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

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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

As a Kings fan, thank you Mr Walter Gretzky!

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…

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

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.

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

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

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

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! 💚💚💚🇨🇦

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.

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.

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 .

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

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

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

Good to know. Thanks

A National (Canadian) Treasure! Thank you!

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.

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

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. : )

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

Great story and he's sticking to it.

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)

The Great One !!❤

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

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.

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.

I was deploying too Cyprus on a UN peacekeeper mission when he was crying on TV and the dump truck full of money was being delivered. The Article in the Journal on this subject was excellent. It described how every Canadian felt for him and know one but the families was even aware that our soldiers leave all the time serving Canada. Priorities.

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

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

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

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?

Once and for all, the question has been settled.

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 …

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.

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.

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

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

Would love to hear the Detroit perspective of this. Anyone know of any articles or videos that cover this potential trade?

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

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

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

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

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

Very Good Story

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.

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.

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.

What a great story.

THANKS DAD !!!! lol

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.

I'd like to ask Wayne about Andy, and the '93 LA-Toronto play-offs. I haven't watched NHL hockey since.

What happened to the Canucks deal?

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.

Father knows best. Good call.

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

I remember hearing about all of this through the grapevine at the time (Apparently, some people in Vancouver at the time had some very loose lips) and thought to myself, “No way. That’s impossible… “ And, then years later when Gretz confirmed EVERYTHING via an interview on TSN I was like, “God damn!!!”

Estimated value Canucks $1.01 Billion US!

Sad to hear this.

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.

Janet Jones, he did it for!

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 ?

Well it seems that he never lost his Canadian accent.

Would have been terrific as a Canuck 😅🐋🏒

It would have been amazing had he been sent to Pittsburg to play with Mario.

I am assuming he meant the Rangers when he say "New York"

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..

Straight from the horse's mouth! TRUTH!

Who loves ya Wayne, Your dad Walter, a simple but wise man would always have your best interests at heart. Bruce McNall , another story aside {a gregarious con man perhaps}. Hockey went Hollywood and the game went viral.

I remember when he was traded I was so mad, not because of the trade but because the press conference interrupted Saturday morning cartoons.

Would have looked phenomenal in a flyers jersey

When the great one talks. Everybody stops what they are doing and listens.

Damn it I wish it was Detroit !

It was Janet not his Dad. His wife played a big part in the decision making process when it comes to where Wayne wanted to play. Should have played in Detroit and I think Gordie would be proud and the fans of Detroit. So he broke records in L.A and no Stanley Cups.

I always thought the league aka bettman et al had more of an impact considering how much they benefited from Gretzy going to LA. - Janet living in LA wasn't a compelling narrative, especially considering his later involvement with Coyotes. But Walter having a say is the most believable... although clearly there's a lot more detail not included here... But who ya gonna believe - the professional gossips or the man himself?

I thought that the Oilers traded Gretzky only because Pocklington needed to make up for the money he lost when his other businesses struggled. I didn't think that Gretzky would be a UFA in 1989 or 1990.

Still pisses me off as an oilers fan the oilers were even thinking of trading him they coukdve become the greatest dynasting in hockey. But the hockey fan in me respects and appreciates that it happened because the game as we know it now wouldnt have came to pass without the trade happening

I was more shocked when Wendel Clark was traded from the Leafs. That was a heartbreak trade. No doubt part of the reason Wayne went to LA was because of his wife. Nothing wrong with that, but definitely a reason.

I'm a big Gretz fan and all but I don't think he's being entirely honest here.

Walter made a great point there.

You know, people like to reminisce over the trade, talk about what could have been had he not been traded. How many more cups would Edmonton win? The answer is one. Gretzky would have left in free agency by 1989 for Los Angeles anyway. And he would join Jimmy Carson and Mike Gelinas who never gets traded, wins two cups there. Wraps his career in New York. Edmonton is forced to trade the rest of their team. They bottom out only to win the draft rights to Lindros, rebuild and win a Cup in 96 before trading him. They win more down the road.

Free Agency was the real reason.

Yes but why did they trade you?

When your dad is your agent, you trust your agent.

Wayne going to LA was best for the NHL. If that didn't happen no teams in Anaheim, San Jose, Dallas, Arizona etc and they wouldn't have been first to Vegas. Sure, Arizona is a sore spot (hopefully new arena locale helps) but I don't think a guy like Auston Matthews plays in the NHL nevermind winning MVP without the Gretzky Effect.

That was a sad day for hockey fans in Edmonton...the Oilers could of won at least 2 more Stanley Cups with Gretzky...best thing was the Peter Pocklington toilet paper that came out when they traded Gretzky...

Wow the Canucks? lol That would have been odd to say the least.

Man, do I hate the Chevy ad that runs before a lot of your vids!! I'm always reminded to hit the "mute".

I remember we used to call Wayne a goal suck . Living in Edmonton we kids took Wayne for granted . He was like Tiger Woods , we were sick of watching him .

Had he gone the Philly.