- The Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to the Kings on this day in 1988, three months after a fourth Stanley Cup
- Gretzky put up 918 points in 539 games in Los Angeles but never won a Cup there
- Read below for the full trade terms and video of the press conference
Thirty-eight years ago today, the Edmonton Oilers traded the best player hockey has ever produced, and Wayne Gretzky could not get through the press conference announcing it.
“I promised Mess I wouldn’t do this,” Gretzky said, head down behind a wall of microphones in Edmonton on Aug. 9, 1988.
The deal itself was enormous. Edmonton sent Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski to the Los Angeles Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, first-round picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993, and $15 million in cash. The NHL still files it as the biggest trade in league history.
Gretzky was 27 years old. He was also less than three months removed from leading the Oilers to their fourth Stanley Cup in five seasons and winning a second Conn Smythe Trophy.
Oilers owner Peter Pocklington opened the press conference by confirming the deal himself.
“It’s with mixed emotions, a heavy heart for our community and our hockey club, but I guess with delight and sincere best wishes for Wayne Gretzky, that I announce and, I guess more important, confirm that the Edmonton Oilers have agreed to trade Wayne Gretzky to Los Angeles.”
Gretzky spoke next and made it about two sentences.
“I’m disappointed about having to leave Edmonton. I truly admire all the fans and respect everyone over the years.”
Then he stopped, put his head down and reached for a tissue. Watch the full press conference:
Glen Sather got up to speak and refused to do it from a chair.
“I think it’s tough for us to talk sitting down. We’re a lot better standing up. We make our living on our feet and through our hearts. I’m going to work my hardest to try and find a way to kick the hell out of the Los Angeles Kings.”
What Los Angeles got was eight seasons and 918 points in 539 games, plus a franchise that suddenly sold out:
A Cup never came with it. The Kings reached the Stanley Cup Final in 1993 for the first time in franchise history and lost to Montreal, and that was as close as Gretzky got in Los Angeles.
Edmonton won the Cup again in 1990 without him. Sather never did get to kick the hell out of the Kings in a series that mattered.
Los Angeles has other names in the rafters now, and the Kings will retire Anze Kopitar’s No. 11 on Feb. 24. The clip that resurfaces every Aug. 9 is still a 27-year-old in a striped golf shirt, trying not to cry.
