On August 9, 1988, the landscape of North American sports shifted forever. In a tearful press conference that echoed across the hockey On August 9, 1988, the landscape of North American sports shifted forever. In a tearful press conference that echoed across the hockey world, Wayne Gretzky announced he was leaving the Edmonton Oilers after winning four Stanley Cups, heading west to join the Los Angeles Kings.
It remains the most famous transaction in National Hockey League history—a landmark blockbuster that expanded hockey’s footprint into the American Sunbelt, birthed non-traditional hockey markets across California and Nevada,and redefined sports entertainment.
Yet behind the scenes of that fateful summer, an entirely different deal was mere hours away from being finalized.Long before Gretzky donned the silver and black of the Kings, “The Great One” was on the verge of putting on the iconic winged wheel sweater of the Detroit Red Wings.
The Choice: Edmonton’s Secret Shortlist
By the summer of 1988, Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington faced severe financial pressures outside of hockey.Recognizing that Gretzky’s market value would never be higher—and with No. 99 closing in on unrestricted free agency in two years—Pocklington quietly made the decision to explore trade options for the greatest player in the history of the game.
Because of Gretzky’s unmatched status in the sport, Pocklington extended an extraordinary courtesy: he gave Gretzky a shortlist of three preferred destinations to facilitate a move:
- New York (Rangers/Islanders)
- Los Angeles (Kings)
- Detroit (Red Wings)
While sports historians often point to Los Angeles as the obvious headline destination, Gretzky’s personal preference at the start of negotiations was centered firmly on Hockeytown.
The Hollywood Myth vs. The Original Six Reality
For decades, a common misconception persisted across casual fan circles: that Gretzky’s new bride, actress Janet Jones,forced the trade to Southern California to further her Hollywood career.
Gretzky himself has repeatedly set the record straight: Janet Jones begged him to pick Detroit.
She advocated for the stability and passion of an Original Six hockey market close to home. For Wayne—who grew up just across the border in Brantford, Ontario—Detroit represented a dream scenario. His childhood idol was Mr. Hockey himself, Gordie Howe. The opportunity to play at Joe Louis Arena, wear the Red Wings jersey, and restore a classic franchise to championship glory carried immense personal weight.
Red Wings owner Mike Ilitch was prepared to do whatever it took. Detroit management engaged in extensive talks with Edmonton, ready to open the corporate vaults, write a massive check, and supply the Oilers with top-tier roster talent and draft picks to finalize the trade.
The momentum was so strong that Gretzky sat in his house waiting for the final phone call from Edmonton to confirm he was heading to Michigan.
What Was on the Table? The Rumored Detroit Trade Package
Any deal involving Wayne Gretzky required an unprecedented package of cash, elite young players, and draft assets.Peter Pocklington’s absolute baseline requirement was $15 million in cash to bail out his non-hockey business investments. Once Mike Ilitch agreed to write that check, negotiations turned to Detroit’s roster.
Had the trade been finalized, the package heading to Edmonton would have looked vastly different from the Los Angeles trade, but equally monumental:
- The Untouchable Steve Yzerman: Edmonton pushed aggressively to include 22-year-old superstar Steve Yzerman, coming off a 50-goal, 102-point season. However, Detroit GM Jim Devellano flatly refused. Detroit’s vision was for Gretzky to play alongside Yzerman, not replace him. Edmonton eventually backed off and targeted Detroit’s other young offensive talent.
- The High-End Playmakers (Adam Oates & Joe Murphy): To match the elite young talent Los Angeles surrendered (50-goal scorer Jimmy Carson), Detroit’s package centered on rising star playmaker Adam Oates and 1986 1st overall draft pick Joe Murphy. (Ironically, Murphy would later be acquired by Edmonton in 1989 anyway).
- Power & Grit (Bob Probert or Petr Klima): With Marty McSorley heading out with Gretzky to LA, Edmonton wanted top-six skill with toughness. Detroit discussions included All-Star heavy enforcer Bob Probert (29 goals and 398 PIM in 1987–88) or lightning-fast winger Petr Klima (who also later joined the Oilers and scored the iconic Triple-OT game-winner in the 1990 Stanley Cup Final).
- Future Draft Capital: Just like the Los Angeles deal, Detroit was prepared to send multiple 1st-round draft picks to Edmonton.
Instead of Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three 1st-round picks, (turned out to become Jason Miller (via Trade), Martin Rucinsky & Nick Stajduhar) and $15 Million from LA, Edmonton was positioned to receive Adam Oates, Joe Murphy, & (Bob Probert or Petr Klima) , multiple 1st-round picks, and $15 Million in cash from Detroit.
The Midnight Call From Walter Gretzky
So why did the deal collapse at the eleventh hour?
It came down to a single, candid phone call from Wayne’s father and lifelong advisor, Walter Gretzky.
As Wayne weighed the choice between Los Angeles and Detroit, Walter offered a legendary piece of advice that halted the Michigan move in its tracks. As Wayne later recounted, Walter told him:
“Son, there is only one Gordie Howe in Detroit. That is Gordie’s town. If you go to the Red Wings, no matter how many scoring titles or Stanley Cups you win, you will always be stepping into Mr. Hockey’s shadow. Go to Los Angeles. Put hockey on the map in California, build something brand new from scratch, and write your own legacy.”
The wisdom resonated instantly. Wayne called Peter Pocklington back, pivoted away from Detroit, and directed Edmonton’s front office to finalize terms with Los Angeles owner Bruce McNall.
What Could Have Been: The Alternate NHL Timeline
Had Walter Gretzky not intervened, the trajectory of modern hockey history would look entirely unrecognizable today:
- A Gretzky-Yzerman-Oates Core: Wayne Gretzky and Steve Yzerman sharing the same top line and power-play unit during their absolute physical primes would have created the most lethal offensive machine in NHL history.
- Sunbelt Expansion Delayed: Without Gretzky landing in Los Angeles in 1988, the NHL’s explosive 1990s expansion into California (San Jose, Anaheim) and Arizona may have been delayed by years or taken a radically different form.
- The Original Six Supremacy: Detroit’s championship window—which eventually opened in the late 1990s—likely would have opened a decade earlier, creating an unstoppable powerhouse dynasty in the Norris Division.
One phone call from Walter Gretzky altered the course of two franchises, steered the growth of modern hockey, and left one of the greatest “what-if” scenarios in sports history parked right on the doorstep of Hockeytown.
Keep on Keeping on!
Evan ‘REV’ Renaerts
You can follow me on X @revingev
For news going on around the NHL and in the hockey world and future Prospects in Jr hockey you can head over to REVS TOP 15 where I post yearly prospects that I see as players who will end with the best careers. (Special thanks to several Scouts and agents around several Hockey leagues across North America & Europe for sending me stats and stories for many places I am unable to be at myself.) Head over to the X-platform and give me a follow @revingev to catch all the latest rumours moves and even upcoming Podcasts to watch live for our weekly TWO GUYS & HOCKEY TALK ‘Live show’ on Wednesdays 7pm MDT.
You can follow me on X @revingev
For news going on around the NHL and in the hockey world and future Prospects in Jr hockey you can head over to REVS TOP 15 where I post yearly prospects that I see as players who will end with the best careers. (Special thanks to several Scouts and agents around several Hockey leagues across North America & Europe for sending me stats and stories for many places I am unable to be at games that I am unable to be at myself.) Head over to the X-platform and give me a follow @revingev to catch all the latest rumours moves and even upcoming Podcasts to watch live for our weekly TWO GUYS & HOCKEY TALK ‘Live show’ on Wednesdays 7pm MDT.
