Wayne Gretzky Told Us The Real Reason He Was Traded To LA

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  • Опубликовано: 21 сен 2024
  • Wayne Gretzky joined Spittin' Chiclets and broke down the real reason behind his trade from Edmonton to LA.
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Комментарии • 670

  • @Kodlak15
    @Kodlak15 2 месяца назад +92

    I met Walter Gretzky (Wayne’s dad) at a hockey tournament I was playing at as a young kid. I was writing a biography about Wayne for a school project at the time, and he took the time to write down Wayne’s whole story from his perspective to help me with my project, all while sharing his fries and soda with me. It was a very memorable experience, and he seemed like a very kind and humble man. He definitely deserves credit for helping Wayne become what he was as a hockey player and what he still is today as a man. It’s awesome hearing Wayne talk about his dad.

    • @snydmark
      @snydmark 2 месяца назад +3

      That a great story!

    • @heaveymelt
      @heaveymelt 2 месяца назад +1

      Yes his father would go threw Brantford hospital all the time for the kids mostly a great man

    • @PainBreadzky
      @PainBreadzky 2 месяца назад

      @@heaveymeltmostly? Spill the tea

    • @stiggsmasta
      @stiggsmasta 2 месяца назад +1

      i have met him on a few occasions. lived near brantford. seemed like a genuinely good man.was a sad day setting up at the cemetery. the town all came out for the drive there. was a nice gesture.

    • @heaveymelt
      @heaveymelt 2 месяца назад +1

      I meant it as mostly for kids nothing bad

  • @remmost9688
    @remmost9688 Год назад +25

    Born and raised in Edmonton…. Still remember the day when I ran upstairs (8 yr old kid) to tell my mom to put on the news that Gretzky was being traded …… totally CRUSHED

    • @jasonarellano9470
      @jasonarellano9470 2 месяца назад +2

      As a 11 year old Kings fan in 1988, I was on the other side, I’ll never forget when he was traded to the Kings, after years of killing us.

    • @JdsjsKdmem
      @JdsjsKdmem Месяц назад

      I cry when Gilmore wss ytqfed

  • @thomaslabelle3093
    @thomaslabelle3093 Год назад +484

    Image being Vancouver when you offer 25% ownership and he doesn't even call you back or consider the team as an option 😂

    • @coryjohn4057
      @coryjohn4057 Год назад +38

      The deal was done. Until ownership demanded he sign it that night.

    • @gucci1131
      @gucci1131 Год назад +21

      Didn't the Oilers owner need cash at the time? Wouldn't have mattered even if Wayne agreed to it

    • @thegoldrobber
      @thegoldrobber Год назад

      @@gucci1131 See my comment above. And you are correct.

    • @coryjohn4057
      @coryjohn4057 Год назад +8

      @@gucci1131 this was after L A and when he went to St Louis

    • @jaythompson5102
      @jaythompson5102 Год назад +20

      @@coryjohn4057 that's right and when Wayne heard that he was like 'fuck these guys'. I am a lifelong Canuck fans but it was a smart move for Wayne.

  • @RC-fh2lk
    @RC-fh2lk Год назад +89

    I could listen to Wayne tell hockey stories all day!!

    • @KkevrockK
      @KkevrockK Год назад +3

      No you couldn’t because he couldn’t stay sober that long 😂

    • @paulyarek
      @paulyarek Год назад

      @@KkevrockK You know that for sure?

  • @notrussianbot7318
    @notrussianbot7318 Год назад +33

    Edmonton Oiler fan, I was lucky enough to see 99 play a few times. I watched the trade press conference live. The whole city went into shock. We loved Wayne, but we loathed Peter Pocklington. Edmonton will never forget the great one. Thank you for all you did for us Wayne, we would not be the same city without you.

    • @GVH1305
      @GVH1305 3 месяца назад +2

      Wayne because Janet wanted the LA spotlight.

    • @DoYouThinkForUrselF
      @DoYouThinkForUrselF 3 месяца назад +1

      Peter was not a billionaire. Hindsight i think people are thankful for Peter, without him Edmonton Oilers may not have been here. League was changing, cost rising.

    • @MGAF688
      @MGAF688 2 месяца назад +2

      Pocklington kept trying to move Edmonton out of Edmonton.

    • @notrussianbot7318
      @notrussianbot7318 2 месяца назад +1

      @@MGAF688 I loved the Palm Springs bankruptcy saga, it was a little late, but better than never. Eva was always nice and polite, even the kid Zack was nice. But Peter Puck would sell his mother.

    • @Sam-z1t6p
      @Sam-z1t6p 2 месяца назад

      88 wow it was so difficult watching the greatest player in his prime being traded away very shocking the unthinkable very difficult time for Wayne and Canada 1988

  • @bradr539
    @bradr539 Год назад +212

    Being a Detroit guy I would have loved having Wayne as a Redwing but him going to LA was probably the best thing ever for hockey.

    • @ac4524
      @ac4524 Год назад +12

      You’re a true hockey fan

    • @lolyungmulaBABY
      @lolyungmulaBABY Год назад +8

      Why was it the best thing ever for hockey? How did the NHL change from this trade?

