Wayne Gretzky reveals “worst thing that ever happened” out of his trade from Edmonton

In the summer of 1988, one of the biggest trades in NHL history took place when Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings. Los Angeles acquired Gretzky, 27 at the time, along with Mike Krushelnyski and Marty McSorley. In return, Edmonton obtained Jimmy Carson, first-round draft choice Martin Gelinas, first round picks in 1989, 1991, and 1993, and $15 million.

In a candid conversation with hosts Paul Bissonnette and Ryan Whitney, Gretzky talked about how much he loved playing for the Oilers and how badly he hated playing for rival teams in Edmonton.

In a moving answer, he recalled how being booed by Oilers’ fans in Edmonton was the “worst thing that ever happened out of that trade.”

“I loved every minute that I played in Edmonton. I loved the fans, they were so good to me. The people were so great to me, and I knew they had to boo me and it just really hurt my feelings that they had to boo me in Edmonton because I knew they didn’t really want to, but they had to because I was the enemy. Right? And that’s ok.”

He then added: “But I hated playing against the Edmonton Oilers. That was the worst thing that ever happened out of that trade, was that I had to play against the Edmonton Oilers.”

Gretzky’s move to the Kings marked a turning point for the NHL, and most fans were focused on how big the move was. No one really dove into how hard of a swift it was for Gretzky and his family, and the impact every game back in Edmonton, against the Oilers, had on the top player.

The emotional press conference at Molson House in Edmonton marked the beginning of a new chapter for Gretzky, but clearly was not the only emotional moment in the history of that blockbuster move.

“Deep down I was always an Oiler,” Gretzky said.

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