It's among the most vivid scenes in hockey history and it didn't even happen on the ice.
Wayne Gretzky dabbing at his tears with a tissue, slumped over a mass of microphones at Molson House, the historic brewery site in Edmonton. Moments earlier, Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington announced that the greatest player in hockey history was being traded to the Los Angeles Kings.
The Oilers handed Gretzky a prepared statement to read, but "The Great One" tossed it and instead spoke from his heart. The world was shocked, but the move had been years in the making.
Longtime Kings owner Jerry Buss repeatedly floated the idea of trading for Gretzky. But when 36-year-old businessman Bruce McNall purchased a 25 percent stake in the team in 1986, the Gretzky talk increased.
"When I bought the team, [Buss] told me, 'I've been trying to talk to Peter Pocklington about Gretzky.' We all kind of laughed. But the fact that he brought up the subject gave me a sense that I could actually make that call," McNall told NHL.com. "[Pocklington] would blow me off and say, 'Yeah, right.' I kept pushing it."
McNall acquired Buss' remaining shares in the Kings by the summer of 1988. But there was no indication the Gretzky trade talk would go from punch line to headline. After all, Gretzky had just earned his second Conn Smythe Trophy after leading the Oilers to a dominating 16-2 playoff record as they won the Stanley Cup for the fourth time in five seasons.
By the time the NHL Awards were held in Toronto, McNall had been pestering Pocklington for weeks about Gretzky. Mario Lemieux of the Pittsburgh Penguins won the Hart Memorial Trophy as League MVP and the Art Ross Trophy as the NHL's leading scorer, the first time in seven years Gretzky didn't take home both awards. But the night's enduring legacy may be McNall's latest offer.
"Bruce McNall leaned over and said, 'I'll give you $15 million, plus some players.' At that time, $15 million was $18.5 million Canadian," Pocklington told NHL.com. "I said, 'Let me think about it,' and called him a week later and said, 'I could live with that.'"
Gretzky had just married actress Janet Jones and was spending part of the summer living in the Hollywood home of actor Alan Thicke. Knowing that Gretzky was living in Los Angeles and certain he wouldn't re-sign with the Oilers when his contract expired, Pocklington accepted McNall's offer. There was just the matter of deciding which players would be involved.
"It was totally different. It was not like a regular deal," said Rogie Vachon, the former Kings goaltender who was serving as the team's general manager. "There was so much money involved. Obviously the two owners had to talk all the time. The GMs took a back seat a little bit."
For Oilers GM Glen Sather, taking a back seat was a voluntary move. From the moment he heard Gretzky was being traded, he refused to participate in negotiations. With Gretzky taking a proactive role, it was a unique situation in which owners and the game's greatest player dictated the terms.
Pocklington briefly explored other options, but despite rumors of teams inquiring about Gretzky, there was only one other team he contacted.
"I tried to reach [Detroit Red Wings owner] Mike Ilitch, because I knew Wayne would have loved to go to Detroit," Pocklington said. "But it was basically done so quickly, and that was it. There was never a bidding war. There probably should have been, looking back."
With a dollar figure agreed on, Gretzky demanded that defenseman Marty McSorley come with him to L.A. The Oilers, in turn, wanted one of the greatest players in Kings history.
"Wayne said to me, 'Make sure you get McSorley.' I worked that out pretty quickly, although Sather was not happy about the idea," McNall said. "Then they wanted [Luc] Robitaille and I said no."
The deal was announced Aug. 9, 1988, 12 weeks after the Oilers closed out a four-game sweep of the Boston Bruins in the Cup Final. Gretzky, McSorley and center Mike Krushelnyski went to the Kings in exchange for center Jimmy Carson, wing Martin Gelinas, first-round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993, and $15 million.
Moments before the Edmonton press conference, Pocklington and Sather pulled Gretzky aside and offered to call off the trade. Gretzky refused.
"My mistake was not going over to him and putting my arm around him and saying 'Wayne, it's OK, pal. If you want to call it off, let's do it,'" Pocklington said. "That's what I should have done."
Following the emotional press conference, Gretzky boarded a private flight back to Los Angeles. Later that day, he met the L.A. media at a hotel near the airport. For those in attendance, it was the first real indicator that hockey would never be the same.
