Wayne Gretzky Told Us The Real Reason He Was Traded To LA

[@Kodlak15]

I met Walter Gretzky (Wayne’s dad) at a hockey tournament I was playing at as a young kid. I was writing a biography about Wayne for a school project at the time, and he took the time to write down Wayne’s whole story from his perspective to help me with my project, all while sharing his fries and soda with me. It was a very memorable experience, and he seemed like a very kind and humble man. He definitely deserves credit for helping Wayne become what he was as a hockey player and what he still is today as a man. It’s awesome hearing Wayne talk about his dad.

[@snydmark]

That a great story!

[@heaveymelt]

Yes his father would go threw Brantford hospital all the time for the kids mostly a great man

[@PainBreadzky]

@@heaveymeltmostly? Spill the tea

[@stiggsmasta]

i have met him on a few occasions. lived near brantford. seemed like a genuinely good man.was a sad day setting up at the cemetery. the town all came out for the drive there. was a nice gesture.

[@heaveymelt]

I meant it as mostly for kids nothing bad

[@RC-fh2lk]

I could listen to Wayne tell hockey stories all day!!

[@KkevrockK]

No you couldn’t because he couldn’t stay sober that long 😂

[@paulyarek]

@@KkevrockK You know that for sure?

[@notrussianbot7318]

Edmonton Oiler fan, I was lucky enough to see 99 play a few times. I watched the trade press conference live. The whole city went into shock. We loved Wayne, but we loathed Peter Pocklington. Edmonton will never forget the great one. Thank you for all you did for us Wayne, we would not be the same city without you.

[@GVH1305]

Wayne because Janet wanted the LA spotlight.

[@DoYouThinkForUrselF]

Peter was not a billionaire. Hindsight i think people are thankful for Peter, without him Edmonton Oilers may not have been here. League was changing, cost rising.

[@MGAF688]

Pocklington kept trying to move Edmonton out of Edmonton.

[@notrussianbot7318]

@@MGAF688 I loved the Palm Springs bankruptcy saga, it was a little late, but better than never. Eva was always nice and polite, even the kid Zack was nice. But Peter Puck would sell his mother.

[@Sam-z1t6p]

88 wow it was so difficult watching the greatest player in his prime being traded away very shocking the unthinkable very difficult time for Wayne and Canada 1988

[@bradr539]

Being a Detroit guy I would have loved having Wayne as a Redwing but him going to LA was probably the best thing ever for hockey.

[@ac4524]

You’re a true hockey fan

[@lolyungmulaBABY]

Why was it the best thing ever for hockey? How did the NHL change from this trade?

[@freedomliberty83]

​@lolyungmulaBABY Are you kidding. The reason there are teams in San Jose, Anaheim etc. is because of Gretzky. So many young kids are playing hockey in California now, and that's because of what Gretzky in the 90's. He grew the sport.

[@lolyungmulaBABY]

@@freedomliberty83 Thanks. Was he still in his prime or was this an MJ Wizards arc?

[@AlbertLivingstone]

The Wings would have won in 93. They had Paul Coffey, Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov and Nicklas Lidstrom. Gretzky puts them over the edge

[@thomaslabelle3093]

Image being Vancouver when you offer 25% ownership and he doesn't even call you back or consider the team as an option 😂

[@coryjohn4057]

The deal was done. Until ownership demanded he sign it that night.

[@gucci1131]

Didn't the Oilers owner need cash at the time? Wouldn't have mattered even if Wayne agreed to it

[@coryjohn4057]

@@gucci1131 this was after L A and when he went to St Louis

[@jaythompson5102]

@@coryjohn4057 that's right and when Wayne heard that he was like 'fuck these guys'. I am a lifelong Canuck fans but it was a smart move for Wayne.

[@Statsy10]

What if Skalbania hadn't called him at 6 in the morning? I don't listen to people when they call me at that time either. 😂

[@remmost9688]

Born and raised in Edmonton…. Still remember the day when I ran upstairs (8 yr old kid) to tell my mom to put on the news that Gretzky was being traded …… totally CRUSHED

[@jasonarellano9470]

As a 11 year old Kings fan in 1988, I was on the other side, I’ll never forget when he was traded to the Kings, after years of killing us.