    • @freedomliberty83
      @freedomliberty83 Год назад +47

      ​@lolyungmulaBABY Are you kidding. The reason there are teams in San Jose, Anaheim etc. is because of Gretzky. So many young kids are playing hockey in California now, and that's because of what Gretzky in the 90's. He grew the sport.

    • @lolyungmulaBABY
      @lolyungmulaBABY Год назад +1

      @@freedomliberty83 Thanks. Was he still in his prime or was this an MJ Wizards arc?

    • @AlbertLivingstone
      @AlbertLivingstone Год назад +11

      The Wings would have won in 93. They had Paul Coffey, Steve Yzerman, Sergei Fedorov and Nicklas Lidstrom. Gretzky puts them over the edge

  • @scandinavianflickgd7331
    @scandinavianflickgd7331 Год назад +103

    Wayne coming to LA was the best thing to happen not just from a Kings fan standpoint, but for hockey in general. It got major eyes on the sport and for young kids like me who didnt know about hockey. Wayne became the Gordie Howe in LA and we can never thank him enough what hes done for the sport.

    • @terrencemacdougall7915
      @terrencemacdougall7915 Год назад

      Wayne was a circus act who sold tickets. Thats why he went to LA.

    • @ahill4642
      @ahill4642 Год назад +1

      Nice to hear that. ☺️

    • @tommycodfish
      @tommycodfish Год назад

      And he never won the Stanley Cup ever since he left Edmonton. It is all about the money and it will always be. Too proud to go to Toronto and he fuck the Leafs over in 93 when he cut Doug Gilmour open and he should have been a penalty. Goes to finals and could not do it against the habs 😂😂😂😂Gordie Howe is way better anyways and he would kick Wayne's ass if they ever played against each other. Born in Ontario but who gives a fuck about Toronto 😂😂😂😂

    • @koshka02
      @koshka02 10 месяцев назад +2

      Yea, I agree. I've heard that the other California and Southern US teams wouldn't have existed if Gretzky didn't play in LA. He had that strong an influence on the sport of hockey and the NHL.

    • @tommycodfish
      @tommycodfish 10 месяцев назад +1

      @@koshka02 Really I think Janet had a lot to do with that decision with her acting career and as for the growth of hockey Marcel Dion did a tremendous job of growing the game in L.A before Wayne landed there. Wayne was no different than Sydney Crosby taking over from Mario. Wayne sold tickets.

  • @ac4524
    @ac4524 Год назад +48

    More hockey legends need to be in the media like this. It’s good for the sport of hockey and it shows the rest of the sports world that some hockey players have a personality

    • @wavelength3278
      @wavelength3278 Год назад +1

      Gretzky has a personality?? 😂😂😂😂

    • @chizorama
      @chizorama 2 месяца назад +2

      Plenty of hockey players had big personalities until they started "media training" the kids. Gretzky wasn't only a great player, but a great ambassador for the game.

  • @craigschulz1852
    @craigschulz1852 Год назад +29

    I worked for Puck when he owned Palm Dairies in Edmonton. Gretzky was traded because Peter needed money. The Alberta Government was calling in his loan. McNall was the only guy who was able to come up with the required cash. Puck never cared about the players. Saw them as cattle

    • @garystosky-tb1uk
      @garystosky-tb1uk 2 месяца назад +2

      That’s exactly how I remember it too. There was even a book about it that I had read way back then. Can’t recall the title off hand but it had to do with Alberta Treasury Branches.

    • @alihusainmd
      @alihusainmd 2 месяца назад

      Funny thing was McNall was a fraud too. It’s crazy how shady those times were

    • @ArcGlowingVision
      @ArcGlowingVision 2 месяца назад +1

      Peter had a meat plant called Gainers. people worked their for 30 years and I remember they all ended up on the picket line only to never get their jobs back. The place closed because Peter failed to pay his loans.

    • @craigschulz1852
      @craigschulz1852 2 месяца назад

      ​@@ArcGlowingVisionhe tried the same crap with Palm Dairies. He locked the gates therefore locking the employees out. Within 2 hrs the Alberta Government arrived at the plant with police & Puck was forced to keep the plant open. Because milk is considered a essential food product.

    • @Auqua1973
      @Auqua1973 2 месяца назад

      Just like Gainers, Pocklington lost it all for his greed.

  • @jimgray3346
    @jimgray3346 Год назад +68

    It must have been such a great honour to sit in that room and listen to a legend talk for an hour. I wonder if RA even gave them all autographs after.

    • @jomiannojn4426
      @jomiannojn4426 Год назад

      😂

    • @user-yg1dg6xm2g
      @user-yg1dg6xm2g Год назад

      Why don't you ask them - if next time Wayne comes around for an interview - if you can kiss his feet?

  • @tradingnasdaq
    @tradingnasdaq Год назад +17

    love that story.. Shows how smart Walter really was..

