What Could Have Been if the Oilers Hadn’t Traded Wayne Gretzky – The Hockey Writers – Oilers History

August 9, 1988. Many remember exactly where they were. Edmonton wasn’t just quiet—it was stunned. Out of nowhere, the unthinkable had happened: Wayne Gretzky, The Great One, had been traded to the Los Angeles Kings.

Tears flowed—even Gretzky’s. For most Oilers fans, it felt like losing a family member. Gretzky wasn’t simply a superstar—he was a local hero who chatted with fans during practices at West Edmonton Mall. He kissed babies. He was the team and its poster boy: big-hearted, great hair, boyish-faced. He was magic in every way, especially when it came to bringing Stanley Cups to a young city that was starting to come into its own.

The trade shook not just the city, but the entire hockey world. But what if it hadn’t happened? What if Gretzky had stayed in Edmonton, right where he belonged?

A Missed Moment for L.A.—And Maybe the NHL

Let’s start with what didn’t happen in Los Angeles. Before Gretzky showed up, the Kings weren’t exactly top of mind, even in their own city. Hockey didn’t have a strong foothold in California. But Gretzky changed that. He filled arenas, grabbed headlines, and made kids in sunny places dream about skating on ice.

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Without Gretzky, perhaps hockey wouldn’t have gained such widespread popularity in the United States as it did. Maybe we don’t get teams in places like San Jose, Dallas, or Nashville. Maybe the Kings fade into obscurity—or move altogether. Gretzky didn’t just put the Kings on the map. He helped expand the whole sport.

Could the Oilers Have Become the Greatest Dynasty Ever?

Now let’s head back to Edmonton. From 1984 to 1988, the Oilers were untouchable. Four Stanley Cups in five years. That team was electric—fast, skilled, fearless. And then, boom. The trade. It felt like the lights dimmed overnight. But here’s the oddest thing: even after Gretzky left, the Oilers still won another Cup in 1990.

The Oilers’ “Kid Line” in 1990—made up of Adam Graves, Joe…