The 41-year-old skated out on to the ice in full uniform, waving to a standing crowd with tears in his eyes.
"You people gave me so much support, so much confidence," Kurri told the fans. "You made me feel at home."
With his twin sons at his side, Kurri also was flanked by former teammates Kevin Lowe, Grant Fuhr, Lee Fogolin, Craig Simpson and Wayne Gretzky, with whom he combined for so many goals in the Edmonton glory years.
Current Oiler forward Rem Murray, who last wore 17, took off his jersey and had the former superstar sign it.
Gretzky gave his former linemate one last pass as Kurri skated in and put a puck up high into an empty net.
Kurri's 17 is only the third number retired by the Oilers, joining Gretzky's 99 and former captain Al Hamilton's 3.
Kurri will be inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame later this season, the first Finn ever to receive that honour.
A native of Helsinki, Kurri was renowned for his two-way skills and clutch playoff scoring. He finished his NHL career with 601 goals and 1,398 points, which is 14th on the league's all-time list and tops on the European list.
Kurri, who played a part in all five Stanley Cup winners in Edmonton, was picked 69th overall by the Oilers in the 1980 entry draft. He is second on Edmonton's all-time scoring list with 474 goals and 569 assists, behind only Gretzky.
His most prolific season came in 1984-85 when Kurri scored 71 goals with 64 assists, winning that season's Lady Byng trophy as the NHL's most gentlemanly player.
Kurri was responsible for influencing an entire generation of Finnish hockey players and is referred to as Mr. Hockey in his homeland.
He remains a big a part of hockey in Finland, broadcasting games on television, running camps and working as an assistant for the Finnish national team that will compete in the 2002 Winter Olympics at Salt Lake City, Utah, in February.