  • @ckendall67
    @ckendall67 Год назад +15

    This was also the 1st year that teams began the tradition of team pic at centre ice with the Stanley Cup. I believe Gretzky once stated that he sorta sensed that this might be the last big run with the Oilers as they were at the time so he gathered everyone at centre ice for a big team picture with the Cup. And that's how that tradition began. Of course, it has since come out that his father told him inside the team dressing room that they were going to trade Gretzky to the 'highest bidder'. Meanwhile, the LA Kings that offseason had promised big changes at the same time as well, they 're-branded' with the new 'Silver N' Black' sweaters that offseason as well. I guess initially nobody really put the two situations together - the Kings making bold statements about 'big changes' to their team, while at the same team behind the scenes the Oilers were dangling Wayne Gretzky to all comers. Well....the rest is history as they say.

  • @djdiggerjonez4063
    @djdiggerjonez4063 Год назад +36

    Imagine Gretsky joins Vancouver, owns half the team and then wins a cup with Linden and Bure. That's the Universe I want to live in.

    • @broadstreet21
      @broadstreet21 5 месяцев назад

      It almost happened. More likely had he come in 97 in free agency.

    • @markhenry6486
      @markhenry6486 4 месяца назад

      Dreams dreams unfulfilled dreams

  • @kimmolaine8069
    @kimmolaine8069 2 месяца назад +17

    Gretzky and Kurri in LA was the start of my Kings fandom as a little kid. I've sticked around since. :)

  • @bluebear1985
    @bluebear1985 Год назад +12

    That would have been a reunion of sorts between Gretzky and Nelson Skelbania had he gone to Vancouver. I say that because Skelbania was the owner at the time Gretzky signed his first pro contract with the WHA's Indianapolis Racers. However, his time was limited there before being sent to Edmonton.

  • @thegoldrobber
    @thegoldrobber Год назад +25

    But WHY was he traded???? Pocklington was in deep financial trouble with his outside businesses so he SOLD Gretzky for picks, players AND $15 million cash US which is the equivalent to $40 million US today.

    • @philwillett9102
      @philwillett9102 Год назад +5

      Simply put, Pocklington traded him because Gretzky refused to sign a long-term contract with a full year still left on the initial one. Basically Peter Puck said, sign-it or else....

    • @thegoldrobber
      @thegoldrobber Год назад

      @@philwillett9102 That was an excuse to cover up the real reason, as I stated above. Things arent always as they seem.

    • @philwillett9102
      @philwillett9102 Год назад +3

      Pocklington needed money and wasn't guaranteed that Gretz would stay, thus forcing Peter Puck to risk getting absolutely nothing for him if he didn't trade him. He's a business man, he knew that trading him was far LESS lucrative than getting him signed long-term...his hand was forced

    • @bmoshareholderappleshareho855
      @bmoshareholderappleshareho855 Год назад +2

      He was not traded. He sold, as there was money involved. A fair trade would have been Gretzky to L.A. and four of the best King players go to Edmonton. Now, that is a fair trade. Don't forget, Edmonton is a small town compared to Los Angeles. L.A. is the second-largest U.S. city. There is no way Edmonton could have afforded to pay all those big stars on the team. Paul Coffey was traded. Why was he traded? Probably because they could not afford to pay what he was worth.

    • @philwillett9102
      @philwillett9102 Год назад

      Bullocks. The Oilers traded Gretzky, forward Mike Krusheinyski and defenseman-winger Marty McSorley to the Kings for center Jimmy Carson, left wing Martin Gelinas, first-round draft choices in 1989, '91 and '93, plus cash in excess of $10 million.
      Do your homework man@@bmoshareholderappleshareho855

  • @dickdavidson3616
    @dickdavidson3616 Год назад +7

    Enlightening to hear in first person. Amazing how much his Dad has influenced his career! ❤ There is a Great one in every Generation.

  • @soysauce76
    @soysauce76 Год назад +53

    As a Kings fan, thank you Mr Walter Gretzky!

    • @jimgray3346
      @jimgray3346 Год назад +8

      All those cups...oh wait

    • @geoff3103
      @geoff3103 Год назад

      @@jimgray3346 doesn't matter, ya bumpkin

    • @owenposer6720
      @owenposer6720 Год назад

      @@geoff3103kinda does

    • @kingsfan2512
      @kingsfan2512 Год назад +6

      @@jimgray3346 He changed hockey forever in LA and around the world, didn't need to win a cup in LA.

    • @concars1234
      @concars1234 Год назад +4

      @@jimgray3346 Habs had something to say about that

  • @ronbonora7872
    @ronbonora7872 Год назад +6

    Mr. Walter Gretzky was a very smart man! He also knew a little bit about hockey too! LOL

  • @cujo505
    @cujo505 Год назад +18

    I finally heard it from the man. Great story Gretz. Tell Janet I said sorry after almost 35 years

    • @Paul-vf2wl
      @Paul-vf2wl Год назад +1

      She's too busy booking NFL bets with Trottier

    • @GVH1305
      @GVH1305 3 месяца назад

      @@Paul-vf2wlToccett

    • @Paul-vf2wl
      @Paul-vf2wl 2 месяца назад

      @@GVH1305You are correct it was Toccett sorry Brian.

