On Wednesday, Turner Sports announced Gretzky signed a multiyear agreement to serve as a studio analyst for the network. Gretzky will priovide analysis at key points of the regular season and throughhout the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The NHL and Turner Sports announced a seven-year media rights agreement April 27 that will have regular-season, Stanley Cup Playoff and Stanley Cup Final games televised on TNT and TBS starting next season and running through 2027-28.
Gretzky stepped down one day after the Oilers were swept by the Winnipeg Jets in the best-of-7 Stanley Cup First Round with a 4-3 triple overtime loss Monday. Edmonton (35-19-2) finished second in the seven-team Scotia North Division to qualify for the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"The Oilers, their fans, and the city of Edmonton have meant the world to me and my family for over four decades, and that will never end," Gretzky wrote on Twitter on Tuesday. "Given the pandemic and other life changes, I realize I will not be able to dedicate the time nor effort needed to support this world-class organization."
Gretzky worked in Edmonton's front office for five seasons. He joined the Oilers Entertainment Group as a partner and vice chairman on Oct. 12, 2016.
Gretzky played his first nine seasons in the NHL with the Oilers, helping them win the Stanley Cup four times, before being traded to the Los Angeles Kings on Aug. 9, 1988. He retired on April 18, 1999, after 20 NHL seasons with the Oilers, Kings, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers.
Gretzky won the
Art Ross Trophy
as the NHL's leading scorer 10 times, the
Hart Trophy
voted as NHL MVP nine times, and the
Conn Smythe Trophy
voted as most valuable player of the Stanley Cup Playoffs twice. He won the
Lady Byng Trophy
voted as the NHL's most gentlemanly player five times, and made 18 consecutive All-Star Game appearances.
His No. 99 was retired throughout the NHL prior to the 2000 All-Star Game. Gretzky holds or shares 61 NHL records, and is its all-time leading scorer with 2,857 points (894 goals, 1,963 assists). He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Nov. 22, 1999.
"I want to thank [Oilers owners] Daryl and Renee Katz, their family, and entire team for all the support and friendship these last several years, and wish them nothing but success," Gretzky said.
