Gretzky will serve as the official ambassador to the Centennial Celebration, which begins Jan. 1 in Toronto with the NHL Centennial Classic outdoor game between the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs at BMO Field.

"A century of great players, great plays and great moments deserves a year-long celebration, and we invite everyone to join our party in 2017," NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said. "We are delighted that Wayne Gretzky -- whose spectacular contributions on the ice matched his immeasurable graciousness and popularity off the ice -- will serve as our Centennial's official ambassador as we honor all the drama, suspense, excitement and memories that have thrilled the best fans in sports for generations."

Gretzky, the NHL's all-time leading scorer with 2,857 points, a nine-time Hart Trophy winner and four-time Stanley Cup champion, will make appearances at various events throughout the calendar year.

Video: NHL Centennial: Wayne Gretzky reflects on his career

As great a player as he was during his 20 NHL seasons, Gretzky considers himself an even greater fan of the game and its history. That's why he's so excited to join forces with the League to celebrate 100 years of the NHL.

"It's a tremendous honor," Gretzky said. "I've said this a million times that everything I have in my life is because of hockey and because of the National Hockey League. I happen to think it's the greatest game in the world. It was kind to me my whole life. The game just gets better every year, so for me to be involved in just trying to help promote and sell our sport even more it's a great thrill for me and an honor to be part of it."

The Centennial Celebration will feature the unveiling of the all-time top 100 players in League history during All-Star Weekend in Los Angeles from Jan. 27-29. The players on the all-time top 100 list who played all or most of their careers from 1917-67 will be honored at the Centennial Classic game.

The lists were voted on by members of the hockey community, including former and current executives, media members and NHL alumni.

"It's like when you're a kid and you collect hockey cards, you want to trade this guy for that guy, and everybody wanted to have the right cards," Gretzky said. "Here we are now, we're going to pick the top 100 players and it's not going to be easy because there has been so many great players all the way back to the 30s and 40s and 50s. So obviously it's a tough task for everyone. There are so many great young players today, there were great players when I played and before I played. So picking this is going to be difficult, but it'll be a thrill for anyone who is part of that top 100."

Video: Wayne Gretzky named NHL Centennial ambassador

A Centennial Truck Tour, launching Jan. 1 in Toronto, will bring the celebration to every NHL market and many other local hockey communities during 2017. It will feature a 53-foot interactive museum truck, another 53-foot trailer with a giant video screen and stage and a pop-up synthetic rink for youth games and clinics.

The NHL with the Los Angeles Kings, who are celebrating their 50th anniversary, will have a hockey-themed float in the Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade on Jan. 2 in Pasadena, Calif. The parade will air on NBC prior to the 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic between the St. Louis Blues and Chicago Blackhawks at Busch Stadium.

Gretzky said having a float in the Tournament of Roses Parade is yet another indication of how far hockey has come in California and the southwestern part of the United States.

"Let me tell you something: If you would have said to me 25 years ago that we'd have three teams in California and they'd all sell out and they'd all be the top four or five teams in the National Hockey League I would have said, 'No, you're crazy,' " Gretzky said. "Hockey has come so far and has done so well in the southwest -- in Dallas, Vegas, Phoenix, the three teams in California. Kids more and more are gravitating to our sport as youngsters and wanting to participate and wanting to play and have this dream of growing up and being in the National Hockey League. So to be part of the Rose Bowl parade will be pretty special. I think it's a pretty nice honor."

The League will celebrate the 125th anniversary of the donation of the Stanley Cup by Lord Stanley of Preston from March 15-18 in Ottawa. A documentary chronically the history of the Stanley Cup will be released during the celebration in Ottawa.

Video: Gretzky discusses his favorite NHL & career memories

A celebration of the 100th anniversary of the League's founding will take place in Montreal on Nov. 26. In addition, a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the first NHL games will take place in Ottawa on Dec. 19.

The League will unveil its most 100 most iconic moments in the fall, and each day during the calendar year the NHL will share various milestones of its 100 years online, in broadcasts and through social media as part of an NHL Time Capsule.

"I gravitate to the players themselves, the Rocket Richards, the [Jean] Beliveaus, the [Gordie] Howes, the [Bobby] Orrs, the [Guy] Lafleurs," Gretzky said. "And then the arenas; the old Montreal Forum, Maple Leaf Gardens, the old Chicago Stadium. I was lucky enough as a kid, I played one time in the Olympia. For me, the history of our sport is so dynamic. That's one great thing we have. And the tradition, not only the Stanley Cup, but the Art Ross Trophy, the Hart Trophy, the Norris Trophy; those trophies are really amazing. If you get your name on that that's pretty special. One thing we have in our sport is a tremendous foundation of history and that's wonderful."

Video: Gretzky on his role as NHL Centennial ambassador

2017 NHL CENTENNIAL CALENDAR OF CELEBRATIONS

Jan. - Dec. NHL Centennial Truck Tour

Jan. - Dec. NHL Time Capsule

Jan. 1 NHL Centennial Classic™ (Toronto)

Jan. 2 Pasadena Tournament of Roses Parade (Pasadena, CA)

Jan. 2 2017 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic® (St. Louis, MO)

Jan. 27-29 2017 NHL® All-Star (Los Angeles, CA)

Feb. 25 2017 Coors Light NHL Stadium Series™ (Pittsburgh, PA)

Mar. 15-18 Stanley Cup® 125th Anniversary Celebrations (Ottawa, Ont.)

June 2017 NHL Awards™ (Las Vegas, NV)

Jun. 23-24 2017 NHL Draft™ (Chicago, IL)

Nov. 26 NHL 100th Anniversary of the Founding of the League

Dec. 19 NHL 100th Anniversary of the First Games Played

