Did Wayne Gretzky score 940 goals?

Wayne Gretzky’s Goal Legacy: Beyond the 940

When people talk about Wayne Gretzky, the number 940 often comes up—but it doesn’t tell the full story. Gretzky, widely regarded as the greatest hockey player of all time, scored an astonishing 940 goals in professional regular-season play. That includes 894 goals in the NHL and an additional 46 during his time in the WHA before the leagues merged.

However, his total goal count as a professional reaches 1,072—a number that includes both regular-season and playoff goals. In fact, Gretzky added 132 playoff goals to his tally (122 in the NHL and 10 in the WHA), giving him a combined total that surpassed even Gordie Howe’s legendary career mark by one goal. This blend of longevity, consistency, and dominance in high-pressure situations is what made Gretzky’s career so extraordinary.

It’s easy to fixate on the 940 regular-season goals—a milestone in its own right—but doing so overlooks the full scope of his achievements. Gretzky didn’t just score goals; he redefined how the game was played. His vision, playmaking, and hockey sense elevated teammates and intimidated opponents. Even in the playoffs, where scoring typically tightens and defenses tighten, Gretzky continued to deliver, finding the back of the net when it mattered most.

So while 940 is an impressive figure, especially broken down between two leagues, it’s the broader picture—his 1,072 total professional goals, combined with 1,518 assists—that cements his place in history. Gretzky wasn’t just a goal-scorer; he was the heartbeat of every team he played for, and his numbers reflect a career unlike any other.