The hockey stick Wayne Gretzky used during the Edmonton Oilers' series-clinching game in the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals was sold for $336,000, setting a new record for an NHL-used stick, Sotheby's announced on Friday.
The 1988 Stanley Cup was Gretzky's fourth and last championship, as well as the Oilers' second consecutive win. This stick, signed and inscribed by Gretzky, was previously auctioned at Sotheby's in 2023, though the sale price from that auction remains undisclosed.
22 different bidders placed a total of 79 bids for Gretzky's final stick used in Edmonton. The sale announcement came shortly before the Edmonton Oilers took on the Florida Panthers in Game 6 of the Stanley Cup Finals at Rogers Place in Edmonton on Friday.
History behind Wayne Gretzky's most expensive NHL-used stick
The stick was photo-matched by MeiGray, and the signature was certified by James Spence Authentication. The inscription reads: “To Rick, Best Wishes, Wayne Gretzky, May 26th, 1988.”
Before this sale, the record was held by another Gretzky stick used in his final game, which Sotheby’s sold for $140,000 in 2022.
The most expensive hockey stick ever sold is still the “Rutherford Stick,” believed to have been made in the mid-19th century, which reportedly sold for over $2 million in the early 2000s.
In recent years, more Gretzky memorabilia from the 1988 Stanley Cup Finals have emerged. In June 2022, Gretzky's final Oilers jersey sold for $1.452 million, marking the highest amount ever paid for a hockey jersey. His gloves from that last game also sold for $204,162.
According to ESPN, Sotheby's confirmed that the stick originally belonged to Rick “The Stick” Elaschuk from Edmonton. Elaschuk had been with the Oilers since their beginnings as a World Hockey Association team and served as the visiting team stick handler.
Wayne Gretzky and the 1988 Stanley Cup Final
The 1988 Stanley Cup Finals saw the Oilers sweep the Boston Bruins. However, Game 4 faced an unexpected interruption due to a power outage at the Boston Garden on May 24, 1988. This game was never concluded, leading the series back to Edmonton, where the Oilers clinched the championship two days later.
This victory marked the Oilers' fourth title in five seasons and marked Gretzky's final championship with the team. Shortly after, Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings, a move widely regarded as one of the most significant trades in NHL history.
Gretzky was a force during the 1988 Stanley Cup Playoffs, racking up an impressive 43 points in just 19 games.
The Great One tallied 13 points, comprising three goals and 10 assists, during the 1988 Finals, a series performance that continues to hold as a record. His 10 assists in the Stanley Cup Finals also stand as a record. With nine league MVP titles to his name, Gretzky is the sole NHL player to have his jersey number retired across the entire league.
His 31 assists during that playoff stretch remained an NHL record for many years until Connor McDavid surpassed it in 2024.
McDavid and the Oilers are aiming for the franchise's sixth Stanley Cup victory, seeking to pull off a remarkable 3-0 comeback against the Florida Panthers.
After tying the series 3-3 on Friday, Edmonton will try to do the almost impossible and win Game 7.
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