"There were about 12 television stations there and I don't know how many photographers. It was obviously the biggest press conference the Kings ever had," longtime Kings broadcaster Bob Miller told NHL.com. "The sound of the cameras going off, my wife said it sounded like machine gun fire."
"Bruce McNall leaned over and said, 'I'll give you $15 million, plus some players.' At that time, $15 million was $18.5 million Canadian. I said, 'Let me think about it,' and called him a week later and said, 'I could live with that.'"
--Oilers owner Peter Pocklington on the trade of Gretzky to the Kings
Overnight, the Kings' ticket office was forced to hire people to accommodate all the requests. The team went from averaging 11,667 fans per game the season before to selling out every game in 1991-92, becoming the first Los Angeles-based team to sell out every home game.
President Reagan and his wife, Nancy, purchased ice-level seats, as did a number of famous actors. When Michael Ovitz, the founder of Creative Artists Agency and arguably the most powerful man in Hollywood, requested four ice-level seats, the team had to be inventive.
"He said, 'You've got to get them, I'll do anything.' We found some folks who owned the seats. I said, 'We'll give you four second-row seats for free for life if I can get these seats back,'" McNall said. "They agreed to it and I billed Mike Ovitz for the seats he was buying plus all their seats for life. I never before had invoiced someone for that kind of money and got such a big thank you."
California was reveling in Gretzky-mania, but Canada was mourning the loss of an icon.
Pocklington immediately became the sworn enemy of Edmontonians everywhere and some Canadian members of Parliament proposed legislation that would stop the trade. With the Oilers in damage control, the team's phone lines were jammed with angry fans, a number of whom threatened to cancel their season tickets.
"[Fans] were pretty [upset], believe me. It was no fun. A lot of death threats. It bothered my family more than me," said Pocklington, who sold the team in 1998 after taking on millions of dollars in debt. "At that time, we were a small Canadian city. We didn't have the revenues from television. The only revenues we got were at the gate. A small Canadian city can't charge people $300 a seat."
Edmonton would come to terms with the trade and the Oilers won the Stanley Cup in 1990. And with Gretzky turning hockey into a favorite sport among warm-weather fans, the game would never be the same.
"It opened up a whole new door for him [Gretzky] and his wife. It did great things for everybody," Pocklington said. "It did great things for the Gretzkys, it did great things for the NHL."
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FAQs
On August 9, 1988, the unthinkable happened. The Oilers traded Gretzky to the LA Kings. The trade was Gretzky, Marty McSorely (D) and Mike Krushelnyski (C/LW), for Jimmy Carson (C), Martin Gelinas (LW), the Kings first-round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993, along with $15 million in cash.
Why did Wayne Gretzky get traded to LA? ›
Shortly after winning the 1988 Stanley Cup, Gretzky was told by his father that the Oilers were looking to trade him. Pocklington's business ventures weren't doing well and he was in dire need of some cash. As a result, he was shopping Gretzky around with the demand of getting $15 million back in return.
Why did Peter Pocklington trade Wayne Gretzky? ›
“With Wayne's contract looming in another year, Edmonton could not compete, I could not compete with a five-or seven-million-dollar a year offer,” says Pocklington. “That was more than our total payroll.” So he decided to move “the asset” while he could get something in return.
How much did Gretzky make in LA? ›
Gretzky had just signed a nine-year, $30 million extension with the Los Angeles Kings, but found himself defending how much money was making. In his first full season with the Kings, Gretzky scored 54 goals and tallied 168 points.
What year was Wayne Gretzky traded to LA? ›
When Wayne Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings by the Edmonton Oilers in 1988, it was the end of an era and the dawning of a new age in the NHL, all at once.
Did Wayne Gretzky sell his home in California? ›
Wayne Gretzky has sold his Thousand Oaks, California mansion. According to TMZ Sports, the Gretzkys sold the house to Eric and Joanna Miller (the daughter of former Los Angeles Clippers governor Donald Sterling) for $17.6 million.
Did Gretzky want to be traded? ›
Oilers announce Wayne Gretzky Trade to Los Angeles
"His response was, 'I want to be traded. I wish to go through with it. I have an opportunity to do some new things for me, and it will be good for hockey in the U.S.'"
