How Gretzky was almost traded by the Oilers to the Red Wings instead of the Kings

2 years ago  /  Sportsnet

When Wayne Gretzky was traded to the by the in 1988, it was the end of an era and the dawning of a new age in the NHL, all at once. The Oilers, to that point a dynasty in the making, began a slow descent from which they arguably have never completely recovered. However, once Gretzky and owner Peter Pocklington connected about the previously unthinkable reality of a trade, Gretzky was able to "control" the teams he might go to. Once New York and Philly "kind of went away," according to Gretzky, it was between the Wings and Kings. Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski were traded to the Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, $15 million in cash and three first-round picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993....

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