Edmonton Oilers: “The Trade” Heard Around the World
By Sammi Silber
August 9, 1988. It is a day that lives in infamy, and hockey fans far and wide will never forget where they were or what they were doing that day. Why? This day, 27 years ago, was the day that the greatest player to ever play the game, Wayne Gretzky, was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.
It was a message heard around the world, and not just the hockey world, but the entire world of sports. The game of hockey would change forever. Gretzky, a hero who brought four of five Stanley Cups to Edmonton, was now gone. He would head to the Kings, who played in the States. Fans were heartbroken. People cried. We all demanded down with Peter Pocklington. Even Canadian Parliament member Nelson Riis tried to get the government to step in and stop the trade. They said no, and Gretzky went on.
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It was a message heard around the world, and not just the hockey world, but the entire world of sports. The game of hockey would change forever.
Why was Gretzky traded? Who in their right mind would trade away the Great One, especially when you have any records and Stanley Cup opportunities right at your fingertips?
It was Pocklington, according to Gretzky’s wife, Janet. Supposedly, Pocklington hated Gretzky and thought lowly of the superstar, stating that he had an “ego the size of Manhattan” amongst other things. When the Los Angeles Kings came knocking, Pocklington gave him away basically, telling the Kings if they really wanted him they could take him. The trade also included $15 million in cash for the Edmonton Oilers star player.
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Pocklington even went on to claim that Gretzky’s tears at the press conference were fake, and that he was just trying to look for sympathy. However, we all saw him and heard his cries. This was not something that he wanted, and a hero was taken from his city. Forever gone, and the impact this had will never be forgotten, both positive and negative.
This impacted the sports world, because it showed that anything could happen and that star players could be traded from teams. It was also seen that Pocklington had other intentions, ruining his reputation. After Gretzky’s trade, the team won another cup in 1990, but fell again in 1991, after a mass exodus also sent away their other star players, such as Glenn Anderson and Paul Coffey. The Oilers would never be the same again.
The Trade was also positive, though, believe it or not. It brought NHL hockey to California and the United States. The USA now had the greatest player in the NHL playing for one of their teams. Fans started to get more interested and see more of Gretzky on the ice. Thanks to this trade, and due to the popularity of the Kings, the Anaheim Ducks and the San Jose Sharks came to the league, as well as other teams located in the States.
Sure, the Trade was something that changed the Oilers, as well as the country, forever. However, its impact brought us more hockey. It brought the city of Edmonton closer, and it also showed even more appreciation for the superstar, since Gretzky was able to show his disappointment and grow from the trade. He was incredibly classy, as well as talented. Today, we will remember the Great One, and how great of a player he was. The all-time legend will never be forgotten here.
With 894 career goals and 1963 career assists, I don’t think his record will be touched, and if it is, then not for a long time. #99’s impact on hockey was so huge. Every goal he scored was heard around the world. His jersey was seen everywhere, and as the only player to have his number retired by the entire league, he is completely deserving of it.
He loved the game and loved the fans. He was there to play hockey and to play for the people. He was there for the fans, which is hard to find nowadays. The NHL will never be the same, so we must remember, just to tell the Great One that this is the most hated day in our history.
Thank you, Wayne, for all of your hard years of work here for not just the Edmonton Oilers, but the entire city of Edmonton.
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