alternatehistory.com
The Announcement
"Hello there, Welcome to Sports Desk! I'm Michael Landsberg, and it is official: Wayne Gretzky says goodbye to both Edmonton and Canada. Last night,in front of a packed house at the edmonton Convention Centre, Oilers owner Peter Pocklington confirmed that Number 99 will join the Detroit Red wings in a blockbuster trade involving 6 players, three future first round draft picks and a whopping $15 million cheque.
The scenes at the convention centre was almost apocalyptic in tone, with pocklington looking distraught as he delivered the bad news and the great one himself drowing in tears as he said his final goodbyes to the country.
Hardcore Oilers fans, distraught by the news, would do what every sane man would do: burn effigies of Pocklington and gretzky's Jersey and a good old riot outside of the Northlands Colisseum. It even was a topic of debate in the national assembly, where our most prominent politicians were lashing out on pocklington selling out to the americans! Though some actually sane fans, while extremely disappointed, are nonetheless content that Wayne left for His favorite team from his childhood.
Wayne won't be alone in joining the hockey club of his idol, the great gordie howe: Mike krushelnyski and Gretzky's "bodyguard", marty mcsorley, will also move to the motor city as part of the deal, at gretzky's request, in exchange for the red wings's 1989, 1991 and 1993 First round draft picks, as well as three players: Centre adam oates, czech winger petr klima and the very promising joe murphy.
FINAL TRADE:
TO EDMONTON
$15 million
1989, 1991 and 1993 1st round picks
C Adam oates
W Petr Klima
W Joe murphy
TO DETROIT
C Wayne Gretzky
D Marty Mcsorley
C Mike Krushelnyski
TO BE CONTINUED.
August 10th, 1988
"Hello there, Welcome to Sports Desk! I'm Michael Landsberg, and it is official: Wayne Gretzky says goodbye to both Edmonton and Canada. Last night,in front of a packed house at the edmonton Convention Centre, Oilers owner Peter Pocklington confirmed that Number 99 will join the Detroit Red wings in a blockbuster trade involving 6 players, three future first round draft picks and a whopping $15 million cheque.
The scenes at the convention centre was almost apocalyptic in tone, with pocklington looking distraught as he delivered the bad news and the great one himself drowing in tears as he said his final goodbyes to the country.
Hardcore Oilers fans, distraught by the news, would do what every sane man would do: burn effigies of Pocklington and gretzky's Jersey and a good old riot outside of the Northlands Colisseum. It even was a topic of debate in the national assembly, where our most prominent politicians were lashing out on pocklington selling out to the americans! Though some actually sane fans, while extremely disappointed, are nonetheless content that Wayne left for His favorite team from his childhood.
Wayne won't be alone in joining the hockey club of his idol, the great gordie howe: Mike krushelnyski and Gretzky's "bodyguard", marty mcsorley, will also move to the motor city as part of the deal, at gretzky's request, in exchange for the red wings's 1989, 1991 and 1993 First round draft picks, as well as three players: Centre adam oates, czech winger petr klima and the very promising joe murphy.
The three players heading edmonton's way.
Gretzky will be joining a young, promising team that made the western conference finals 2 years in a row, featuring young talents such as gerard gallant, bob probert, john ogrodnick, steve Chiasson and Steve Yzerman as well as recently acquired paul mclean from the st. Louis blues. Gretzky's arrival is already the most anticipated event in detroit, and red wings owner Mike Illitch hopes that such an Important acquisition will finally bring the club over the hump and get that much coveted stanley cup that's been missing in hockeytown for over 30 years.
FINAL TRADE:
TO EDMONTON
$15 million
1989, 1991 and 1993 1st round picks
C Adam oates
W Petr Klima
W Joe murphy
TO DETROIT
C Wayne Gretzky
D Marty Mcsorley
C Mike Krushelnyski
TO BE CONTINUED.
- kinnikuniverse
- Word Count: 390