The 1,851 was the # of points, not goals, at the time.
Even the “Great One” could not score 90+ goals a season...
I believe he scored 105 in one season back in the 80’s. Please correct me if I’m wrong.
While at Edmonton he scored 87 goals in 1983-84, and 92 in 81-82.
He had 150+ points in 8 years including 3 years over 200 plus 2 at 183 and 196.
http://www.gretzky.com/hockey/career_stats.php

Wish he could have played under the current rules but his games might have been ‘cricket scores.’