August 9, 1988. Many people remember exactly where they are. Edmonton was not only quiet, but also shocked. It’s ubiquitous, it’s unthinkable: the great Wayne Gretzky was traded to the King of Los Angeles.
Tears flowed – even Gretzky’s. For most oil worker fans, it feels like losing a family member. Gretzky is more than just a superstar, he is a local hero, chatting with fans during practice at West Edmonton Mall. He kissed the baby. he Once was Team and its poster boy: big heart, great hair, face boyishness. He was magic in every way, especially when bringing the Stanley Cup to a young city that started his own.
Trade not only shocked the city, but also the entire hockey world. But what if it doesn’t happen? What if Gretzky lived in Edmonton where he belonged?
Missed moments in Los Angeles – maybe NHL
Let’s start with what’s not going on in Los Angeles. Before Gretzky’s appearance, even in his own city, the king was not the most important thing. Hockey has no strong foothold in California. But Gretzky changed that. He filled the arena, grabbed the headlines and made the kids dream of skating on the ice in a sunny place.
Related: Kris Knoblauch is the coach that the oilman needs to build
Without Gretzky, maybe hockey wouldn’t have gained so widespread popularity in the United States like this. Maybe we didn’t get teams in places like San Jose, Dallas, or Nashville. Maybe the king faded out of obscurity, or moved altogether. Gretzky not only placed the king on the map. He helped expand the entire movement.
Can oil workers become the greatest dynasty of all time?
Now let’s go back to Edmonton. From 1984 to 1988, the oil man was unable to contact. Four Stanley Cups in five years. That team is electric – fast, skilled, fearless. Then, prosper. trade. It felt like the lights dimmed overnight. But that’s the weirdest thing: Even after Gretzky left, the Oilers won another Cup in 1990.
(Photo by Codie McLachlan/Getty Images)
The Oilers produced in 1990’s Kid Line – Adam Graves, Joe Murphy and Martin Gelinas, bringing a young spark to the team in the Stanley Cup game. Murphy led the playoffs with 14 goals, while Graves and Gelinas brought energy, perseverance and timely depth scoring that helped bring Edmonton to the fifth championship. But all the biggest influence is ultimate leader Mark Messier. He is a turning point that proves that the team still has inner and deep. But even if that happens, it feels like the last breath of the Golden Age.
But, imagine if Gretzky was with the Oiler
Now, imagine if Gretzky stayed, he and Messier were still at their peak for another few years. Join Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Paul Coffey, Grant Fuhr and more. It’s hard not to think they can add a few banners to the after. Maybe they’ll be aiming their toes with Mario Lemieux’s Pattsburgh Penguins or Patrick Roy’s Montreal Canadains. Maybe we’re talking about six or seven cups instead of five cups.
Related: What happened to Oiler goalkeeper Stuart Skinner? Look carefully
It’s not just wishful thinking. The team has tools. Oilers only need more time and of course more gretzky.
What will happen to the players around him?
There is something special about watching players grow together. That oilers had so many halls of fame, but what made them great was the chemistry they had with Gretzky’s construction. Kurri’s single member, Coffey’s rush, Anderson’s tough goal – many dramas start with Gretzky’s pass.
Of course, these players themselves are incredible. But play with the best organizer of the game ever? That makes a difference. It’s fair to wonder if their careers will be like legends and he feeds hockey nights.
Money changes everything in the Gretzky trade
Gretzky’s deal is more than just hockey, of course. Such transactions are usually not. At that time, the owner needed to undergo a financial migration. Trading Gretzky is not only a hockey decision, but it is about cash. Even if the owner didn’t pull the trigger in 1988, the money problem wouldn’t go away.
Related: 9 cool things about Dave Semenko: The Edmonton Oiler’s Execution
Keeping this very elite team together – with so many stars, all of them deserve big contracts – it’s always tough for a small market team like Edmonton. So maybe the dynasty will still end. But without such a deal, the ending may be a little slower and perhaps more elegant.
Fans can only imagine the different future of oil workers
The Gretzky trade is the beginning of a long and painful reconstruction of Edmonton. There was hopeful flash here and there, but it wasn’t until Connor McDavid’s appearance that the team began to look like a real contender. But if Gretzky stayed, maybe things wouldn’t be that bleak.
Indeed, the Oilers will remain competitive for a longer period of time. But maybe free agents will play in Edmonton. Maybe the fan base doesn’t have to go through the “maybe next year” for so many years. At least, Gretzky is there and may keep the team’s soul intact.
The Oil Man Dynasty may have been
So, what would happen if Gretzky never traded? We are probably talking about the greatest team in NHL history. One dynasty, more than five Stanley Cups. A team that redefines the greatness of the movement.
Related: NHL is in the top 5 top five lines in 2025-26
Yes, trade helps grow hockey in new places, which is important. But for Edmonton fans and the hockey romantics everywhere (hockey romantics), it’s hard not to feel something special is shortened. A decision, an inappropriate trade, changed everything. Over the years, people still wonder: What if great people never left?
[Note: I’d like to thank Brent Bradford (PhD) for his help co-authoring this post. His profile can be found at www.linkedin.com/in/brent-bradford-phd-3a10022a9]
