what teams did gretzky play on?
Edmonton Oilers
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 However , Gretzky denied that he had any exotic innate abilities . He said that many of his advantages were a result of his father 's brilliant coaching . 

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 Gretzky , who was not a big card collector , said he purchased the card because he thought " the market would remain strong " , thus making for a valuable investment . McNall orchestrated the plan to buy the card . In a 2005 interview , McNall stated his " philosophy was , if you buy something that is absolutely the best in the world , you 'd be okay because there is always another buyer for something at the top end . " 

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 Gretzky has made several TV appearances , including as a Dance Fever celebrity judge , and an ' unforgettable appearance ' , acting in a dramatic role alongside Victor Newman in The Young and the Restless in 1981 . In 1984 , he travelled to the Soviet Union to film a television program on Russian goaltender Vladislav Tretiak . Gretzky hosted the Saturday Night Live comedy program in 1989 . A fictional crime @-@ fighting version of him served as one of the main characters in the cartoon ProStars in 1991 . Gretzky has made over 60 movie , network television and video appearances as himself , according to IMDB , as of February 2012 . He is a naturalized American citizen . 

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 In 1978 , Gretzky signed with the Indianapolis Racers of the World Hockey Association ( WHA ) , where he briefly played before being traded to the Edmonton Oilers . When the WHA folded , the Oilers joined the NHL , where he established many scoring records and led his team to four Stanley Cup championships . His trade to the Los Angeles Kings on August 9 , 1988 , had an immediate impact on the team 's performance , eventually leading them to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals , and he is credited with popularizing hockey in California . Gretzky played briefly for the St. Louis Blues before finishing his career with the New York Rangers . Gretzky captured nine Hart Trophies as the most valuable player , ten Art Ross Trophies for most points in a season , two Conn Smythe Trophies as playoff MVP , and five Lester B. Pearson Awards ( now called the Ted Lindsay Award ) for most outstanding player as judged by other players . He won the Lady Byng Trophy for sportsmanship and performance five times , and often spoke out against fighting in hockey . 

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 Gretzky only played eight games for Indianapolis . The Racers were losing $ 40 @,@ 000 per game . Skalbania told Gretzky he would be moved , offering him a choice between the Edmonton Oilers and the Winnipeg Jets . On the advice of his agent , Gretzky picked the Oilers , but the move was not that simple . On November 2 , Gretzky , goaltender Eddie Mio and forward Peter Driscoll were put on a private plane , not knowing where they would land and what team they would be joining . While in the air , Skalbania worked on the deal . Skalbania offered to play a game of backgammon with Winnipeg owner Michael Gobuty , the stakes being if Gobuty won , he would get Gretzky and if he lost , he had to give Skalbania a share of the Jets . Gobuty turned down the proposal and the players landed in Edmonton . Mio paid the $ 4 @,@ 000 bill for the flight with his credit card . Skalbania sold Gretzky , Mio and Driscoll to his former partner , and then @-@ owner of the Edmonton Oilers , Peter Pocklington . Although the announced price was $ 850 @,@ 000 , Pocklington actually paid $ 700 @,@ 000 . The money was not enough to keep the Racers alive ; they folded that December . 
