AtomicPunk 296 Report post Posted October 5, 2009 Was just reading something on the Gretzky trade in 88 from the Oilers to LA, there is a special on ESPN tomorrow night at 8 about it. At the screening, Gretzky, Pocklington and McNall were all there and were interviewed. There is a part in the Gretzky interview where he says he told Pocklington he wanted to go to Detroit or LA. His wife Janet said, "Go to Detroit. It's a hockey city". Then I got to thinking about what might have been had Gretzky been traded to Detroit. Was there an offer? What players might have been involved? We know he got 15 million (CDN) in cash plus Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, 3 first round picks, and Marty McSorley came with him to LA. Might they have shipped a young Adam Graves or Adam Oates, Gerard Gallant, cash, and 3 first rounders to LA for Gretzky? Hmmm.... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted October 5, 2009 Was just reading something on the Gretzky trade in 88 from the Oilers to LA, there is a special on ESPN tomorrow night at 8 about it. At the screening, Gretzky, Pocklington and McNall were all there and were interviewed. There is a part in the Gretzky interview where he says he told Pocklington he wanted to go to Detroit or LA. His wife Janet said, "Go to Detroit. It's a hockey city". Then I got to thinking about what might have been had Gretzky been traded to Detroit. Was there an offer? What players might have been involved? We know he got 15 million (CDN) in cash plus Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, 3 first round picks, and Marty McSorley came with him to LA. Might they have shipped a young Adam Graves or Adam Oates, Gerard Gallant, cash, and 3 first rounders to LA for Gretzky? Hmmm.... For some reason I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the idea of having Yzerman AND Gretzky on the same team. Either way, I'm glad it didn't happen. I always admired Gretzky's skill... but never really cared for him as a person. I'm glad he didn't get a chance to influence Stevie. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA Report post Posted October 5, 2009 Was just reading something on the Gretzky trade in 88 from the Oilers to LA, there is a special on ESPN tomorrow night at 8 about it. At the screening, Gretzky, Pocklington and McNall were all there and were interviewed. There is a part in the Gretzky interview where he says he told Pocklington he wanted to go to Detroit or LA. His wife Janet said, "Go to Detroit. It's a hockey city". Then I got to thinking about what might have been had Gretzky been traded to Detroit. Was there an offer? What players might have been involved? We know he got 15 million (CDN) in cash plus Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, 3 first round picks, and Marty McSorley came with him to LA. Might they have shipped a young Adam Graves or Adam Oates, Gerard Gallant, cash, and 3 first rounders to LA for Gretzky? Hmmm.... 1) I wasent alive when this trade happened, but that seems like an insanely low price for Gretzky, especially since half a decade later Eric Lindros more then doubled a return price. I suppose it all matters on what we would have to give up. If it was for Steve and 2 1sts or some s*** like Im sure we woudlve won a few cups sooner, but I seriosuly doubt the Wings would be as good as they are today. If it was for Adam Graves or Adam Oates, Gerard Gallant, cash, and 3 first rounders like you would speculate, then that means we woudlnt have Lidstrom with us right now. Im not sure if Id be happy with that in Hindsight. While we will never know how things woudlve turned out I think its safe to say if we kept Gretz and Steve together then we may not have truly gotten to see how good Fedorov was, or bring in other players at the time. I assume they woudlve won a few cups earlier then we did, but I doubt the stability would remain as long as it has due to the 1st that drafted Lids being traded away. Another Hypothetical... what if we drafter Jagr over Primeau Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AtomicPunk 296 Report post Posted October 5, 2009 (edited) Nick Lidstrom was drafted in the 3rd round in 1989. Sergei was a 4th round pick also in 1989. I don't see how those would have changed if the trade was made, but it's possible they would not have picked Sergei if Gretzky was a Wing. Don't get me started on the Jagr / Primeau thing. Still pisses me off that Petr Klima being a prima donna kept them from drafting Jagr in 1990. Martin Brodeur was also taken at #20 in that first round. The first round picks the Kings gave up were '89, '91, and '93. That would have been Mike Sillinger, Martin LaPointe, and Anders Eriksson. I'd be OK with that. Edited October 5, 2009 by AtomicPunk Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doggy 130 Report post Posted October 5, 2009 For some reason I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the idea of having Yzerman AND Gretzky on the same team. Either way, I'm glad it didn't happen. I always admired Gretzky's skill... but never really cared for him as a person. I'm glad he didn't get a chance to influence Stevie. Ever see Team Canada play between 84 and 02? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Nick Lidstrom was drafted in the 3rd round in 1989. Sergei was a 4th round pick also in 1989. I don't see how those would have changed if the trade was made, but it's possible they would not have picked Sergei if Gretzky was a Wing. Don't get me started on the Jagr / Primeau thing. Still pisses me off that Petr Klima being a prima donna kept them from drafting Jagr in 1990. Martin Brodeur was also taken at #20 in that first round. The first round picks the Kings gave up were '89, '91, and '93. That would have been Mike Sillinger, Martin LaPointe, and Anders Eriksson. I'd be OK with that. Wow talk about a brain fart, I knew Lidstrom was drafted before Feds and Vladdy, but I thought it was the first round not third. Got my facts mixed up. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 We came close to having Bure as well around that time. Oh what could of been.. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Ever see Team Canada play between 84 and 02? Right... because that's JUST LIKE playing entire NHL seasons. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 We came close to having Bure as well around that time. Oh what could of been.. Did we come close? Because I remember whispers and hopes, but I didn't know we were close. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Doggy 130 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Right... because that's JUST LIKE playing entire NHL seasons. Maybe you edited that part out. Chill. I just thought you couldn't imagine the idea of them on the same team, that's all. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Carman 387 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Did we come close? Because I remember whispers and hopes, but I didn't know we were close. Not really close, but close enough to use my imagination. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Broken 16 381 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Maybe you edited that part out. Chill. I just thought you couldn't imagine the idea of them on the same team, that's all. I'm chill. The whole basis of the thread is that they would have been on the same team (assuming the OP's trade went through). I'm just not convinced that the presence of Gretzky would have helped Yzerman. I know the the knee jerk reaction is: Of course he would have helped... he was the Great One! But I dunno. I think it may have actually stunted Yzerman in the long run. Or I'm just a Gretzky hater... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
