Former Oilers owner Peter Pocklington, who was once despised for transferring Wayne Gretzky, is now standing up for the Great One.

In the world of sports, the trade of a legendary player can often define the legacy of the decision-maker behind it. Few trades have been as controversial, as consequential, or as lasting as the Edmonton Oilers’ decision in 1988 to trade Wayne Gretzky, the Great One, to the Los Angeles Kings. The move rocked the hockey world to its core and forever changed the fortunes of both franchises. For many years, Peter Pocklington, the then-owner of the Oilers, was vilified for trading Gretzky, but as time has passed, Pocklington is now defending his decision and speaking out in support of Gretzky’s legacy and the circumstances that led to the deal.

Pocklington, once the face of the controversy, has come to grips with the reality of what that trade meant—not just for the Oilers, but for the entire sport of hockey. Despite facing intense backlash from Oilers fans and the wider hockey community, Pocklington’s perspective on the trade has evolved over the years. Now, as Gretzky’s place in history has become secure and his contributions to the game cemented, Pocklington has been taking steps to publicly defend his actions and, more importantly, to honor the greatness of the man he once traded away.

The move to send Gretzky to the Kings is seen as one of the most significant and transformative trades in the history of sports, and as the years have gone by, the context behind it has grown more complex. In this article, we will examine the dramatic saga of Wayne Gretzky’s trade to Los Angeles, the fallout it created, and how Peter Pocklington’s stance on the decision has evolved over the years.

The Gretzky Trade: A Watershed Moment in Hockey History

To fully understand why Peter Pocklington’s trade of Wayne Gretzky is so contentious, one must look back to 1988. At the time, Gretzky was the best player in the world—arguably the greatest to ever play the game. The Edmonton Oilers had been the most dominant team of the 1980s, led by Gretzky, and were on the verge of another championship season. The Oilers had won four Stanley Cups in five years (1984, 1985, 1987, 1988), and Gretzky’s production had been simply astronomical. His contributions to the Oilers were unparalleled, both on the ice and in terms of the franchise’s success.

Yet, at the peak of his powers, and with a dynasty in place, Gretzky was traded to the Los Angeles Kings. The deal involved the Oilers sending Wayne Gretzky, Marty McSorley, and Mike Krushelnyski to Los Angeles in exchange for Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three first-round draft picks, and $15 million in cash. The move stunned the hockey world and immediately became the subject of intense debate.

For Pocklington, the trade was a financially motivated decision. The Oilers were facing severe financial difficulties, and Pocklington, in his bid to keep the team afloat, had to make the painful decision to move his star player. The sale of Gretzky, along with the substantial cash infusion from the deal, was seen as a way to stabilize the franchise’s financial situation.

However, the optics of the trade were disastrous. For Oilers fans, this wasn’t just a trade—it was a betrayal. Gretzky was the face of the team, the embodiment of Edmonton’s success, and for many fans, he was the sport itself. The anger and bitterness were palpable, and Pocklington became the villain in a narrative that seemed to cast a shadow over his ownership of the Oilers.

The Fallout: Public Backlash and Pocklington’s Reputation

In the years following the trade, Pocklington’s reputation in the hockey world was irreparably damaged. Fans in Edmonton, once loyal and supportive, turned on their former hero. Pocklington’s decision was widely criticized as short-sighted and driven by greed. Many people couldn’t comprehend why he would trade away the greatest player in hockey history at the height of his career.

The backlash was not limited to just the Oilers’ fanbase. Across the entire NHL, the move raised questions about loyalty, business, and the role of money in the sport. Gretzky was not just a player—he was an ambassador for the game. The impact of the trade was seismic, and the reverberations were felt well beyond Edmonton and Los Angeles.

In interviews at the time, Pocklington defended the trade as a financial necessity. He expressed regret over moving a player of Gretzky’s caliber but maintained that it was a business decision that had to be made to ensure the long-term survival of the Oilers. At the same time, Pocklington’s comments did little to soothe the anger of the public, and many questioned whether he truly understood the gravity of what he had done.

As the years went on, Pocklington’s image as a businessman became intertwined with his infamous decision to trade Gretzky. While he continued to own the Oilers for several more years, the shadow of the trade loomed large over his tenure. In the minds of many fans, Pocklington would forever be remembered as the man who traded away the game’s greatest player.

