Gretzky Trade Made Huge Impact

On this date 20 years ago, in 1988, Wayne Gretzky and two other players were traded by the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in exchange for three Kings, three draft picks and more than $10 million US. Gretzky, considered by many to be the best hockey player of his generation, wept at the news conference announcing the deal.

Gretzky led the Edmonton Oilers to four Stanley Cups in five years and at 27 was still in his prime as a player. Gretzky retired from hockey in 1999 as a New York Ranger and was immediately named to the Hockey Hall of Fame. His jersey number of 99 was retired by the league forever.