  • @emstorm1725
    @emstorm1725 Год назад +9

    Wow. Thank you for this. I was 12 when the trade happened and had grown up in Edmonton. It's likely hard for people to understand this, but it was truly the worst things that had ever happened in our community (thankfully there were no natural disasters back then). Looking back now I'm grateful Wayne and the others were there and recognize the landscape of hockey changed after this trade, but I would still take 99 being an Oiler for life. : )

    • @bswhytock
      @bswhytock Год назад +7

      No natural disasters? The Black Friday Tornado was a few years before the trade.

    • @emstorm1725
      @emstorm1725 Год назад

      I forgot about that. I was actually out of the country at the time but read about it@@bswhytock

    • @wavelength3278
      @wavelength3278 Год назад +1

      You were 12. WTH did you know?

    • @henrymanzano2201
      @henrymanzano2201 Год назад +3

      I think the Rangers should have ceremonially "traded" him back to Edmonton,so he could officially retire as an Oiler,but it was quite a scene in NY the day of his last game

  • @rossmontreal4570
    @rossmontreal4570 Год назад +5

    Truly an amazing story. Thank daddy Gretzky LA fans and all hockey fans as well. NHL would have been this popular if it wasn’t for great one going there! 💚💚💚🇨🇦

    • @davidjorgensen877
      @davidjorgensen877 Год назад

      Unfortunately, the original fans of the sport have been long since forgotten as a result of the Bettman-style league management that took over in the aftermath of the Gretzky trade. Sure, the sport is more popular and there are way more teams and the player development is better, but everything's been watered down to a shell of its former intensity. Fans who remember the passion of what hockey meant to them in the 50s-80s have mostly lost interest in the sterile corporate packaging that passes for NHL hockey today. I stopped watching after Mario retired.

    • @GVH1305
      @GVH1305 3 месяца назад

      @@davidjorgensen877That’s the American way…unfortunately. Would have had Gretzky stay in Edmonton and avoid this 32 teams nonsense.

  • @TheNewMediaoftheDawn
    @TheNewMediaoftheDawn Год назад +5

    I met him on a plane to LA from Toronto in the early 90s and shook his hand before going through the metal detector to board…. I was early teens and on the plane, mom and I were at the front of economy, he at the back of first class, basically a row away and I got the stewardess to get me an autograph, unfortunately I’ve lost it, oh well I have the memories…

  • @GuitarLessonsBobbyCrispy
    @GuitarLessonsBobbyCrispy Год назад +4

    I remember watching a documentary about Mario Lemieux years ago, and they described Wayne Gretzky's trade to L.A. as him going to a 'hockey wasteland', and that's why Mario asked for a no trade clause with Pittsburg.

    • @ckendall67
      @ckendall67 Год назад +1

      L.A.'s not so much a hockey 'wasteland now I guess. ;-)

    • @henrymanzano2201
      @henrymanzano2201 Год назад +2

      Pittsburgh needed Mario more than Mario needed Pittsburgh,but yeah,I'm sure he wanted the stability, and seeing the greatest player in the history of the game get moved has to be a jarring experience

  • @JP_Edwards
    @JP_Edwards Год назад +8

    yzerman and gretzkey on the same wings team would have been OP damn.

    • @dangermartin69
      @dangermartin69 Год назад +4

      Yzerman probably would have been part of the trade package.

    • @bmoshareholderappleshareho855
      @bmoshareholderappleshareho855 Год назад +1

      If he was to go to Detriot, then Yzerman would have to Edmonton.

    • @DoYouThinkForUrselF
      @DoYouThinkForUrselF 3 месяца назад

      @@bmoshareholderappleshareho855 well we did not get Luc from LA, we did not get their best.

  • @waltwenzel9549
    @waltwenzel9549 2 месяца назад

    Wayne grew hockey in LA like nothing else. I was an amateur player in SoCal when the trade occurred, and so many nice facilities to accommodate hockey were built and a real awareness of the game amongst people here was obvious. Thanks Wayne.

  • @Joybuzzard
    @Joybuzzard Месяц назад

    I lived in Edmonton during the height of the Oilers reign and I remember when whole city was in mourning when Gretzky moved to LA. I remember watching the Oilers practice in the rink in West Edmonton Mall. I was never into hockey, I'm still not, but it was impossible not to get caught up in the collective excitement in the city at the time.

  • @tvelis513
    @tvelis513 Год назад +13

    If he goes to Detroit I don’t see how they have the dynasty they had winning 97,98,02 and 08. We had the Russians and then the Swedes. I wouldn’t change a thing.

    • @darpompie4354
      @darpompie4354 Год назад +3

      I agree... People are dreaming saying adding Gretzky to the mix would have made them amazing. Except for one thing... Its a trade, LA had to send a couple of their best players and top picks to Edmonton. Most likely Yzerman and someone else would have been gone. So although Detroit MAY have been better than they were, it wouldn't have been by much. Edmonton on the other hand would have faired way better if he went to Detroit. Carson is no Yzerman.

