them to court for putting Gretzky in the draft. Pocklington had the exclusive rights to the Canadian after signing him on a professional services contract in early 1979.
1987; Landover, MD, USA; Edmonton Oilers Wayne Gretzky. Mandatory Credit: Porter Binks/USA TODAY NETWORK
1987; Landover, MD, USA; Edmonton Oilers Wayne Gretzky. Mandatory Credit: Porter Binks/USA TODAY NETWORK
It happened before the World Hockey Association (WHA) merged with the NHL in March 1979 after years of attempts. Each of the new teams joining the NHL from the WHA, including Edmonton, was allowed to protect two skaters and two goaltenders.
Moreover, the NHL had secured a compromise in lieu of allowing the Oilers to forgo the draft rule in 1979, for keeping Gretzky as a protected player. It stated that their draft order must be moved to the bottom of the NHL Entry Draft (No. 21 overall) in the same year.
After finishing up his only AHL season with Edmonton in the summer of 1979, Gretzky stayed with them and never joined the NHL as a draft pick.
Wayne Gretzky’s 1978-79 season in the WHA with the Edmonton Oilers
It all began for Wayne Gretzky when he signed with the WHA in 1978. Since the WHA didn't have a rule like the NHL, he made his way to the Indianapolis Racers at 17.
Their owner, Nelson Skalbania, signed him on a seven-year personal services contract on June 12, 1978, rather than a standard hockey contract.
It was done to ensure that Gretzky stayed on for the entirety of the deal unless he wanted to cash in on his anticipated stardom.
Within a few months, Skalbania and the Racers ran into financial trouble before offloading Gretzky to the Edmonton Oilers. Pocklington, who owned the Oilers, bought out Gretzky's contract for $700,000 on November 2 of the same year.
He played just eight games for the Racers, scoring six points: 3 goals and 3 assists.
Shortly after, Pocklington signed Gretzky on a brand new 21-year personal services contract on his 18th birthday on January 26, 1979.
In March 1979, the WHA finally merged with the NHL, but the future of none of their teams was certain. Only four teams from the WHA eventually joined the NHL, including the Winnipeg Jets, Quebec Nordiques, New England Whalers, and the Oilers.
It is understood that the Oilers having Gretzky on their roster was one of the reasons for their admission to the NHL.
Ultimately, he scored 104 points in the 1978-79 WHA season with 43 goals and 61 assists in 72 games for the Oilers before continuing with them in the NHL.
How different would the NHL look if Wayne Gretzky had begun his career with the New Jersey Devils and not the Edmonton Oilers? Tell us in the comments.
Written by
Arjun Sharma
Edited by
Sagnik Bagchi