31st Anniversary of 'The Trade' - Wayne Gretzky Joins the LA Kings

In the hockey world, it's simply known as "The Trade."
On August 9, 1988, the LA Kings acquired Wayne Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, first round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993, and $15 million in the most substantial trade in NHL history.

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In an interview with LA Kings Insider
, LA Kings President Luc Robitaille said he was in Montreal at the time of the trade and had heard, like many closely connected to the sport, that there was definitely substance behind the smoke. He said he recalled hearing "some rumblings" in advance of the trade before then Kings owner Bruce McNall called him two or three days prior to express confidence that it would ultimately happen.
"I think down deep, I still didn't believe it," Robitaille said. "I didn't believe that the best player in the world, at his peak, would be traded. Later, he did tell me - I don't know if it's true - but they had asked for me, and [Bruce] had told me he would never trade me. That's the reason it took a few more days."
Gretzky turned the Kings into an attraction in star-driven Los Angeles, drawing sellout crowds and launching a new era of hockey.

At the time of the trade, the then 27-year-old Gretzky was already the most dominant player of his generation, holding single-season NHL records for goals (92), assists (163) and points (215).
He was the League's all-time assists leader with 1,086 and sat 218 goals and 181 points behind Gordie Howe for No. 1 all-time in those categories.
PODCAST: Kings GM Rob Blake on the Impact of the Gretzky Trade
Gretzky would break each of those records with the Kings.

The Great One scored 246 goals and had 672 assists in eight seasons with Los Angeles.
In his first season with the Kings, he won the Hart Trophy as NHL MVP for his ninth and final time.

In 1993, Gretzky's Game 7 performance in the Campbell Conference Final aganist the Toronto Maple Leafs vaulted the Kings to their first Stanley Cup Final.

Ultimately, Gretzky would move on from the Kings. But his mark on the franchise will never be forgotten.