[@JdsjsKdmem]

I cry when Gilmore wss ytqfed

[@ac4524]

More hockey legends need to be in the media like this. It’s good for the sport of hockey and it shows the rest of the sports world that some hockey players have a personality

[@wavelength3278]

Gretzky has a personality?? 😂😂😂😂

[@chizorama]

Plenty of hockey players had big personalities until they started "media training" the kids. Gretzky wasn't only a great player, but a great ambassador for the game.

[@jimgray3346]

It must have been such a great honour to sit in that room and listen to a legend talk for an hour. I wonder if RA even gave them all autographs after.

[@jomiannojn4426]

😂

[@user-yg1dg6xm2g]

Why don't you ask them - if next time Wayne comes around for an interview - if you can kiss his feet?

[@ckendall67]

This was also the 1st year that teams began the tradition of team pic at centre ice with the Stanley Cup. I believe Gretzky once stated that he sorta sensed that this might be the last big run with the Oilers as they were at the time so he gathered everyone at centre ice for a big team picture with the Cup. And that's how that tradition began. Of course, it has since come out that his father told him inside the team dressing room that they were going to trade Gretzky to the 'highest bidder'. Meanwhile, the LA Kings that offseason had promised big changes at the same time as well, they 're-branded' with the new 'Silver N' Black' sweaters that offseason as well. I guess initially nobody really put the two situations together - the Kings making bold statements about 'big changes' to their team, while at the same team behind the scenes the Oilers were dangling Wayne Gretzky to all comers. Well....the rest is history as they say.

[@scandinavianflickgd7331]

Wayne coming to LA was the best thing to happen not just from a Kings fan standpoint, but for hockey in general. It got major eyes on the sport and for young kids like me who didnt know about hockey. Wayne became the Gordie Howe in LA and we can never thank him enough what hes done for the sport.

[@terrencemacdougall7915]

Wayne was a circus act who sold tickets. Thats why he went to LA.

[@ahill4642]

Nice to hear that. ☺️

[@tommycodfish]

And he never won the Stanley Cup ever since he left Edmonton. It is all about the money and it will always be. Too proud to go to Toronto and he fuck the Leafs over in 93 when he cut Doug Gilmour open and he should have been a penalty. Goes to finals and could not do it against the habs 😂😂😂😂Gordie Howe is way better anyways and he would kick Wayne's ass if they ever played against each other. Born in Ontario but who gives a fuck about Toronto 😂😂😂😂

[@koshka02]

Yea, I agree. I've heard that the other California and Southern US teams wouldn't have existed if Gretzky didn't play in LA. He had that strong an influence on the sport of hockey and the NHL.

[@tommycodfish]

@@koshka02 Really I think Janet had a lot to do with that decision with her acting career and as for the growth of hockey Marcel Dion did a tremendous job of growing the game in L.A before Wayne landed there. Wayne was no different than Sydney Crosby taking over from Mario. Wayne sold tickets.

[@tradingnasdaq]

love that story.. Shows how smart Walter really was..

[@bluebear1985]

That would have been a reunion of sorts between Gretzky and Nelson Skelbania had he gone to Vancouver. I say that because Skelbania was the owner at the time Gretzky signed his first pro contract with the WHA's Indianapolis Racers. However, his time was limited there before being sent to Edmonton.

[@kimmolaine8069]

Gretzky and Kurri in LA was the start of my Kings fandom as a little kid. I've sticked around since. :)

[@craigschulz1852]

I worked for Puck when he owned Palm Dairies in Edmonton. Gretzky was traded because Peter needed money. The Alberta Government was calling in his loan. McNall was the only guy who was able to come up with the required cash. Puck never cared about the players. Saw them as cattle

[@garystosky-tb1uk]

That’s exactly how I remember it too. There was even a book about it that I had read way back then. Can’t recall the title off hand but it had to do with Alberta Treasury Branches.

[@mandolorian25]

Funny thing was McNall was a fraud too. It’s crazy how shady those times were

[@ArcGlowingVision]

Peter had a meat plant called Gainers. people worked their for 30 years and I remember they all ended up on the picket line only to never get their jobs back. The place closed because Peter failed to pay his loans.

[@craigschulz1852]

​@@ArcGlowingVisionhe tried the same crap with Palm Dairies. He locked the gates therefore locking the employees out. Within 2 hrs the Alberta Government arrived at the plant with police & Puck was forced to keep the plant open. Because milk is considered a essential food product.

