WAYNE Gretzky, the National Hockey League's all-time leading scorer, remains the league's top-paid player. Gretzky has signed a contract for a three-year, US$25.5 million contract that he agreed to in September with the Los Angeles Kings.

Gretzky, who holds 60 NHL records and is within six goals of tying Gordie Howe's league mark of 801 career goals, is the highest-paid player in the NHL at US$8.5 million per season. Approximately US$4.5 million is deferred each year.

The three-year deal, which the parties agreed to in September, supersedes the 10-year contract Gretzky signed after joining the Kings in a 1988 trade with the Edmonton Oilers.