The NHL Network is doing a spotlight on one of the great players of this sport we all love.  They are calling it “Wayne Gretzky Week” in honor of his trade that “changed the game.”  On August 9th, 1988 … Gretzky was traded from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings (keep in mind Edmonton just won the cup … and the Kings, well, they were the Kings back then too!).  Gretzky becoming a King changed the franchise overnight and was one of the main reasons the NHL was able to expand into new “non-traditional” markets. 

The NHL Network is commemorating the anniversary of this trade with its “Wayne Gretzky Week” starting tomorrow – Wednesday August 6th and wrapping up on Saturday August 9th … the 20th anniversary of the incredible trade!  The NHL Network will be programming a one hour special on Wednesday followed by the re-broadcast of Gretzky’s first game in Los Angeles against the Red Wings (check the schedule below).

I, for one, am looking forward to watching these shows and games!

NHL NETWORK SCHEDULE FOR GRETZKY WEEK

Wednesday, August 6th
9:00 ET A Day That Changed The Game: August 9, 1988 – One-hour documentary chronicling the Gretzky trade.  Features interviews with Wayne Gretzky, Peter Pocklington and Bruce McNall
10:00 ET Red Wings @ Kings from October 6, 1988 – Gretzky’s first Kings game in Los Angeles.

Thursday, August 7th
9:00 ET – Frozen In Time: Wayne Gretzky Trade
9:30 ET – Top 10 Wayne Gretzky Moments
10:00 ET – Kings @ Oilers from October 19, 1988 – Gretzky’s first game as a visitor in Edmonton

Friday, August 8th
9:00 ET – Top 10 Wayne Gretzky Moments
9:30 ET – NHL Cool Shots: Extended Play – Wayne Gretzky
10:00 ET – Kings @ Oilers from October 15, 1989 – Gretzky breaks Gordie Howe’s career points record

Saturday, August 9th
7:00 ET – Kings @ Maple Leafs from May 29, 1993 – Gretzky’s Game 7 Hat Trick propels LA into the Stanley Cup Final
9:00 ET – A Day That Changed The Game: August 9, 1988
10:00 ET – Canucks @ Kings from March 23, 1994 – Gretzky becomes the NHL’s all-time goal scoring leader

Tags: edmonton oilers, LA Kings, The Great One, Trade, wayne gretzky