[@Auqua1973]

Just like Gainers, Pocklington lost it all for his greed.

[@pranavsambamurti7746]

Always the Great One! The most humble Superstar who ever lived!

[@soysauce76]

As a Kings fan, thank you Mr Walter Gretzky!

[@jimgray3346]

All those cups...oh wait

[@geoff3103]

@@jimgray3346 doesn't matter, ya bumpkin

[@owenposer6720]

@@geoff3103kinda does

[@kingsfan2512]

@@jimgray3346 He changed hockey forever in LA and around the world, didn't need to win a cup in LA.

[@concars1234]

@@jimgray3346 Habs had something to say about that

[@JC-se8mi]

Gretzky’s Tears by Stephen Brunt. Great book about the details of the trade.

[@cujo505]

I finally heard it from the man. Great story Gretz. Tell Janet I said sorry after almost 35 years

[@Paul-vf2wl]

She's too busy booking NFL bets with Trottier

[@GVH1305]

@@Paul-vf2wlToccett

[@Paul-vf2wl]

@@GVH1305You are correct it was Toccett sorry Brian.

[@emstorm1725]

Wow. Thank you for this. I was 12 when the trade happened and had grown up in Edmonton. It's likely hard for people to understand this, but it was truly the worst things that had ever happened in our community (thankfully there were no natural disasters back then). Looking back now I'm grateful Wayne and the others were there and recognize the landscape of hockey changed after this trade, but I would still take 99 being an Oiler for life. : )

[@bswhytock]

No natural disasters? The Black Friday Tornado was a few years before the trade.

[@emstorm1725]

I forgot about that. I was actually out of the country at the time but read about it@@bswhytock

[@wavelength3278]

You were 12. WTH did you know?

[@henrymanzano2201]

I think the Rangers should have ceremonially "traded" him back to Edmonton,so he could officially retire as an Oiler,but it was quite a scene in NY the day of his last game

[@ronbonora7872]

Mr. Walter Gretzky was a very smart man! He also knew a little bit about hockey too! LOL

[@TheNewMediaoftheDawn]

I met him on a plane to LA from Toronto in the early 90s and shook his hand before going through the metal detector to board…. I was early teens and on the plane, mom and I were at the front of economy, he at the back of first class, basically a row away and I got the stewardess to get me an autograph, unfortunately I’ve lost it, oh well I have the memories…

[@Bigdondavinci]

It’s like that line from Succession “BECAUSE UR DAD TOLD U TO?!” lmao 😂

[@23ofSeptember]

Wayne will always be known as an Oiler to me. Detroit or LA, Gretzky's best years were behind him already.

[@thegoldrobber]

But WHY was he traded???? Pocklington was in deep financial trouble with his outside businesses so he SOLD Gretzky for picks, players AND $15 million cash US which is the equivalent to $40 million US today.

[@philwillett9102]

Simply put, Pocklington traded him because Gretzky refused to sign a long-term contract with a full year still left on the initial one. Basically Peter Puck said, sign-it or else....

[@thegoldrobber]

@@philwillett9102 That was an excuse to cover up the real reason, as I stated above. Things arent always as they seem.

[@philwillett9102]

Pocklington needed money and wasn't guaranteed that Gretz would stay, thus forcing Peter Puck to risk getting absolutely nothing for him if he didn't trade him. He's a business man, he knew that trading him was far LESS lucrative than getting him signed long-term...his hand was forced

[@bmoshareholderappleshareho855]

He was not traded. He sold, as there was money involved. A fair trade would have been Gretzky to L.A. and four of the best King players go to Edmonton. Now, that is a fair trade. Don't forget, Edmonton is a small town compared to Los Angeles. L.A. is the second-largest U.S. city. There is no way Edmonton could have afforded to pay all those big stars on the team. Paul Coffey was traded. Why was he traded? Probably because they could not afford to pay what he was worth.

[@philwillett9102]

Bullocks. The Oilers traded Gretzky, forward Mike Krusheinyski and defenseman-winger Marty McSorley to the Kings for center Jimmy Carson, left wing Martin Gelinas, first-round draft choices in 1989, '91 and '93, plus cash in excess of $10 million. Do your homework man@@bmoshareholderappleshareho855

[@bobdobalina8910]

Coming from any other athlete, I would have serious doubts about the Authenticity of his statement, However, this is the GOAT, the Nicest, most honest Athlete out there Bar None. Well maybe Tom Brady lol, but WG is still at the top. There is ONLY ONE Goardie Howe. As much as I hated him going to the Kings, from a Business perspective, it elevated Hockey to the Next Level with the Exposure.