  • @JC-se8mi
    @JC-se8mi Год назад +3

    Gretzky’s Tears by Stephen Brunt. Great book about the details of the trade.

  • @23ofSeptember
    @23ofSeptember Год назад +5

    Wayne will always be known as an Oiler to me. Detroit or LA, Gretzky's best years were behind him already.

  • @bobdobalina8910
    @bobdobalina8910 Год назад +2

    Coming from any other athlete, I would have serious doubts about the Authenticity of his statement,
    However, this is the GOAT, the Nicest, most honest Athlete out there Bar None. Well maybe Tom Brady lol, but WG is still at the top.
    There is ONLY ONE Goardie Howe.
    As much as I hated him going to the Kings, from a Business perspective, it elevated Hockey to the Next Level with the Exposure.

  • @henrymanzano2201
    @henrymanzano2201 Год назад +18

    Philadelphia?! That was out of the blue. I remember,as a kid,hearing about how Detroit, Toronto and New York were the favorites,along with LA to acquire Wayne. I can't imagine him in a Flyers uniform. That would've been UNTHINKABLE

    • @ZekeAmishAssassin
      @ZekeAmishAssassin Год назад

      As a Flyer fan that would of been amazing, obviously the dominos wouldn't fall the same, but if they drafted Forsberg later and kept him...
      I would probably would of seen my first Flyers cup

    • @lelouchvibritannia4028
      @lelouchvibritannia4028 Год назад +1

      ​@@ZekeAmishAssassinThe Lindros trade still happens. Who knows, a healthy Lindros + Gretzky would've been something.

    • @dicksonfranssen
      @dicksonfranssen Год назад

      @@lelouchvibritannia4028 Lindros would have had a longer and healthier career if not for the idiot team "doctors" in Philadelphia. I've had many concussions, you don't tell a guy to "man up" and keep playing.

  • @Bigdondavinci
    @Bigdondavinci Год назад +1

    It’s like that line from Succession “BECAUSE UR DAD TOLD U TO?!” lmao 😂

  • @jordancarlin9687
    @jordancarlin9687 Год назад +2

    Walter Gretzky was a legend. The fact that he substantiated real trade talks via hearsay to his own GOAT son proves this

  • @plainbagel9192
    @plainbagel9192 Год назад +2

    End of the 80's beginning of the 90's was the dawn of financial difficulties for a lot of Canadian ( aside from Toronto) teams that simply couldn't compete with US markets .

  • @wulfgrym7532
    @wulfgrym7532 Год назад +1

    yep still remember being a kid, 2 days before my birthday, Oilers had won the cup and bam. Wayne is getting traded, me and all my friends were just stunned.

  • @kalemacpherson1542
    @kalemacpherson1542 2 месяца назад

    Always been such a humble guy, a true teammate and always putting others successes, talent, skills, abilities before his own. What a guy, that is why he is the Great One

  • @luciaiorio220
    @luciaiorio220 2 месяца назад

    Thanks for telling that story....!!!!!❤

  • @GMan-t1s
    @GMan-t1s Месяц назад

    I was there when the Montreal Canadians beat heavily favoured Gretzky and the Kings for the Stanley Cup .
    It was very satisfying as an Oilers fan.

  • @cedricbeasley7424
    @cedricbeasley7424 2 месяца назад

    Sat two rows behind his dad at a leaf game, didnt want to bother him as fans constantly asking to sign his tickets. Unbelievable how he never turned anyone at all away and never a grimace for people interupting him. He handle eveyone like they were part of the experience. I eventually asked. He looked like he was at his first game, excited as ever.

  • @tempo529
    @tempo529 Год назад +2

    Great story and he's sticking to it.

  • @sergeparadis1
    @sergeparadis1 Год назад +2

    Great video but feel like mentioning Detroit had Stevie Y at that time when the trade happened. I can only imagine the impact he would have had there.

  • @ghouston6950
    @ghouston6950 Год назад +3

    I remember hearing Phil Esposito say that the NY Rangers agreed with Edmonton to trade Kelly Kisio, Tomas Sandstrom, and John Vanbiesbrouck for Gretzky but Rangers ownership shot it down. And I wonder as a Rangers fan why this team struggles to build a contender lol.

    • @dicksonfranssen
      @dicksonfranssen Год назад +1

      I liked Phil as a player but "Trader Phil" is not going to manage my money or a peewee team.

    • @henrymanzano2201
      @henrymanzano2201 Год назад

      Growing up in New York,and hearing about this made me so mad at Esposito afterwards - and then,so happy when he got fired the following spring

    • @johnnyskinwalker4095
      @johnnyskinwalker4095 Год назад +1

      it's funny considering Sandstrom played with Wayne in LA later on

  • @mrhonda1
    @mrhonda1 Год назад

    I fell in love with hockey right around the time of the trade. As a Wings fan, I wish you came here.

