1988-89 Part 1
When the Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky to the LA Kings it was considered the biggest sports trade since Boston sold Babe Ruth to the Yankees in 1920.
Not only did Gretzky go to LA, but Edmonton threw in tough guy Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski. In return the Oilers got Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas and three first round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993. The Oilers also picked up $15 million dollars.
There was speculation that owner Peter Pocklington made the deal for the money, the NHL and its salaries were rapidly increasing as were the costs of running an NHL team. Others felt that the relationship between Gretzky and Oilers management had gone cold and both Pocklington and Sather wanted Gretzky gone as he had stood against them in recent management decisions such as their unwillingness to bend to Paul Coffey's contract demands.
the only deal comparable to this deal up to this point was made in 1947 when Chicago shipped Ace Bently to Toronto for an entire line made up of Bud Poile, Gus Bodnar and Gaye Stewart as well as a defensive pair in Bob Goldham and Ernie Dickens.
The Oilers management faced immediate backlash not only in Edmonton, but in Canada. Oiler fans showed up by the thousand to protest that Pocklington had sold his team out in the name of greed. Pockington and Sather weren't the only ones that faced backlash. Janet Jones Gretzky faced criticism they believed that she had used her feminine charms to convince Gretzky to leave ice cold Edmonton for her home in Las Angeles, "How dare she" they probably thundered "They aren't making anymore Police Academy movies."
On the other hand Kings fans were thrilled, Ticket sales soared and Kings games became the place to be for celebrities. Gretzky didn't disappoint, he scored 54 goals and 114 assists and captured his ninth Hart Trophy in 10 years, he got his Kinds into a second place finish in the Smyth, and by fates hands a matchup with his old team.
Interest in the Kings and Oilers matchup was immense and covered coast to coast in Canada and in the United States. The first two games were in LA where Edmonton took the opener 5-3, the Kings bounced back in game 2 by giving the Oilers a wedgie 5-2. The series then moved back to Edmonton where Gretzky found himself as the recipient of a hostile reception. Every time he stepped on he ice of touched the puck he got boo'd. The Kinds overcame a 3-1 deficit in the series to force a 7th game in LA. Gretzky wouldn't be denied, in front of a roaring crowd, Gretzky scored 2 goals to lead the Kings to a 6-3 series victory.
But the Calgary Flames needed to spoil the story, and swept the Kings 4-0, holding the highest scoring team in the NHL to a mere 11 goals. the Flames would go onto win their first Stanley Cup, the Kings were saved in LA, and the Oilers would have one last grasp for glory before fading into decades of darkness.