[@wulfgrym7532]

yep still remember being a kid, 2 days before my birthday, Oilers had won the cup and bam. Wayne is getting traded, me and all my friends were just stunned.

[@plainbagel9192]

End of the 80's beginning of the 90's was the dawn of financial difficulties for a lot of Canadian ( aside from Toronto) teams that simply couldn't compete with US markets .

[@rossmontreal4570]

Truly an amazing story. Thank daddy Gretzky LA fans and all hockey fans as well. NHL would have been this popular if it wasn’t for great one going there! 💚💚💚🇨🇦

[@davidjorgensen877]

Unfortunately, the original fans of the sport have been long since forgotten as a result of the Bettman-style league management that took over in the aftermath of the Gretzky trade. Sure, the sport is more popular and there are way more teams and the player development is better, but everything's been watered down to a shell of its former intensity. Fans who remember the passion of what hockey meant to them in the 50s-80s have mostly lost interest in the sterile corporate packaging that passes for NHL hockey today. I stopped watching after Mario retired.

[@GVH1305]

@@davidjorgensen877That’s the American way…unfortunately. Would have had Gretzky stay in Edmonton and avoid this 32 teams nonsense.

[@GuitarLessonsBobbyCrispy]

I remember watching a documentary about Mario Lemieux years ago, and they described Wayne Gretzky's trade to L.A. as him going to a 'hockey wasteland', and that's why Mario asked for a no trade clause with Pittsburg.

[@ckendall67]

L.A.'s not so much a hockey 'wasteland now I guess. ;-)

[@henrymanzano2201]

Pittsburgh needed Mario more than Mario needed Pittsburgh,but yeah,I'm sure he wanted the stability, and seeing the greatest player in the history of the game get moved has to be a jarring experience

[@JP_Edwards]

yzerman and gretzkey on the same wings team would have been OP damn.

[@dangermartin69]

Yzerman probably would have been part of the trade package.

[@bmoshareholderappleshareho855]

If he was to go to Detriot, then Yzerman would have to Edmonton.

[@DoYouThinkForUrselF]

@@bmoshareholderappleshareho855 well we did not get Luc from LA, we did not get their best.

[@djdiggerjonez4063]

Imagine Gretsky joins Vancouver, owns half the team and then wins a cup with Linden and Bure. That's the Universe I want to live in.

[@broadstreet21]

It almost happened. More likely had he come in 97 in free agency.

[@markhenry6486]

Dreams dreams unfulfilled dreams

[@seanb.6793]

Local Edmonton radio station did a parody song to the tune of Puff the Magic Dragon: Little Wayney Gretzky loved that rascal Puck, and Puck loved Wayne, but not as much as 80 million bucks! - Or something like that. It’s been a long time. (Puck was owner Peter Pocklington)

[@waltwenzel9549]

Wayne grew hockey in LA like nothing else. I was an amateur player in SoCal when the trade occurred, and so many nice facilities to accommodate hockey were built and a real awareness of the game amongst people here was obvious. Thanks Wayne.

[@tvelis513]

If he goes to Detroit I don’t see how they have the dynasty they had winning 97,98,02 and 08. We had the Russians and then the Swedes. I wouldn’t change a thing.

[@darpompie4354]

I agree... People are dreaming saying adding Gretzky to the mix would have made them amazing. Except for one thing... Its a trade, LA had to send a couple of their best players and top picks to Edmonton. Most likely Yzerman and someone else would have been gone. So although Detroit MAY have been better than they were, it wouldn't have been by much. Edmonton on the other hand would have faired way better if he went to Detroit. Carson is no Yzerman.

[@Joybuzzard]

I lived in Edmonton during the height of the Oilers reign and I remember when whole city was in mourning when Gretzky moved to LA. I remember watching the Oilers practice in the rink in West Edmonton Mall. I was never into hockey, I'm still not, but it was impossible not to get caught up in the collective excitement in the city at the time.

