The trade of Wayne Gretzky from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings in 1988 remains to this day one of the most surprising trades in NHL history. On May 26th, 1988 the Edmonton Oilers beat the Boston Bruins in Game 5 of the Stanley Cup Finals to clinch their 4th Stanley Cup Championship in the past 5 years. A little more than 2 months later they traded The Great One to the Los Angeles Kings. Wayne Gretzky, 27 at the time, was by far the greatest player in the NHL by now and was in the prime of his career. Gretzky thrived with the Kings leading them to 5 playoff appearances and their first Stanley Cup Finals appearance in franchise history in the 1992-93 season. Gretzky’s arrival and success in LA instantly generated interest in a city that lacked a hockey appetite and paved the way for hockey expansion in warm weather cities across the U.S.
This Vintage Throwback CCM jersey is autographed by Wayne Gretzky. Gretzky’s signature was witnessed by an Upper Deck representative as part of UDA’s 5-step authentication process.
