On August 9th, 1988, Wayne Gretzky officially became a member of the Los Angeles Kings, shocking the hockey world. This week on Roll The Tape, Afi Ahmed and Kyle McLaren look back at the trade, what it meant for Gretzky’s legacy, and how it impacted the growth of the game itself.
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Show Notes
- Memories of Gretzky (1:22)
- The foundations of the trade (3:10)
- Could any trade today be as shocking as Gretzky leaving Edmonton? (6:45)
- Why did Pocklington trade Gretzky? (9:17)
- Should owners be focused on winning or profitability? (12:44)
- Impact of Gretzky trade leading to the NHL’s southern expansion (20:27)
- The growth of the game of hockey (28:45)
- How much emphasis did Gretzky’s post-playing career push him towards LA? (32:41)
- Hot Take Corner (38:00)
Notable mentions
Peter Pocklington | Wayne Gretzky | Gary Bettman | Mark Messier | Janet Gretzky
Additional readings
- Wayne Gretzky traded by Oilers to Kings 28 years ago. NHL.
- The Gretzky Trade: A day that shook Edmonton’s sporting foundation. Sportsnet.
- The Gretzky Trade: Looking Back. Sportsnet.
- Wayne Gretzky says dad convinced him to pick L.A. in 1988 trade. CBC.
- ‘The Trade’ Retrospective: What became of other players in Gretzky deal between Kings, Oilers? The Hockey News.
- SN Throwback Thursday: Wayne Gretzky trade still ‘unthinkable’ 30 years later. The Sporting News.
- Undaunted by creditors and fraud charges, Peter Pocklington launches pot company. CBC.
- Sun Belt could be a hot spot when NHL decides to expand. Chicago Tribune.
- Why the NHL Needs The Sunbelt. Slate.
- Wayne Gretzky’s impact still being felt in NHL record book, around the league. The Hockey News.
- Duhatschek: Gretzky and the deal that changed the game. The Globe and Mail.
- Gretzky: He is the greatest, and he was ours. The Globe and Mail.
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