Did Gretzky own LA Kings? ›
Los Angeles Kings (1988-1996)
At first Gretzky did not want anything to do with being traded, but after conversations with those closest to him and Kings owner Bruce McNall he agreed to be traded.
Who crushed Gretzky? ›
That would be the extent of his NHL playing experience as he played out the rest of his career in the CHL, IHL, and AHL. He retired following the 1987–88 IHL season. Bill McCreary is most remembered for his open ice hit on Wayne Gretzky on January 3, 1981.
What is the biggest trade in NHL history? ›
Yet with one year left on Gretzky's deal, cash-strapped Oilers owner Peter Pocklington decided to trade the man widely regarded as the greatest to ever play the game.
...
The 5 biggest trades in NHL history.
| DATE | COLORADO RECEIVED | MONTREAL RECEIVED |
|---|
| December 6, 1995 | Patrick Roy Mike Keane | Andrei Kovalenko Martin Rucinsky Jocelyn Thibault |
28 Mar 2013
Wayne Gretzky remembers his idol, the late Gordie Howe. Wayne Gretzky played 20 years of professional hockey in the National Hockey League, becoming the leading scorer in NHL history. My first great Christmas present was a Gordie Howe jersey. I've always said it, and I will say is again.
Who was the first NHL player to make $1000000 a year? ›
1971: Bobby Orr becomes the NHL's first million-dollar man when he signs a new contract with the Boston Bruins. Orr, coming off a record-setting 139-point season in 1970-71, is already the NHL's highest-paid player.
Who is the richest hockey franchise? ›
The Toronto Maple Leafs are on top of the hockey world ... when it comes to how valuable their franchise is, according to Sportico. Sportico released its 2022 valuations for each NHL franchise, and the Maple Leafs have the highest value at $2.12 billion, $110 million more than the second-place New York Rangers.
What was Gretzkys highest salary? ›
Since Gary Bettman took over as comissioner, NHL salaries have skyrocketed and, even with the introduction of a salary cap, it also continues to rise. Before Bettman was introduced as the comissioner, the highest paid player during the 1990-91 season was Wayne Gretzky, at $3 million a year.
Did Gretzky win a cup in LA? ›
After winning four Cups with the Edmonton Oilers the sport's greatest scorer was traded in 1988 to the Kings. Gretzky never won a championship in L.A., losing in the 1993 finals to the Montreal Canadiens. But he did save the franchise by doubling season ticket sales at the L.A. Forum.
What is the Gretzky trade tree? ›
It lasted 34 years! Gretzky was dealt from the Oilers to the Kings alongside Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first-round draft picks (1988, 1991, 1993), and $15 million. It remains the most shocking trade in hockey history.
What restaurant does Gretzky own? ›
Playing host to Wayne's personal collection of memorabilia, Wayne Gretzky's Toronto is an upscale dining room that has a unique décor.
Where does Paulina Gretzky live now? ›
The 2020 Masters champion, 38, has a luxurious new Florida mansion to enjoy his downtime. Along with Paulina and two sons Tatum and River, Johnson packed up and moved from their previous Sunshine State bolthole to a plush new pad last November.
Who bought Wayne Gretzky house? ›
Hockey legend Wayne Gretzky and his wife Janet are out of Thousand Oaks for the second time. The Gretzkys sold their 6.7-acre hilltop estate in the Ventura County city for $17.6 million to the daughter of former Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling, according to Dirt.
Who sold Gretzky? ›
Original trade
On Aug. 9, 1988, the Oilers, just two months removed from lifting the Stanley Cup, sent Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski to the Kings in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, Los Angeles' first-round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993, as well as $15 million in cash.
The all-time leader in National Hockey League assists just made another — but this time, it was a monetary assist to push Edmonton to the forefront of neuroscience.
Does Gretzky shoot left? ›
2: Wayne Gretzky. "The Great One" is actually right handed, but since he accomplished his NHL records using a lefty stick he makes the list.
How many Stanley Cups does Gretzky own? ›
As centre and team captain, Gretzky led the Oilers to four Stanley Cup victories (in the 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, and 1987–88 seasons).
