Wayne Gretzky’s trade to the Los Angeles Kings from the Edmonton Oilers on Aug. 9, 1988 continues to create a ripple effect 25 years later.
Here’s a look at how the deal impacted the people and teams involved:
Nine things Wayne Gretzky has done since the trade
1. Traded again
In a deal that generated much less fanfare, Gretzky went to St. Louis on Feb. 27, 1996, for Craig Johnson, Patrice Tardif, Roman Volpat, the Blues’ fifth-round choice, Peter Hogarth, in 1996, and their first-round pick, Matt Zultek, in 1997. They all had undistinguished pro careers.
2. Played in the Stanley Cup final
Gretzky led the Kings to their first-ever Stanley Cup final berth in 1993 when they lost to the Montreal Canadiens. He holds the distinction of playing in a championship series against the last Canadian team to win the Cup.
3. Played in the Olympics
In 1998, Gretzky played for the first Canadian team that included NHLers. In a controversial move, Canadian coach Marc Crawford elected not to use Gretzky in the semifinal shootout, going with defenceman Ray Bourque instead. Canada ended up losing to the Czechs, then fell to Finland in the bronze-medal game in Gretzky’s last international tournament.
4. Built an Olympic team
As executive director for Canada’s 2002 Olympic team, Gretzky built a roster that would go on to capture Canada’s first gold medal in 50 years. He held the same position with Canada’s 2006 Olympic entry, but wasn’t successful as Canada was eliminated by Russia in the quarter-finals.
5. Won a Grey Cup
Gretzky owned the Toronto Argonauts from 1991 until the beginning of the 1994 season with former Kings owner Bruce McNall and late Canadian comedian John Candy. The Argos won the Grey Cup in their first season with Gretzky and his buddies at the helm.
6. Owned and managed an NHL team
Gretzky was a member of the Phoenix Coyotes ownership group from 2001 to 2005, when the team was purchased by trucking magnate Jerry Moyes, who attempted to take the club into bankruptcy in May 2009. Gretzky was a creditor in the bankruptcy proceedings and lost a reported $8 million.
7. Coached an NHL team
Gretzky coached the Phoenix Coyotes from 2005-06 to 2008-09, compiling a record of 143-161-24. His teams never made the playoffs.
8. Fostered a hockey movement in California and other sunbelt markets
Gretzky’s trade to L.A. played a large role in the NHL’s decision to expand into southern U.S. sunbelt markets. The league beefed up its presence in California by putting expansion teams in San Jose and Anaheim.
9. Became a Hall of Famer
Gretzky was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame on Nov. 22, 1999, becoming the 10th player to bypass the mandatory three-year waiting period following retirement. He was inducted into the International Ice Hockey Federation Hall of Fame in 2000.
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8. Received approval on a new arena
The Gretzky trade, which led to on-ice struggles and financial woes for the Oilers in the early 1990s, served as an early catalyst for the development of a new downtown arena. After years of heated negotiations, the city and owner Daryl Katz came to an agreement in May.
9. Launched a youth movement
More than two decades later, the Gretzky trade has helped launch an Oilers youth movement that is currently underway. The Oilers are hoping that young stars like Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Taylor Hall and Nail Yakupov can help the club regain some of the glory the team lost after the Great One left.
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Nine things that have happened to the Los Angeles Kings since the trade
1. They became cool
Gretzky’s trade to Los Angeles brought Hollywood celebrities out to Kings games like never before. Movie stars Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell, whose son Wyatt is a goaltender, were among those who became staunch Kings fans, while late U.S. president Ronald Reagan was also among the faithful. Celebrities like Tom Cruise and David Beckham are among the stars who follow the team today.
2. Made their first Stanley Cup final
With Gretzky at the helm, the Kings advanced to the Stanley Cup final for the first time ever in 1993 a year after missing the playoffs. They lost in five games to Montreal.
THE TRADE: On the 25th anniversary of Wayne Gretzky’s trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the L.A. Kings, our special section takes a comprehensive look at the trade that changed a league and shook the world. Watch and read new features every day this week.
3. Won a Stanley Cup
The Kings won their first and only Stanley Cup in 2011-12 after they squeaked into the eighth and final playoff spot in the Western Conference and beat the New Jersey Devils in six games in the final. Before then, the Kings failed to make the playoffs in six of the previous eight seasons.
4. Hired and fired eight coaches.
Robbie Ftorek lasted only one full season with the Kings while Gretzky was there. Since then, the Kings have hired and fired eight coaches (not including former general manager Rogie Vachon’s brief stint behind the bench in 1994-95).
5. Moved into a new downtown arena
Gretzky’s trade made the Kings more financially viable in the long run and helped them move into the Staples Center from the Forum in Inglewood, Calif.
6. Increased hockey’s popularity in the Western U.S.
Gretzky’s trade to L.A. fostered NHL dreams among kids living in the western U.S. In addition to California, interest in youth hockey has risen, along with the construction of ice rinks, in Washington, Oregon and Colorado.
7. Became part of a multibillion-dollar sports empire
While the Kings had financial issues during Bruce McNall’s ownership era, they have virtually no concerns now. The Kings are owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group, a privately owned organization that has an estimated value of $8 billion to $10 billion.
8. Have gained star power
The Kings have become a team laden with young stars like Drew Doughty, Jonathan Quick and Dustin Brown. In the years before Gretzky’s arrival, many Kings — other than the famed Triple Crown line of Marcel Dionne, Charlie Simmer and Dave Taylor — fit the classic journeyman profile.
9. Helped spawn a new era in Toronto
Tim Leiweke’s success with the Los Angeles Kings helped him get the job as president and CEO of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the Toronto Maple Leafs. Leiweke oversaw the Kings in his role as president and CEO of Anschutz Entertainment Group and represented the team on the NHL board of governors.
