"The Trade" that shocked the world

by Brandt Corbin

 

                It was August 9, 1988; myself and my family were in Minneapolis Minnesota on a family vacation. We were all sitting around our hotel, we tuned into ESPN and breaking news came down that my idol Wayne Gretzky was traded to the LA Kings. I was stunned, crying and at a loss for words. How could Oilers move number 99, the team just won back to back Stanley Cups, four Cups in five years. When it was all said and done, Oilers owner Peter Pocklington, did not want to pay Gretzky the money he was worth.

The Trade that shocked the world

                The Oilers dealt Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski to the Kings for prospects Martin Gelinas and Jimmy Carson along with $15 million is cash and 3 (1989, 1991 & 1993) first round draft picks. Those players turned out to be Jason Miller, Martin Rucinsky and Nick Stajduhar.

                Now 23 years later, one can now say this is one of the biggest steals in sports history. At the time L.A was the second worst team in the league. In his first season with the Kings “The Great One” vaulted them into the playoffs, in fact beat his former Oilers squad in seven games in the first round. Eventually in 1992-93 the Kings made there only appearance in the Stanley Cup finals, losing to Montreal in five games.

How could Gretzky ever be traded?

                At the 1985 NHL player awards, then Kings owner Jerry Buss, offered Pocklington 15 million dollars (18.5 million canadian) plus players for #99. The Oilers of course did not make the trade, but that is where it all began. With just over one year left in Gretzky’s contract, Edmonton wanted to negotiate an extension. Wayne knew he was going to be the highest paid player in the NHL and was hesitant to sign. In the mean time, the Kings were then sold to Bruce McNall in 1987. The new owner kept approaching the Oilers about Gretzky and his availability. During the 1987 season Gretzky starting dating Hollywood actress Janet Jones. After the 1988 season Wayne got married to Jones, then Pocklington called McNall and wanted to talk trade, but insisted on cash compared to player assets. At around that time Wayne’s dad Walter Gretzky informed his son, that the Oilers were shopping him around to the Kings and three other teams including the Vancouver Canucks.

            Originally the Oilers wanted the Kings best player Luc Robatille, to be a part of the trade. The Kings refused to include him, and instead offered up Carson instead. Pocklington then informed Gretzky that he was talking with the Kings about a trade. Originally shell shocked after a couple of weeks he came around, Pocklington then gave #99 permission to speak with McNall, at that time the Kings owner informed him the assets the Kings were trading. Gretzky insisted that the Kings get more in return, therefore McSorley and Krushelnyski were included. One more astonishing think is the owners orchestrated this transaction and when Oilers general manager Glen Sather found out of the move, he was irate but by then it was all but a  done deal. Gretzky had one last chance to say no to the deal, but decided it was best to move on.

The Press Conferences

            The first press conference was in Edmonton at the Molson House. Gretzky was speechless for the three-four minutes as he good bye to the city of Edmonton and his teammates who he played with for nine seasons. "I promised Mess (Mark Messier) I wouldn’t do this”, said a teary eyed Wayne, who could not continue he was to emotional.

            Then it was the second press conference in L.A later that afternoon, and Gretzky was more upbeat when first speaking to the media there. “Tonight it’s all uphill and its very exciting to be here,” he said. “It will not only be good for Wayne Gretzky and the LA Kings but beneficial for the game of hockey.” Its fair to say he was 100% accurate in saying that.

City of Edmonton outraged

            Many season ticket holders, and citizens of Edmonton, thought that Wayne’s wife was to blame and that she was behind him being traded to Hollywood. The entire city and country were quite simply outraged at Pocklington, more so when they found out of the $15 million included. 

            Carson lasted one year in Edmonton before getting moved to Detroit for then prospects Joe Murphy, Adam Graves and Petr Klima. Gelinas was traded during the 1993 offseason to Quebec for Scott Pearson. But even further evidence that the trade was lopsided, the first rounders played 4 games with the Oilers, (Miller & Stajduhar playing a combined 6 NHL games).

            With most teams financially viable in today’s NHL, think about the package it would take to obtain the games greatest star. It would certainly be a higher cost then what the Edmonton Oilers paid almost 23 years ago.