Wayne Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988. The Edmonton Oilers completed the blockbuster deal on August 9, 1988, shortly after winning their fourth Stanley Cup in five seasons.
Gretzky went to Los Angeles with teammates Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski. In return, Edmonton received Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first-round draft picks, and $15 million in cash. The trade shocked Edmonton and became one of the most consequential transactions in hockey history.
The move transformed hockey’s profile in Southern California. Gretzky helped the Kings reach the 1993 Stanley Cup Final and attracted new fans throughout the region, contributing to the NHL’s broader growth in the United States. A common mix-up is placing the trade in 1989, but Gretzky played his first Kings season in 1988–89. He remained in Los Angeles until a 1996 trade sent him to the St. Louis Blues.