When Wayne Gretzky almost signed with the Vancouver Canucks 

Wayne Gretzky, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest hockey players of all time, shared his story about almost signing with the Vancouver Canucks in the summer of 1996.

In an interview with Sportsnet's Dan Murphy, Gretzky revealed that he had seriously considered signing with the Canucks at the time. He was a free agent after playing with the St. Louis Blues for one season and was intrigued by the prospect of playing with former Canucks captain Trevor Linden.

According to Gretzky, Canucks owner Arthur Griffiths had gone out of his way to convince him to sign with the team. Griffiths had chartered a private jet to fly Gretzky and his wife Janet to Vancouver for a meeting and had given them a tour of the city.

Gretzky was impressed by what he saw and felt that the Canucks had a lot of potential. He also had a lot of respect for Linden and saw the opportunity to play with him as a big draw.

In the end, however, Gretzky chose to sign with the New York Rangers instead. He had cited his familiarity with the Rangers' organization, which he had played for earlier in his career, and the chance to play at Madison Square Garden as factors behind his decision.

Despite ultimately choosing not to sign with the Canucks, Gretzky had fond memories of his visit to Vancouver and had spoken highly of the team and its fans in his interview with Murphy.

For Canucks fans, the thought of Gretzky playing in Vancouver remains a tantalizing what-if scenario. The team has gone on to achieve success in other ways, and Gretzky's story is a reminder of the many twists and turns that can happen in the world of sports.

Here are five unknown facts about Wayne Gretzky

#1. Gretzky’s father was a hockey coach - Wayne Gretzky's father, Walter Gretzky, was a minor league coach and introduced him to the sport at a young age. Walter is credited with teaching Wayne the fundamentals of the game, including how to stickhandle and shoot.

#2. Gretzky almost played baseball instead of hockey - When Wayne Gretzky was younger, he was also an accomplished baseball player and had a chance to play professionally. However, he ultimately chose to pursue hockey instead.

#3. He holds over 60 NHL records - Gretzky is widely considered one of the greatest hockey players of all time and holds over 60 NHL records. These include most career goals, most career points, and most goals in a single season.

#4. Gretzky has coached and owned several teams - After retiring as a player, Gretzky went on to coach and own several teams, including the Phoenix Coyotes and the Edmonton Oilers. However, he was not as successful in these roles as he was as a player.

#5. Gretzky has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame - In addition to his accomplishments on the ice, Wayne Gretzky has also made appearances in several movies and TV shows. He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2002 to recognize his contributions to entertainment and sports.