  • @benoitrobitaille5235
    @benoitrobitaille5235 Год назад +4

    So pre cap Red Wings almost got Wayne Gretzky before their end of 90’s early 00’s domination ?
    That could of fueled the nightmares of a lot of teams around the league …

    • @tonttaana8930
      @tonttaana8930 Год назад +3

      The question becomes also that do detroit draft fedorov/lidström/konstantinov trio in 1989 if wayne had become red winger?. Because that trio was huge part of 90s red wings core.

  • @sickjohnson
    @sickjohnson Год назад +2

    It also greatly benefited the NHL financially having Wayne play in LA, building hockey's future players out there as well...where the real big money is, in the USA.
    Honestly I am surprised that the NHL allows a Canadian team to make it just to the first round of the Playoffs anymore as it hurts their bottom line so much.
    Sadly it is more of business now than an game anymore, if you can see through the deception...any bets on when the next strike will happen?

  • @jasonarellano9470
    @jasonarellano9470 2 месяца назад

    My dad has been a Kings fan since ‘67, so we were Kings fans pre Gretzky, our family was on vacation when Gretzky got traded to the Kings. We had rented a cabin in mountains (Lake Arrowhead) I was 11, my brother and I were in the game room. My dad was in the restroom, my mom was watching the news. My mom yelled Gretzky is a King we all ran to the TV room, the segment was over, we didn’t believe her and thought she misunderstood what they said. The next morning we go out for breakfast and see the LA Times; “Gretzky traded to the Kings.” Sorry mom we didn’t believe you.

  • @travzimmerman1340
    @travzimmerman1340 2 месяца назад +1

    In Wayne's parents' house, the basement was downstairs.

  • @terrymckenzie8786
    @terrymckenzie8786 Год назад +3

    Wayne. Getting a bit of a belly😂 ……Well deserved . The greatest

  • @seanb.6793
    @seanb.6793 Год назад +1

    Local Edmonton radio station did a parody song to the tune of Puff the Magic Dragon: Little Wayney Gretzky loved that rascal Puck, and Puck loved Wayne, but not as much as 80 million bucks! - Or something like that. It’s been a long time. (Puck was owner Peter Pocklington)

  • @c.s.mcleod7383
    @c.s.mcleod7383 Год назад +2

    I thought Michael Barnett was his agent at the trade timeline. Would he not have had any input?

  • @SuperTFRO
    @SuperTFRO 2 месяца назад

    It’s amazing how many people can listen to the firsthand accounts of Wayne Gretzky and immediately comment about themselves. LOL

  • @lcrooks69
    @lcrooks69 2 месяца назад

    As an Edmontonian - this was devastating when he left and broke up the team. We all knew it would happen. His move to LA was great for hockey in general but it still hurts all these years later...

  • @LudwigBeefoven
    @LudwigBeefoven Год назад +1

    Once and for all, the question has been settled.

  • @codyhertzler2387
    @codyhertzler2387 Год назад +2

    Thank you Ed Snyder for always thinking hockey first for his team.

  • @andrewcarroll7641
    @andrewcarroll7641 Год назад +1

    Young Steve Y. & Wayne's World Circa 1989. That would've been a hell of a team, Probert on the Wing keeping an eye on Wayne. Wayne absolutely tea bagging all the plumbers in the Chuck Norris Division. What coulda been

  • @Lanwarder
    @Lanwarder Месяц назад

    Super interesting interview.

  • @ryanc9888
    @ryanc9888 Год назад +18

    The Redwings had a decent team in 1988, led by Yzerman, who finished with 155 points. Imagine adding Gretzky into the mix on an original 6 team playing in the Norris division against the Leafs and Blackhawks 2 other original 6 teams every Saturday night on hockey night in Canada. That would’ve been amazing. Instead, he went out to LA where he was just another star and grew the game in warm climates, and now we’re stuck with teams in Arizona and Vegas Lol.

    • @louislaz
      @louislaz Год назад +4

      It’s likely Yzerman would have ended up being one of the trade pieces going to Edmonton. Who else would they offer?

    • @tthompson719
      @tthompson719 Год назад +1

      Stuck with Vegas….. ya mean the team that just won the cup 2 months ago and have basically sold out every game?! Yeah bad move letting them join 🙄

    • @AbortedFeti
      @AbortedFeti Год назад +3

      If by "just another star" you mean the sole reason any of the sunshine belt teams exist today then sure I guess. You sound like a bitter Canadian, but as a fellow Canadian fan, the game of hockey wouldn't be half as big today were it not for the aggressive expansion in the US and Gretzky moving down south got people's attention like nothing ever had before.

    • @RichV20
      @RichV20 Год назад +4

      People say Gretzky grew the game in the South like it's a good thing. San Jose Sharks are cool. But would anyone really miss the Ducks, Coyotes, Predators, Hurricanes if they disappeared tomorrow?

    • @RichV20
      @RichV20 Год назад +6

      @@AbortedFeti Aggressive expansion and Bettman really hurt the NHL in the long run. They are now close to falling behind MLS in popularity, TV and/or revenue. NHL was in a stronger position when it was regionalized in the North and not diluted. NHL should've stopped at 24 teams.