[@henrymanzano2201]

Philadelphia?! That was out of the blue. I remember,as a kid,hearing about how Detroit, Toronto and New York were the favorites,along with LA to acquire Wayne. I can't imagine him in a Flyers uniform. That would've been UNTHINKABLE

[@ZekeAmishAssassin]

As a Flyer fan that would of been amazing, obviously the dominos wouldn't fall the same, but if they drafted Forsberg later and kept him... I would probably would of seen my first Flyers cup

[@lelouchvibritannia4028]

​@@ZekeAmishAssassinThe Lindros trade still happens. Who knows, a healthy Lindros + Gretzky would've been something.

[@dicksonfranssen]

@@lelouchvibritannia4028 Lindros would have had a longer and healthier career if not for the idiot team "doctors" in Philadelphia. I've had many concussions, you don't tell a guy to "man up" and keep playing.

[@kalemacpherson1542]

Always been such a humble guy, a true teammate and always putting others successes, talent, skills, abilities before his own. What a guy, that is why he is the Great One

[@mrhonda1]

I fell in love with hockey right around the time of the trade. As a Wings fan, I wish you came here.

[@tempo529]

Great story and he's sticking to it.

[@sergeparadis1]

Great video but feel like mentioning Detroit had Stevie Y at that time when the trade happened. I can only imagine the impact he would have had there.

[@LudwigBeefoven]

Once and for all, the question has been settled.

[@cedricbeasley7424]

Sat two rows behind his dad at a leaf game, didnt want to bother him as fans constantly asking to sign his tickets. Unbelievable how he never turned anyone at all away and never a grimace for people interupting him. He handle eveyone like they were part of the experience. I eventually asked. He looked like he was at his first game, excited as ever.

[@jordancarlin9687]

Walter Gretzky was a legend. The fact that he substantiated real trade talks via hearsay to his own GOAT son proves this

[@luciaiorio220]

Thanks for telling that story....!!!!!❤

[@genxmark]

One of the wisest moves I've seen in professional sports.

[@sickjohnson]

It also greatly benefited the NHL financially having Wayne play in LA, building hockey's future players out there as well...where the real big money is, in the USA. Honestly I am surprised that the NHL allows a Canadian team to make it just to the first round of the Playoffs anymore as it hurts their bottom line so much. Sadly it is more of business now than an game anymore, if you can see through the deception...any bets on when the next strike will happen?

[@ghouston6950]

I remember hearing Phil Esposito say that the NY Rangers agreed with Edmonton to trade Kelly Kisio, Tomas Sandstrom, and John Vanbiesbrouck for Gretzky but Rangers ownership shot it down. And I wonder as a Rangers fan why this team struggles to build a contender lol.

[@dicksonfranssen]

I liked Phil as a player but "Trader Phil" is not going to manage my money or a peewee team.

[@henrymanzano2201]

Growing up in New York,and hearing about this made me so mad at Esposito afterwards - and then,so happy when he got fired the following spring

[@johnnyskinwalker4095]

it's funny considering Sandstrom played with Wayne in LA later on

[@andrewcarroll7641]

Young Steve Y. & Wayne's World Circa 1989. That would've been a hell of a team, Probert on the Wing keeping an eye on Wayne. Wayne absolutely tea bagging all the plumbers in the Chuck Norris Division. What coulda been

[@terrymckenzie8786]

Wayne. Getting a bit of a belly😂 ……Well deserved . The greatest

[@benoitrobitaille5235]

So pre cap Red Wings almost got Wayne Gretzky before their end of 90’s early 00’s domination ? That could of fueled the nightmares of a lot of teams around the league …

[@tonttaana8930]

The question becomes also that do detroit draft fedorov/lidström/konstantinov trio in 1989 if wayne had become red winger?. Because that trio was huge part of 90s red wings core.

[@lcrooks69]

As an Edmontonian - this was devastating when he left and broke up the team. We all knew it would happen. His move to LA was great for hockey in general but it still hurts all these years later...

[@stewartsnape2936]

Great player, and person always interesting to listen to

[@jasonarellano9470]

My dad has been a Kings fan since ‘67, so we were Kings fans pre Gretzky, our family was on vacation when Gretzky got traded to the Kings. We had rented a cabin in mountains (Lake Arrowhead) I was 11, my brother and I were in the game room. My dad was in the restroom, my mom was watching the news. My mom yelled Gretzky is a King we all ran to the TV room, the segment was over, we didn’t believe her and thought she misunderstood what they said. The next morning we go out for breakfast and see the LA Times; “Gretzky traded to the Kings.” Sorry mom we didn’t believe you.

