Edmonton was also one of those "destination" cities. Indianapolis wasn't a thriving hockey metropolis, but Gretzky's possible new city, Edmonton, was. 2, 1978, Gretzky would be the centerpiece of one of sports' strangest deals. But his Racers career would last just eight games. In the summer of 1978, the 17-year-old Gretzky, who had been a Canadian icon since he was 6, signed a personal-services deal with Indianapolis owner Nelson Skalbania. There is one indisputable fact - Gretzky was moved by Indianapolis to Edmonton in what turned out to be the last year of play for the WHA, and the trade served as a significant building block in assembling one of the greatest teams in NHL history.īut the story behind the trade has always been a little murky. There is a side to this legendary tale which leads to a yes answer, but others will tell you that the story behind the Gretzky "sale" to Edmonton by Indianapolis was simply an economic deal that was designed to bail out a failing franchise, and that money was earmarked to have taken care of Gretzky's former teammates so they would get their paychecks until the end of the 1978-79 season. Was the Edmonton Oilers' Stanley Cup dynasty between 19 born on a backgammon table in 1978 as part of a bet? Depending who you ask, the answer is yes and no. Officially Gretzky was "sold" to the Oilers, but there seems to be more to that story. Gretzky started his career with the World Hockey Association's Indianapolis Racers, not Edmonton. 9, 1988 deal that sent Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski to the Kings for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, millions of dollars and three first-round draft picks was not the first time Gretzky was moved. The 20th anniversary of the Wayne Gretzky trade from Edmonton to Los Angeles is getting a lot of scrutiny this week because it changed the hockey industry.
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