  • @arlichar11
    @arlichar11 Год назад +10

    no matter how you look at it, absolute horrible management in edmonton, there is no rational explanation to lose the best player ever.. its not like today in nba when good players want out to join good team, he was established as great, and wanted be there, and they just poofed it away! only babe ruth trade was worse mistake..

    • @colerieger7300
      @colerieger7300 Год назад

      He should have lost Gretzky in the WHA Dispersal Draft, but Wayne wasn't signed to the Oilers. He was signed to Pocklington. His job just happened to be hockey player for the Oilers.

    • @dicksonfranssen
      @dicksonfranssen Год назад +1

      I had to live there! Pocklington was a crook and really REALLY bad with money.

    • @Paul-vf2wl
      @Paul-vf2wl Год назад +1

      No reason other than he was an unrestricted free agent and was going to take the highest offer that Edmonton had no chance of matching because Bruce Mcnall was using monopoly money?

    • @arlichar11
      @arlichar11 Год назад

      @@Paul-vf2wl yeah he mismanaged money, thus putting edmonton in a losing situation.. after chip 2, they should have been figuring out how keep wayne!

    • @Paul-vf2wl
      @Paul-vf2wl Год назад

      @@arlichar11 There was no way to keep wayne that's what you guys can't wrap your heads around

  • @Relic67
    @Relic67 Год назад

    Good to know. Thanks

  • @meladgoat
    @meladgoat Год назад +2

    wayne is the goat and did a lot for hockey, a lot of teams and players came to the NHL cause of wayne in L.A. but Edmonton won a cup after trading wayne, wayne never won after leaving the oilers. Edmonton won that trade.

  • @brianphilippoi349
    @brianphilippoi349 Год назад +2

    Imagine if he had been a Canuck through those years. Bure would have score twice as many goals.

  • @stewartsnape2936
    @stewartsnape2936 2 месяца назад

    Great player, and person always interesting to listen to

  • @tdunph4250
    @tdunph4250 Год назад +2

    Apparently after his very brief stop in St Louis, Wayne wanted desperately to play for the Maple Leafs but The Maple Leafs screwed that up.

  • @js8805
    @js8805 2 месяца назад

    Pretty cool story, if true. I assume it is.
    Neat to be able to envision Gretzky deciding to go, not where he kind of wanted but, where he needed to go for the betterment of the NHL overall.

  • @BMC_self-invent
    @BMC_self-invent 2 месяца назад

    I would have loved to see Wayne Gretzky in Vancouver.

  • @judymathison1249
    @judymathison1249 Год назад +2

    Everyone in the Edmonton area knew that Pocklington was in deep financial trouble.

  • @Classicrocker6119
    @Classicrocker6119 Год назад +1

    Even with the cash Pocklington got from the Kings in this deal for Gretzky he was not out of financial risk. That was brought to light with the trade of Messier to the Rangers prior to the start of the 1991-92 season.

    • @Paul-vf2wl
      @Paul-vf2wl Год назад

      Free agents do this all the time.

  • @driferdark4339
    @driferdark4339 2 месяца назад

    as a lifelong Flyers fan ,I am pretty shocked to hear we were one of 4 places The Great One was willing to go play for.

  • @patsgarage8593
    @patsgarage8593 2 месяца назад

    I always thought it was his wife Janet that got him to LA. I love Gretz so much....i could listen to him talk hockey for hours

  • @drdecker1
    @drdecker1 2 месяца назад

    This tells you of his real character. He would give up something he probably thought about to play with a team his favorite player played on. His dad also gave it from another perspective. So he could really look at his real options.

  • @scottmallender9738
    @scottmallender9738 Год назад +1

    Wow, didn’t realize Detroit was that close? The Wings went on to dominate basically for next 15 years, Whom would have been sent to the Oilers at that time? Steve was vulnerable then, Joe Murphy a involved ?

  • @mfornelos
    @mfornelos Год назад +1

    His ownership in the Vancouver Canucks would be worth $250 million right now. Not a bad investment

  • @Robin-gy2ew
    @Robin-gy2ew 2 месяца назад

    Lol I like how, even when just telling the story, you can hear him wince at the idea of becoming a Vancouver Canuck.😄

  • @MeYou-gh2cr
    @MeYou-gh2cr Год назад +2

    He asked to be traded because his wife whom made a few movies thought she was gonna be a movie star…surprise…disappointment in both of them…she never became a movie star and he could’ve won many Stanley cups if he would of stayed with Edmonton.

    • @Paul-vf2wl
      @Paul-vf2wl Год назад

      You think wanting to be a movie star was the only reason she wanted out of Edmonton? Lol the place is a sh%thole.

    • @josephforest7605
      @josephforest7605 Год назад

      I kept an eye on that story , what a load of bull .Did she not do a centerfold at one time?

  • @playtimewrestlingfederation
    @playtimewrestlingfederation Год назад +1

    Janet Jones, he did it for!