LeftWinger 5,153 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Yes, I remember the Detroit or LA question, Wayne actually wanted Detroit. afterall, his Idol played there, but yes, ANY trade involvng Gretzky would have most certainly involved Yzerman going to Edmonton. At the time Carson was scoring at a 50 goal pace and the only player we had scoring that was Yzerman. This may be biased, but I think we made the right choice keeping Yzerman, for all the points Gretzky put up, Yzerman was the better leader and we benefitted from that more so than his point production (which went down after Fedorov arrived.) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Detroit # 1 Fan 2,204 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Any scenario where we keep Stevie and get Gretzky, results in alot more Cups. Espcially if McSorley came with him. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
toby91_ca 620 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Ever see Team Canada play between 84 and 02? Yes, and Yzerman didn't play on many of those teams. Yzerman played a few games in the 1984 Canada Cup, but his role was so small, I don't even remember being part of that team. Other than that, the only Canada teams he played on other than World Championships, which most guys like to avoid (i.e. you might play if you miss the playoffs....Gretzky never played on any of those) was the 1996 World Cup and the 1998 Olympics. Gretzky was retired by the time the 2002 Olympics rolled around. Say what you want about Gretzky and not wanting him on the team because you don't like him and wouldn't want him influencing Yzerman......Yzerman definately has a lot of respect for the guy and they work together quite a bit with Hockey Canada these days. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Snazzy 0 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Yes, and Yzerman didn't play on many of those teams. Yzerman played a few games in the 1984 Canada Cup, but his role was so small, I don't even remember being part of that team. Other than that, the only Canada teams he played on other than World Championships, which most guys like to avoid (i.e. you might play if you miss the playoffs....Gretzky never played on any of those) was the 1996 World Cup and the 1998 Olympics. Gretzky was retired by the time the 2002 Olympics rolled around. Say what you want about Gretzky and not wanting him on the team because you don't like him and wouldn't want him influencing Yzerman......Yzerman definately has a lot of respect for the guy and they work together quite a bit with Hockey Canada these days. I think the OP's point was we'd have to give up Yzerman for Gretzky in return. I'm glad Yzerman stayed his entire career here... It worked out perfect, the transition was smooth from the Yzerman, Fedorov, Shanny days to the Datsyuk, Zetterberg, Franzen core. That was my fear losing the 80's and 90's core. Now I hope Holland has a aolution for when Lidstrom retires. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Nero 20 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 For some reason I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around the idea of having Yzerman AND Gretzky on the same team. Either way, I'm glad it didn't happen. I always admired Gretzky's skill... but never really cared for him as a person. I'm glad he didn't get a chance to influence Stevie. Would that have something to do with the fact that he never played for Detroit? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Would that have something to do with the fact that he never played for Detroit? While im not the one you're asking this question to, I always thought of Gretz the same way I think of Crosby, great player and playmaker, but just allways comes off as a ******. I never had a problem admiring players who did not play for Detroit, Including Sakic who burned us many a time. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
shoe 165 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 I could see Oats in that deal after all they did end up trading him for Bernie Federko Gretzgy would have never have over shadowed Yzermans career in my opinion, Messier, Kurri, Anderson probably only excelled along side Gretz. I was never a fan of his as a kid but I did respect what he did Im kind of glad they never traded for him though. Then everyone would have a wings Jersey cause of him. I kind of like how Detroit was at the very bottom and climbed the ladder with their own draft choices and built the big red machine from their own core of players. Would have been something to see though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
InKennyWeTrust 126 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Assuming no injuries and we had somehow managed to get the two trades (Gretzky and Bure) pulled off without losing our Lidstrom and Federov picks, can you imagine that 2002 team? Shanahan-Gretzky-Hull Yzerman-Federov-Bure Robitaille-Larionov-Holmstrom Maltby-Draper-McCarty Lidstrom-Chelios Dandenault-Duchesne Olausson-Fischer Hasek Legace (Williams/Avery/Datsyuk) Guys- the best stuff in the world just got better. I know, injuries, retirements, blah blah blah, but just imagine this lineup for a second... If Gretz doesn't retire and Bure doesn't degenerate, this is the best hockey team I've ever seen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AtomicPunk 296 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 I was imagining Steve and Gretzky on the same team. Although Stevie still would have been captain. I imagine the Cup would have come here a lot sooner than 1997. Not to mention McSorley would have been on that team as well or traded for another asset like goaltending....that was the weak link there. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RusDRW 155 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Yzerman-Federov-Bure some things never changes... What's about non-English native speakers writing something like "Izerman" or "Shanohan"? :) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FunkedUp 29 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Oh man...There's really too much to think about here. But could you imagine a Yzerman-Gretzky-Probert line ??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FunkedUp 29 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 Oh man...There's really too much to think about here. But could you imagine a Yzerman-Gretzky-Probert line ??? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
akustyk 84 Report post Posted October 6, 2009 I am biased but I like the fact that we had Yzerman not Gretzky. sure, he was more talented and scored much more points but I like the spirit and inspiration of Steve Y. because there's no "I" in team. and the Wings have been a team for a number of years already. not a bunch of high draft picks but a competitive and hard working team without ego's. and Stevie Y was surely big part of this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