A Changed Perspective: Pocklington Defends Gretzky’s Legacy

Fast forward to the present day, and Peter Pocklington’s views on the trade have evolved. Rather than continuing to defend himself solely as a businessman who made a difficult decision, Pocklington has begun to embrace a more reflective and measured stance. As he has distanced himself from the ownership of the Oilers, his focus has shifted towards acknowledging the incredible legacy of Wayne Gretzky and the role that the trade ultimately played in the NHL’s growth.

In recent years, Pocklington has gone on record to say that he feels a deep sense of pride in the fact that he was able to bring Gretzky to the Oilers in the first place. He spoke about how, when he acquired Gretzky in a trade with the Indianapolis Racers in 1979, the young player’s potential was obvious, even though no one could have predicted just how dominant Gretzky would become. Pocklington has admitted that the decision to trade Gretzky to the Kings was the hardest decision he ever made, but he defends the reasoning behind it in a new light.

Pocklington now points out that, without the trade, the NHL might not have seen the kind of expansion and growth that it did during the 1990s. Gretzky’s move to Los Angeles helped elevate the sport in the United States, bringing national attention to hockey in markets that had never been invested in the game. Wayne Gretzky’s arrival in Los Angeles was not just a game-changer for the Kings—it was a pivotal moment in the history of the NHL. It marked the beginning of the league’s efforts to expand its reach and grow the game in non-traditional markets.

Moreover, the trade opened the door for other talented players to make their way to California and other U.S. cities, which helped establish hockey as a more mainstream sport in America. The move made Gretzky a global ambassador for the game, and the Kings became one of the most watched teams in the league. Pocklington now reflects on the long-term benefits of this shift, acknowledging that, in hindsight, his decision helped elevate the stature of the sport.

Additionally, Pocklington has softened his stance on Gretzky as a person. Over the years, the former Oilers owner has expressed his admiration for Gretzky’s character, professionalism, and dedication to the game. He has spoken about how, even though their relationship became strained after the trade, Gretzky’s influence on the sport and on the Oilers’ organization cannot be overstated. Pocklington has admitted that, while the trade was tough, it was made with the knowledge that Gretzky would continue to be a force in the NHL.

Gretzky’s Legacy: The Enduring Impact of the Trade

Wayne Gretzky’s impact on the NHL is undeniable, and as he enters the later stages of his post-playing career, his place in hockey history is secure. After retiring in 1999, Gretzky’s influence has remained strong, from his role as an ambassador for the game to his time as part-owner and coach of the Phoenix Coyotes. The trade that once seemed like an unimaginable mistake has, over time, proven to be a pivotal moment in the NHL’s growth and expansion.

Today, Gretzky is celebrated not just for his unparalleled skills on the ice, but for the way he helped elevate hockey to a global audience. He brought credibility and excitement to the league during a time when it was struggling to gain mainstream attention in North America. His role in the expansion of the game, especially in the U.S., is now widely acknowledged as one of the key turning points in the NHL’s history.

Peter Pocklington, for his part, has acknowledged that his decision to trade Gretzky was not made with malice. While it was a tough business move at the time, Pocklington now recognizes the importance of Gretzky’s legacy, not only to the Oilers but to the entire sport. In many ways, the trade helped shape the future of hockey, and Pocklington has come to appreciate the role he played, even if it was a painful one.

A Complicated Legacy: Pocklington and Gretzky’s Shared History

Peter Pocklington’s history with Wayne Gretzky will always be one of the most fascinating and controversial narratives in the history of professional sports. While Pocklington may never escape the shadow of the trade, his recent efforts to defend Gretzky’s legacy signal a shift in the way he views the decision—and the larger picture of the impact it had on the NHL.

In the end, both men’s careers have become intertwined in a way that few could have predicted back in 1988. Pocklington may have traded away Wayne Gretzky, but it’s clear now that the Great One’s influence on the game was much more profound than any single decision. As both men move forward, their shared history remains a defining chapter in the story of hockey’s greatest player—and the owner who once, unintentionally, helped set him on a path to immortality.