Evaluating Wayne Gretzky's historic trade to the LA Kings 36 years on

In 1988, the Edmonton Oilers stunned the hockey world by trading Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings. The trade sent shock waves throughout the league as no one thought the Oilers would trade 'The Great One.' However, concerns about Gretzky's expiring contract with the Oilers motivated the club to make a move in the 1988 offseason.

Gretzky signed a ten-year deal in 1979 worth $3 million. The cash-strapped Oilers preferred to move Gretzky out of fear he would walk away for nothing in free agency. So, Oilers' owner Peter Pocklington was the mastermind behind the deal that sent him to Hollywood.

Along with Gretzky, enforcer Marty McSorley and winger Mike Krushelnyski headed to Los Angeles. In exchange, Edmonton got former first-round pick Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas and three first-round draft picks.

Beyond the players and draft picks, the $15 million was a lifeline to the financially struggling Oilers. At the time, fans didn't understand that despite winning four Stanley Cups in five years, the Oilers were not as profitable as most thought.

As for the return, unfortunately, the three picks failed to yield an impact player for Edmonton. Carson scored 100 points in his only full season in Edmonton. He was then shipped off to the Detroit Red Wings.

Gelinas had a lengthy NHL career, playing in over 1,200 games. He played parts of five seasons in Edmonton, leaving after the 1992-93 seasons.

Meanwhile, Gretzky's tenure in Los Angeles culminated with various personal records and a trip to the Cup Final in 1993, in which the Kings fell to the Montreal Canadiens.

The legacy of the Wayne Gretzky trade

The Gretzky trade is credited with being the catalyst for the NHL's rise in the Southern United States. Before Gretzky, only a handful of cities attempt to host NHL teams. After Gretzky, the NHL saw an explosion in expansion.

Teams like the San Jose Sharks, Florida Panthers, Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars were among the first to emerge in the Southern United States. Other clubs like the Anaheim Ducks, Atlanta Thrashers, Arizona Coyotes and Carolina Hurricanes followed.

As a result, the NHL grew in size and popularity, allowing the league to become more widely known throughout North America. Hockey went from being a niche sport in Canada and the Northern United States to a highly popular pastime in non-traditional hockey markets.

Nowadays, several cities across North America compete for the next round of NHL franchises. The recent addition of the Utah Hockey Club highlights how the NHL is present across multiple locations, particularly in places that seem like "small markets."

The league has not planned any expansion beyond the addition of the Seattle Kraken. There is plenty of speculation that as many as four to eight new teams could be added by 2030. Whether that expansion happens or not, Wayne Gretzky can take his fair share of the credit for making hockey one of the most popular sports in North America and around the world.