[@Relic67]

Good to know. Thanks

[@GMan-t1s]

I was there when the Montreal Canadians beat heavily favoured Gretzky and the Kings for the Stanley Cup . It was very satisfying as an Oilers fan.

[@Lanwarder]

Super interesting interview.

[@MeLoNHeAd00]

:43 i remember him saying this about how tired the islanders looked .

[@codyhertzler2387]

Thank you Ed Snyder for always thinking hockey first for his team.

[@Ciipher5113]

Hell yeah. 🧡🖤

[@angelwings9491]

I met you Wayne when you were with the LAKings I was handling your flight from toronto old terminal 1. Canadian Airlines who worked for had the contract for the Kings out of YYZ. Anyways I had a one on one with you for 5 minutes as you were walking to the plane. Hope to meet you again to tell you the story. Thanks Angela

[@js8805]

Pretty cool story, if true. I assume it is. Neat to be able to envision Gretzky deciding to go, not where he kind of wanted but, where he needed to go for the betterment of the NHL overall.

[@BMC_self-invent]

I would have loved to see Wayne Gretzky in Vancouver.

[@frankpavan7865]

The Great One !!❤

[@tdunph4250]

Apparently after his very brief stop in St Louis, Wayne wanted desperately to play for the Maple Leafs but The Maple Leafs screwed that up.

[@TheAutisticKeybladeWielder]

Hockey Stories from The Great One, He Definitely is the Hockey Grandfather of the Internet

[@bryanmayes9234]

I just worked with an older cat the other day that was last name Howe... hes like yep, Gordie's my cousin. And man this guy had some stories

[@judymathison1249]

Everyone in the Edmonton area knew that Pocklington was in deep financial trouble.

[@Peteripattaya]

Wonderful player! Its hard to see the artistery in NHL.

[@brianphilippoi349]

Imagine if he had been a Canuck through those years. Bure would have score twice as many goals.

[@c.s.mcleod7383]

I thought Michael Barnett was his agent at the trade timeline. Would he not have had any input?

[@meladgoat]

wayne is the goat and did a lot for hockey, a lot of teams and players came to the NHL cause of wayne in L.A. but Edmonton won a cup after trading wayne, wayne never won after leaving the oilers. Edmonton won that trade.

[@Classicrocker6119]

Even with the cash Pocklington got from the Kings in this deal for Gretzky he was not out of financial risk. That was brought to light with the trade of Messier to the Rangers prior to the start of the 1991-92 season.

[@Paul-vf2wl]

Free agents do this all the time.

[@phil6610]

nice one boys!

[@roymclean3554]

I always thought the league aka bettman et al had more of an impact considering how much they benefited from Gretzy going to LA. - Janet living in LA wasn't a compelling narrative, especially considering his later involvement with Coyotes. But Walter having a say is the most believable... although clearly there's a lot more detail not included here... But who ya gonna believe - the professional gossips or the man himself?

[@T88-fh9ci]

good stuff

[@arlichar11]

no matter how you look at it, absolute horrible management in edmonton, there is no rational explanation to lose the best player ever.. its not like today in nba when good players want out to join good team, he was established as great, and wanted be there, and they just poofed it away! only babe ruth trade was worse mistake..

[@colerieger7300]

He should have lost Gretzky in the WHA Dispersal Draft, but Wayne wasn't signed to the Oilers. He was signed to Pocklington. His job just happened to be hockey player for the Oilers.

[@dicksonfranssen]

I had to live there! Pocklington was a crook and really REALLY bad with money.

[@Paul-vf2wl]

No reason other than he was an unrestricted free agent and was going to take the highest offer that Edmonton had no chance of matching because Bruce Mcnall was using monopoly money?

[@arlichar11]

@@Paul-vf2wl yeah he mismanaged money, thus putting edmonton in a losing situation.. after chip 2, they should have been figuring out how keep wayne!

[@Paul-vf2wl]

@@arlichar11 There was no way to keep wayne that's what you guys can't wrap your heads around

[@genxmark]

Very wise and humble choice

[@petec9201]

It would of been an interesting timeline if the Wings had Gretzky and kept Oates and Graves though I'm glad the Wings had who they had en route to their late 90s dynasty.

[@gymguy25]

That was a good team but not a dynasty!