What team did Gretzky own? ›
Gretzky became executive director for the Canadian national men's hockey team during the 2002 Winter Olympics, in which the team won a gold medal. In 2000, he became part-owner of the Phoenix Coyotes, and following the 2004–05 NHL lock-out, he became the team's head coach.
Why is Wayne Gretzky restaurant closing? ›
Wayne Gretzky's Toronto announced its closing its doors after opening nearly three decades ago. The restaurant is hanging up its skates to make room for a new condo tower. Marivel Taruc spoke with the general manager who's been part of Greztky's for more than a decade.
Why was Gretzky traded to St Louis? ›
They were going to have to rebuild, but Gretzky wanted out. He wanted a chance to win that elusive fifth Cup, and wanted to be moved to a contender. When he was ultimately dealt to St. Louis, this was a move that was supposed to make the Blues contenders in the West alongside Colorado and Detroit.
Did LA win a Cup with Gretzky? ›
Gretzky never won a championship in L.A., losing in the 1993 finals to the Montreal Canadiens. But he did save the franchise by doubling season ticket sales at the L.A. Forum.
Why did Gretzky leave St Louis? ›
In the second round of the playoffs against the Red Wings, the Blues fell behind and Gretzky didn't' look like his former self. So as what some saw as a motivational tool, Keenan pulled the contract offer to Gretzky off the table. After the season, Gretzky went on to sign with the New York Rangers.
Did LA win a Stanley Cup with Gretzky? ›
Gretzky's trade to the Los Angeles Kings on August 9, 1988, had an immediate impact on the team's performance, ultimately leading them to the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals, and he is credited with popularizing hockey in California.
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Wayne Gretzky.
For his own part, Gretzky maintains that he had nothing to do with the trade. Despite the fact that he had just married Janet Jones, then a rising Hollywood actress just a month prior to the trade to Los Angeles, Gretzky claimed to have not wanted to leave Edmonton.
It was on this day in NHL history when Wayne Gretzky scored five goals against the Philadelphia Flyers to set an NHL record that will never be touched. 50 goals in 39 games. Unbelievable.
Has any NHL player won 3 cups in a row? ›
“Once you have that Stanley Cup, there's no other feeling like it and you just want more of it,” Maroon said before the series. Maroon now joins Ed Litzenberger (Chicago, Toronto – 1961-63) and Eddie Gerard (Ottawa, Toronto – 1920-22) as the only players to win three Cups in a row with two different teams.
What is the Wayne Gretzky trade tree? ›
It lasted 34 years! Gretzky was dealt from the Oilers to the Kings alongside Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first-round draft picks (1988, 1991, 1993), and $15 million. It remains the most shocking trade in hockey history.
Did Wayne Gretzky sell his California home? ›
Wayne Gretzky has sold his Thousand Oaks, California mansion. According to TMZ Sports, the Gretzkys sold the house to Eric and Joanna Miller (the daughter of former Los Angeles Clippers governor Donald Sterling) for $17.6 million.
What side did Gretzky tuck his jersey? ›
The Great One, Wayne Gretzky, started tucking his jersey in on the right side when he was just six years old. The prodigy was playing up, as he did throughout his amateur career, on a team of 10-year olds, in his hometown of Brantford, Ontario.
What is the longest an NHL team has gone without winning the Stanley Cup? ›
The Toronto Maple Leafs have the longest active playoff series win drought at 17 seasons. The Florida Panthers had the longest playoff series win drought in league history at 24 seasons. The Buffalo Sabres have the longest active drought for missing the playoffs at 11 consecutive seasons. It is also a league record.
What team does Gretzky own? ›
League's 15th team will start play in the fall of 2022
Gretzky is joining another prominent Canadian athlete, two-time NBA MVP and Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash, as part owners of a National Lacrosse League expansion franchise in Las Vegas.
Did Gretzky ever win an Olympic gold? ›
Playing for Team Canada in 1998 at the Nagano Olympics (the first time NHL players were permitted to be a part of the Olympic Team), Wayne was also the executive director for the gold medal winning Canadian national men's hockey team for the 2002 Winter Olympics.
The Oilers handed Gretzky a prepared statement to read, but "The Great One" tossed it and instead spoke from his heart. The world was shocked, but the move had been years in the making.