The Gretzky Trade: 25 years later

EDMONTON – It’s without a doubt the most shocking day in Edmonton sports history: the day the Edmonton Oilers traded arguably the greatest hockey player to ever tie up a pair of skates.

On August 9, 1988, then Oilers owner Peter Pocklington sat down in front of a horde of media at the Molson Brewery in downtown Edmonton and made an announcement some thought would never happen and every Oilers fan hoped they would never witness.

“The Edmonton Oilers have agreed to trade Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles.”

The most memorable moment from the announcement came when Gretzky couldn’t hold back his emotion when it was his turn to speak.

“I’m disappointed about having to leave Edmonton, I truly admire all the fans and respect everyone over the years,” said a tearful Gretzky. “Promised Mess I wouldn’t do this.”

The deal had been in the works immediately after the Oilers won the 1988 Stanley Cup. Gretzky and Pocklington had been in negotiations but couldn’t agree on a salary.

“I really had no intentions at that point in time of leaving and stiffing the Edmonton Oilers, but I wanted to get paid fair market value, and I felt like I owed it to myself to do it, and I felt like I really owed it to my teammates,” said Gretzky, years after the trade.

Retired Oilers play-by-play man Rod Phillips believes it was a business move by Peter Pocklington.

“It was for money for Peter Pocklington and nothing else.”

Something Pocklington doesn’t deny.

“To make hockey economically possible, we needed the money, we needed to keep rebuilding to keep the dream alive,” said Pocklington, years after the deal.

It’s been 25 years since that historic day, but for those who were close to the story, it’s a day they’ll never forget.

“It was a devastating time for hockey fans here,” says Phillips. “I phoned Glen (Sather) in Banff and I said ‘What’s going on? We’re hearing rumors about Gretzky,’ and he said ‘I can’t say anything right now but I can tell you Rod, don’t go too far from your telephone.'”

“Back then they didn’t have internet and all those sort of things, so all I wanted to do was make sure I had the story in the paper the day of August 9th, and I managed to get Glen (Sather) on August 8th, and, yeah, he confirmed it,” says Hall-of-Fame writer Jim Matheson.

Phillips looks at the 25th anniversary of the Gretzky trade as one to commemorate not celebrate.

“People that are my age still think about it as one of the worst days in the history of the city and the hockey team, so there are no positives from that story.”

Immediately after the trade was announced, Oilers fans didn’t hide their anger. Anti-Pocklington memorabilia was sold and a group even started an initiative to purchase the franchise. Pledge forms were handed out, allowing anyone interested in buying the team to invest $10,000 in shares.

Alderman Lance White spearheaded the campaign. He was convinced the city was cheated by the Gretzky trade and it was time to fight back.

“Is it healthy for our city? Is it healthy for our hockey team? Is it healthy for our kids in the city to see those kind of things happen?” asked White.

White’s vision never materialized.

As much as Oilers fans hated the trade, the deal was a turning point for the NHL. Wayne Gretzky went to Los Angeles and played a crucial role in growing hockey in not only California but many markets across the United States. In fact, there is a belief the league wouldn’t have expanded to cities like Anaheim, San Jose, Phoenix, and Tampa Bay if Gretzky had stayed in Edmonton.

“Suddenly Goldie Hawn was at all the games and Tom Hanks was at games,” says Matheson. “I remember going into the dressing room after one game and Wayne pulling me aside and said ‘got somebody here who wants to meet you, wants your picture taken with him.’ It was Kevin Costner.”

Gretzky’s time in Edmonton is long gone, but his accomplishments will never be forgotten, nor will they likely ever be duplicated.

During his nine NHL seasons with the Oilers, “The Great One” led the team to four Stanley Cups, captured the Hart Trophy as the league’s Most Valuable Player eight consecutive years, and was awarded the Conn Smythe on two occassions.

Wayne Gretzky’s statistics during his time in Edmonton are mind-boggling. He recorded 1,669 points, 583 goals and 1,086 assists. He established single season NHL records with 215 points and 92 goals. He racked up over 200 points in a season four times. During a five year span from the 1981-82 season to the 1985-86 campaign ‘The Great One’ averaged 207 points.

Wayne Gretzky still holds or shares 61 NHL records: 40 for the regular season, 15 for the Stanley Cup playoff and six for the All-Star Game.

And, while 25 years have passed since the infamous trade, long-time Oilers fans will not soon forget August 9, 1988.

“You’ll never get over that one,” says Tom Cutts.  “It was the end of innocence in hockey, done, over. It’s now a business.”

“It was like disbelief,” he recalls. “Something’s going to happen… somebody’s going to jump in the minute… or Gretzky’s going to change his mind. For about a week, it didn’t sink in.”

Die-hard Oilers fan Kelly Hodgson can remember the moment he found out about the trade.

“I was in hockey camp at the time, and I came back from the morning skate and my mom had this on the TV, and she’s like ‘Gretzky just got traded.’ I was like ‘get out of here, there’s no way.’ I remember my whole family just stood still, not even sat down on the couch… we just stood … ‘Are you kidding me? Is this really happening?'”

“I really was devastated he wasn’t on our team anymore. I thought it had a negative impact on the Oilers for sure. But, thinking big, I think of what he did for LA and for what he did for the NHL and really, what he did for sport in general, because nobody was untouchable after that point.”

“It changed sports,” says Hodgson, “not just the game of hockey and not just the NHL,  but I think it changed sports as a whole.”

Global News would like to hear about your memories of the day The Great One was traded. Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.