When Wayne Gretzky's father did not fancy his son playing for Detroit Red Wings

When Wayne Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers in 1988, his first plan was to engineer a deal with the Detroit Red Wings. However, as it turned out, Gretzky's father was not keen on his son playing for the Red Wings.

Gretzky shared this story on the "Spittin’ Chiclets Podcast", shedding light on how his father's advice ultimately led him to sign with the Los Angeles Kings.

The podcast revealed:

"It was Gretzky’s dad who figured out they were going to move him, and he broke the news to his son right after the Oilers won their fourth Stanley Cup," "He thought his dad was wrong until businessman Nelson Skalbania called early the next morning to say he was going to buy a piece of the Vancouver Canucks and wanted Gretzky to play there."

With Skalbania offering Gretzky 25% ownership and only one year left on his contract with the Oilers, Gretzky saw an opportunity to use his leverage. He told Edmonton owner Peter Pocklington that he would only sign with the new team if he could choose the team himself.

Gretzky said on the podcast,

"It came down to LA, Detroit, New York, and Philly," "Then soon it came down to Detroit or Los Angeles."

While Detroit had the advantage of being less than a three-hour drive from Wayne Gretzky's hometown of Brantford, Ontario, his father's advice played a pivotal role in his decision.

Gretzky recalled,

"We had sat down and we decided I was going to Detroit. I remember sitting there going, ‘OK, this is great, I’m going to go play in Detroit.’ I grew up a Red Wings fans with Gordie Howe and everything that goes with it," "And my Dad called me and said, ‘Listen, I’ll give you a little advice. There’s only one Gordie Howe, and Detroit’s Detroit. You don’t need to go there. Why don’t you do something different and go to LA?’"

Gretzky ultimately listened to his father and chose the Los Angeles Kings.

He said,

"Everybody thought it was my wife that steered the bus (to LA), but it was really my Dad who said, ‘There’s only one Gordie Howe. You need to go do something different.’ So that’s really how I ended up in LA,".

Wayne Gretzky's decision to play for the Kings may have been a disappointment for Red Wings fans.

Wayne Gretzky informed his wife Janet Jones of his early retirement plans

Wayne Gretzky's decision to retire from hockey in 1988 shocked the world. He had been a dominant force in the sport for years. His performances have inspired countless young athletes to pursue their dreams of playing professional hockey. However, Gretzky's decision was not a rash one. He had spent countless hours analyzing his game and considering his options before ultimately deciding that retirement was the best course of action.

When Gretzky shared his retirement plans with his wife, Janet Jones, she was understandably shocked. She had grown accustomed to seeing her husband on the ice, and couldn't imagine him not playing hockey. However, as she came to understand his reasons for retiring, she was supportive of his decision.

For Wayne Gretzky, retiring from hockey was not an easy decision. He had achieved so much in the sport, and had become a legend in his own time. However, he did not accept mediocrity, and felt that his performance had fallen below his own high standards. Despite the shock and disbelief of those around him, he was determined to walk away from the game.

Wayne Gretzky's retirement allowed him to move on to new opportunities and spend more time with his family. He remains one of the greatest hockey players of all time, and his legacy is secure. His decision to retire may have been a shock to the world, but it was ultimately the right one for him.