NHL legend Wayne Gretzky did it all during his illustrious career, but it gave him a lesson to remember well into his retirement. The 65-year-old opened up about a big moment from 1988 about understanding that even he could be traded.

A clip from 2016 was posted to Instagram on June 4, 2026, by In Depth With Graham Bensinger, where Graham Bensinger interviews Gretzky. Gretzky speaks about how he was traded from the Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings, and about how Oilers' owner Peter Pocklington gave him a reality check.

“He basically said I was like every other player and he was going to trade me because I wasn't going to sign a contract with him."

It happened nearly 38 years ago when he was at the very top of his game with the Edmonton Oilers after winning the Stanley Cup four times in the previous five seasons. He felt untouchable.

“In that point in time, like every athlete, you think that you're untouchable in a franchise, but he looked at me as one of 20 players.”

Gretzky did seem beyond the ordinary. He still leads the league in points scored (2,857) and assists (1,963) made in history. No wonder he's called "The Great One".

Gretzky admitted that the biggest reason for the trade deal was his reluctance to sign a contract extension with the Oilers. He also stated that the Oilers owner didn’t want to trade him to the Kings in the first place.

“He said basically if you don't sign, you know, I got to move you.”

Gretzky did move on in 1988, playing for the Kings. He ultimately played with four teams in the NHL, which also included the St. Louis Blues and the New York Rangers.

What Was Wayne Gretzky’s Career Like With the Edmonton Oilers?

Wayne Gretzky was a part of the Oilers for nine seasons in the NHL, winning all four of his Stanley Cup titles from 1984 to 1988. He went on to play 696 games for the Oilers, scoring 1,669 (583G / 1,086A) while his 120 playoff appearances yielded  252 points (81G / 171A).

Gretzky scored the most points for a player in a single NHL season in 1985-86, registering 215 points (52G / 163A) for Edmonton.

The number of assists from the same season is the most for a league player in a single campaign, and both of the records still stand to this day.

He also set the record for most goals in a single season in 1981-82, scoring 92 for the Oilers, and it’s still not beaten yet.

Such numbers led to him clinching the Art Ross Trophy seven times while playing for the Oilers.

The NHL honored Gretzky with the Hart Memorial Trophy eight times in a row from 1980 to 1987. He also received the Conn Smythe Trophy twice in 1985 and 1988 during his time in Edmonton.

Did Wayne Gretzky do right by himself to leave the Edmonton Oilers in a trade deal in 1988? Tell us in the comments.

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Written by

Arjun Sharma

Edited by

Surjo Ray