Everybody Hates Raymond Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Wayne Gretzky only played for one Canadian team during his professional career, but he was close to joining a second one in the mid-1990s. After a brief stint with the St. Louis Blues in the second half of the 1995-96 NHL season, Gretzky was an unrestricted free agent looking for a new place to play. The NHL’s all-time leader in goals, assists, points and a plethora of other categories says he was nearly a member of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Vancouver Canucks. “At one point in time we were close to Toronto. Cliff Fletcher [the Leafs GM at the time] really dug in deep and tried to make it happen,” Gretzky told Brady and Walker on Sportsnet 590 The Fan Thursday. Gretzky, who grew up in Brantford, Ont., explained that he and his agent at the time, Mike Barnett, “were leaning to go to Toronto and be part of the Toronto Maple Leafs,” but it turns out the team was more interested in a new arena rather than signing The Great One. “Timing is everything, and unfortunately at that time they were trying to raise money to move out of Maple Leaf Gardens and move into a new arena, a new facility, and the ownership just felt at that time they need to concentrate and put more of their resources into building an arena than to sign me,” Gretzky explained. “And that’s business and that’s what happens, but I thought I was close to signing in Toronto. I thought it was going to happen; unfortunately it didn’t.” In addition to speaking with the Leafs, Gretzky was also in talks with the Canucks. “It was a difficult summer. At one point I thought I was going to be a Vancouver Canuck and it fell through the wayside,” Gretzky said. “Everything happens for a reason, and I ended up signing with the New York Rangers… and truly enjoyed it.” He spent his final three seasons playing in New York, where he racked up 249 points in 234 games on Broadway. To think if we had secured the Great One... Linden - Gretzky - Bure... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RyanKeslord17 Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 I think we'd have a Atleast a cup by now Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheRussianRocket. Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 To think if we had secured the Great One... Linden - Gretzky - Bure... F*#*}^]^&$&@@@!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everybody Hates Raymond Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 I think we'd have a Atleast a cup by now Would have helped attract other free agents to avoid the mess we were in for so many years, but then we would have never had the Sedins, Naslund, Kesler or Luongo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick Grimes Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 It's painful to watch how poorly managed this team used to be... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhippy Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 To think if we had secured the Great One... Linden - Gretzky - Bure... Actually....Gretzky....Linden....Bure....JAGR! But we just had to have Nedved Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
250Integra Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 We were hours away from getting Gretzky until Pat Quinn ruined it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
:D Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Eh, people act like he would have duplicated his dynasty numbers here. It would have been a novelty, not much more. I don't think he would have equaled the totals he did if or the Rangers and it would probably be closer to his St. Louis numbers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Everybody Hates Raymond Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 We were hours away from getting Gretzky until Pat Quinn ruined it. Didn't he call him really late in the night to try and force him to decide or something? I remember hearing that years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TOMapleLaughs Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 By then he was pretty much done though, so whatever. Would've looked good on paper though. (Maybe even have hung up his jersey. Lol.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grapefruits Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 We also apparently had a chance on him before he went to L.A. http://video.tsn.ca/#clip514346 Burke confirms that Edmonton did offer Gretzky to Vancouver. The offer was $18M CDN, 3 first round picks, Greg Adams and "another good player off our team". Burke and GM Pat Quinn turned it down because they couldn't find the $18M. "They did not offer us Marty McSorley and the other player that went in the deal." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
It's a process Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Gretzky feeding the puck to Bure. Lol. Imagine that for a second. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rampage Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 =( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Heretic Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Gretzky feeding the puck to Bure. Lol. Imagine that for a second. Yeah - I could see Bure with 75 goals in a season! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Didn't he call him really late in the night to try and force him to decide or something? I remember hearing that years ago. That's what I heard too. It was like 3am or something and that was the deal breaker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frazzy Desjardins Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 We also apparently had a chance on him before he went to L.A. http://video.tsn.ca/#clip514346 Burke confirms that Edmonton did offer Gretzky to Vancouver. The offer was $18M CDN, 3 first round picks, Greg Adams and "another good player off our team". Burke and GM Pat Quinn turned it down because they couldn't find the $18M. "They did not offer us Marty McSorley and the other player that went in the deal." Didnt Gretzky get traded in 88-89. We didnt have Adams on our team then if i remember correctly. Lol obvious bs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blue & Green Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 To think if we had secured the Great One... Linden - Gretzky - Bure... or Mogilny - Gretsky - Bure Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oldnews Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Meh. No big deal. He was 'only' a 90-100 pt player at that point. Only with Gretzky can you say something like that. He was nearly 100 assists behind his prime (163 assists in a season? Ridiculous). Nearly 70 goals off his goal scoring prime. Unreal. But as others have pointed out, it could have altered the course off drafting the Sedins, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grapefruits Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Didnt Gretzky get traded in 88-89. We didnt have Adams on our team then if i remember correctly. Lol obvious bs Well you would be wrong. Adams was traded to the Canucks on September 15, 1987. Gretzky was sold to LA on August 9, 1988. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr. Crossbar Posted October 31, 2013 Share Posted October 31, 2013 Didn't he call him really late in the night to try and force him to decide or something? I remember hearing that years ago. It was something to this effect from what I remember. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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