  • @pepsibottleq
    @pepsibottleq 2 месяца назад

    Gretzky to Detroit would have been INSANE

  • @dragonchaserkev
    @dragonchaserkev 2 месяца назад

    I was a young guy in Edmonton when he was traded, the reason to me Always was money.

  • @genxmark
    @genxmark 2 месяца назад

    Very wise and humble choice

  • @mastersmmaandfitness7661
    @mastersmmaandfitness7661 2 месяца назад

    Wayne will always be THE Mr hockey to me

  • @MapleSyrupPoet
    @MapleSyrupPoet Год назад +2

    Would have been terrific as a Canuck 😅🐋🏒

    • @charlesstevens6988
      @charlesstevens6988 Год назад

      No he wouldve been maybe a good year or two but never the same on a weak ass team in vancouver. Messier was a complete idiot did in vancouver. Set them back 10 years.😊

  • @angelwings9491
    @angelwings9491 Год назад

    I met you Wayne when you were with the LAKings I was handling your flight from toronto old terminal 1. Canadian Airlines who worked for had the contract for the Kings out of YYZ. Anyways I had a one on one with you for 5 minutes as you were walking to the plane. Hope to meet you again to tell you the story. Thanks Angela

  • @mikebreen4381
    @mikebreen4381 Год назад +2

    Estimated value Canucks $1.01 Billion US!

  • @brettfavreify
    @brettfavreify 4 месяца назад

    I have so many followup questions, like how did Walter find out about the trade rumours and did Wayne intend to stay in Edmonton or were his contract demands more than Pocklington was willing to pay?
    Would've been beyond cool if he ended up in Detroit but Yzerman would've probably ended up in Edmonton.

  • @petec9201
    @petec9201 Год назад +2

    It would of been an interesting timeline if the Wings had Gretzky and kept Oates and Graves though I'm glad the Wings had who they had en route to their late 90s dynasty.

    • @gymguy25
      @gymguy25 Год назад

      That was a good team but not a dynasty!

    • @petec9201
      @petec9201 Год назад +1

      @@gymguy25 best team of that era along with the aves and devils

  • @ThomasNappo
    @ThomasNappo Месяц назад

    THE GOAT OF GOATS

  • @jimcook8933
    @jimcook8933 2 месяца назад

    Janet and Wayne on their honeymoon night. Janet whispers, messy, eh? Wayne replies, no Janet, it's me Wayne!

  • @phil6610
    @phil6610 2 месяца назад

    nice one boys!

  • @djtommy1864
    @djtommy1864 2 месяца назад

    This is crazy to hear that it was Edmonton who wanted to trade Gretzky. Why on earth would you want to trade the best player who ever played the game ? This interview leaves more questions than answers .

    • @ektran4205
      @ektran4205 2 месяца назад

      the oilers were in financial trouble

  • @dh12.
    @dh12. Год назад

    Father knows best. Good call.

  • @Auqua1973
    @Auqua1973 2 месяца назад

    That was a sad day for us in Edmonton. I know people who went into mourning for over a week and cried literal tears everyday. Pocklington still sucks!

  • @SS454LS6
    @SS454LS6 2 месяца назад

    Gretzky and Steve Yzerman could have been teammates? That would have been something to see

  • @frankpavan7865
    @frankpavan7865 Год назад

    The Great One !!❤

  • @trapdoorfloyd
    @trapdoorfloyd 2 месяца назад +1

    The main difference between Wayne Gretzky being the best in his sport and Tom Brady being the best in his sport is when Gretzky left the Oilers they won the Stanley cup the very next season. When the Patriots refused to resign Brady to a decent contract he left and won the Superbowl for another team the very next season. Also the main difference between Michael Jordan and LeBron James is Jordan won six world championships and LeBron lost six world championships. 😎

    • @OldRustySteele
      @OldRustySteele 2 месяца назад

      Agree. Wayne won 4 Stanley Cups with Messier and won ZERO Cups without Messier. And Messier won 2 more Stanley Cups WITHOUT Gretzky. So who is “The Great One?”
      Gretzky was a great hockey player - one of the very best - but NOT the GOAT in my opinion. To me, Bobby Orr, Mark Messier, Mario Lemieux, Jean Beliveau, and Gordie Howe were better.

    • @ektran4205
      @ektran4205 2 месяца назад

      @@OldRustySteele edmonton got mario too

  • @Peteripattaya
    @Peteripattaya Год назад +1

    Wonderful player! Its hard to see the artistery in NHL.

  • @bowriverblog
    @bowriverblog Месяц назад

    Wow... wish he would have played for the Wings. That would have been epic 🤘🤘

  • @T88-fh9ci
    @T88-fh9ci 2 месяца назад

    good stuff

  • @MeLoNHeAd00
    @MeLoNHeAd00 2 месяца назад

    :43 i remember him saying this about how tired the islanders looked .

  • @bryanmayes9234
    @bryanmayes9234 Год назад

    I just worked with an older cat the other day that was last name Howe... hes like yep, Gordie's my cousin. And man this guy had some stories

  • @gregschulte2953
    @gregschulte2953 2 месяца назад

    couldn't even imagine him in Detroit. Would have been epic.