[@petec9201]

@@gymguy25 best team of that era along with the aves and devils

[@story1234]

He’s an actor

[@playtimewrestlingfederation]

Janet Jones, he did it for!

[@scottmallender9738]

Wow, didn’t realize Detroit was that close? The Wings went on to dominate basically for next 15 years, Whom would have been sent to the Oilers at that time? Steve was vulnerable then, Joe Murphy a involved ?

[@Robin-gy2ew]

Lol I like how, even when just telling the story, you can hear him wince at the idea of becoming a Vancouver Canuck.😄

[@PatrickMaliha]

I remember hearing about all of this through the grapevine at the time (Apparently, some people in Vancouver at the time had some very loose lips) and thought to myself, “No way. That’s impossible… “ And, then years later when Gretz confirmed EVERYTHING via an interview on TSN I was like, “God damn!!!”

[@mfornelos]

His ownership in the Vancouver Canucks would be worth $250 million right now. Not a bad investment

[@patsgarage8593]

I always thought it was his wife Janet that got him to LA. I love Gretz so much....i could listen to him talk hockey for hours

[@glenwallace6314]

100% his actress wife wanted to move to LA.

[@ektran4205]

janet was a talk show hostess

[@drdecker1]

This tells you of his real character. He would give up something he probably thought about to play with a team his favorite player played on. His dad also gave it from another perspective. So he could really look at his real options.

[@ryanc9888]

The Redwings had a decent team in 1988, led by Yzerman, who finished with 155 points. Imagine adding Gretzky into the mix on an original 6 team playing in the Norris division against the Leafs and Blackhawks 2 other original 6 teams every Saturday night on hockey night in Canada. That would’ve been amazing. Instead, he went out to LA where he was just another star and grew the game in warm climates, and now we’re stuck with teams in Arizona and Vegas Lol.

[@louislaz]

It’s likely Yzerman would have ended up being one of the trade pieces going to Edmonton. Who else would they offer?

[@tthompson719]

Stuck with Vegas….. ya mean the team that just won the cup 2 months ago and have basically sold out every game?! Yeah bad move letting them join 🙄

[@AbortedFeti]

If by "just another star" you mean the sole reason any of the sunshine belt teams exist today then sure I guess. You sound like a bitter Canadian, but as a fellow Canadian fan, the game of hockey wouldn't be half as big today were it not for the aggressive expansion in the US and Gretzky moving down south got people's attention like nothing ever had before.

[@RichV20]

People say Gretzky grew the game in the South like it's a good thing. San Jose Sharks are cool. But would anyone really miss the Ducks, Coyotes, Predators, Hurricanes if they disappeared tomorrow?

[@RichV20]

@@AbortedFeti Aggressive expansion and Bettman really hurt the NHL in the long run. They are now close to falling behind MLS in popularity, TV and/or revenue. NHL was in a stronger position when it was regionalized in the North and not diluted. NHL should've stopped at 24 teams.

[@dragonchaserkev]

I was a young guy in Edmonton when he was traded, the reason to me Always was money.

[@DannyDeraney]

I knew exactly where I was, what I was doing and how I found out, like it was yesterday. I still remember saying to myself crap they gave up Carson? 😂😂😂

[@dh12.]

Father knows best. Good call.

[@travzimmerman1340]

In Wayne's parents' house, the basement was downstairs.

[@ThomasNappo]

THE GOAT OF GOATS

[@surry99]

1) Wayne was not traded he was sold because Peter needed money. 2) Wayne's heart never left Edmonton and he should have never been sold. Who knows how many more cups the Oilers would have won.

[@Riddler95]

Exactly!

[@bowriverblog]

Wow... wish he would have played for the Wings. That would have been epic 🤘🤘

[@mikebreen4381]

Estimated value Canucks $1.01 Billion US!

[@dscott6629]

What a great story.

[@driferdark4339]

as a lifelong Flyers fan ,I am pretty shocked to hear we were one of 4 places The Great One was willing to go play for.

[@gregschulte2953]

couldn't even imagine him in Detroit. Would have been epic.

[@pootytang1120]

Very Good Story

[@brettfavreify]

I have so many followup questions, like how did Walter find out about the trade rumours and did Wayne intend to stay in Edmonton or were his contract demands more than Pocklington was willing to pay? Would've been beyond cool if he ended up in Detroit but Yzerman would've probably ended up in Edmonton.