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Must be a slow news day.......

Talk about stating the obvious. Let's see, trading the greatest player of all-time....

And its been exactly 41 years since the star power and greatest player of the 60's allowed the NHL to expand from the Original six to 12 teams with Bobby Hull!

...Which I might add, included the L.A Kings, 21 years before Gretzky arrived there.

In reality it wasn't so much a trade as a panicking Peter Pocklington trying to make some money while getting rid of a headache at the same time.

Gretzky became bigger than Pocklington and his business vetures and, yes, bigger than the city of Edmonton at that point. Pocklington, with his failing business ventures could never scrape enough money to keep Gretz and that version of the Oilers around much longer. The Oilers outgrew Pocklington's capabilities and resources!

All the same, it was shameful and childish how it was done and it will never be forgotten or forgiven.

I'm amazed that he went from LA to St. Louis. I'm sure Bettman wanted him to wind up in Florida after that, but Gretz showed 'em by signing in NY. O wait. I'm sure that was the only other option that Buttman and his minions gave the great one. Kings suck.

Gotta admit. Put yourself in Gretz's position. Janet Jones was looking FINE back then and she was actually thinking she'd make it big in the movies. I can't fault him for heading south.

Pocklington bumbled the whole thing for sure...and Bruce McNall was shady too...but Gretz proved himself bigger than the sport.

I thought it was great. I hated Edmonton and Gretzky. I remember him weeping in the press conference. I remember the SHOCK on all the Chet's faces.

I even remember some guys saying how the trade wasn't that bad for Deadmonton since Jimmy Carson was such a great young player.... If they hadn't gotten Gelinas it would have been brutal.

The best thing about it was that it allowed Deadmonton to win another Cup without Gretzky. And then it got better when Messier got another one without him in NY and when Wayne finally got there the cupboard was bare.

Hopefully one day we'll get a post like "20-year anniversary of NHL fans lynching the Midget commissioner out of his job"....

Hopefully one day we'll get a post like "20-year anniversary of NHL fans lynching the Midget commissioner out of his job"....
cmh_phx | 08/09/08, 06:50 PM


That'd be great! The difference is that Prter Pock was confined to one city where there was nowhere to hide from ireate fans! Edmonton stripped him naked, tarred and feathered him and run him out of town on a rail!

The problem with the midget is that he is here, there and everywhere and not confined to just one city or location, which makes it a lot harder to get your hands on! Let's keep the preasure on, though. You never know!

It was a great trade....... You don't know how often the Oilers killed the Jets.

Yes Baun-ded.......Hull is better than 99. I can read between the lines ;)

bostongm | 08/09/08, 11:45 AM

This is a joke, right?
No player has existed who can compare to the great one.

This is a joke, right?
No player has existed who can compare to the great one.

torque1 | 08/10/08, 07:38 AM
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Uh Mario Lemiuex or Sidney Crosby?? ring a bell?? gretzy is a ****

This is a joke, right?
No player has existed who can compare to the great one.
-- 77 Coffee's 91 Pens

Many comparable players come to mind in addition to Hull. Among them are the Rocket (Maruice Richard) and Mr. Hockey (Gordie Howe). I'm not saying they are better, but they are up there with Gretsky.

Gretzky was a keener suck up. To my eye Crosby is following the same path.

I prefer my stars with rough edges,

And Messier led his teams to more Stanley Cups than The ****..

W E E N E E R is ********???

I thought it was great. I hated Edmonton and Gretzky. I remember him weeping in the press conference. I remember the SHOCK on all the Chet's faces.
Hank Kingsley

You are the Grinch :)

Hank....Crosby is still a young pup. Let him grow.