Today marks the 30 year anniversary of the biggest trade in NHL history, "The Trade" that sent the greatest player of all time, Wayne Gretzky, from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.
Gretzky was the heart and soul of the Edmonton Oiler's, the best player in the league and the captain to one of the greatest dynasties in NHL history. Him getting traded was absolutely shocking. And on August 9, 1988 that is exactly what happened.
Edmonton traded Wayne Gretzky, Mike Krushelnyski and Marty McSorley to the Los Angeles Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, $15 million cash and three first round draft pick. The trade was bizarre for the NHL, especially the cash. Trading players for cash is not a thing in North American sports like it is in other leagues around the world.
At that point in time I was not an Oilers fan, I was only six years old and barely starting to play the game myself. Even so I could grasp how significant the trade was, the magnitude of Gretzky leaving the great white north for the sunny beaches of California.
The trade changed the landscape of hockey in North America. The move brought the games most popular player to the USA and paved the way for the growth of the game in the USA. Since then hockey has gained popularity through out the country and it's now common to see players come from all over the USA, instead of just a few select northern states. This past draft had players selected from Florida, Texas and California three states you would not associate with hockey as the main sport.
It's still crazy to look back at the trade but I would say that in the long run, it had a positive effect on the game. As an Oiler's fan the trade was the beginning of the end of the teams dominant run, we did win a cup after the trade but the team just wasn't the same without Gretzky.
"The Trade" was a pivotal moment in the NHL both good and bad. It didn't just changed the fortunes of the two teams involved but had an effect on the entire league. A piece of NHL history.