One of the biggest moments in Los Angeles Kings history was when they completed a trade for Wayne Gretzky in 1988. At the time, Gretzky was clearly the best player in the NHL and was a major win for the Kings to be able to bring him to Los Angeles.
However, it was a trade that almost didn't happen and it was Wayne Gretzky's dad that Kings' fans can thank for getting it across the finish line. At the time, Wayne Gretzky knew that the Edmonton Oilers were looking to trade him and he said it was down to two teams: Detroit Red Wings and Los Angeles Kings.
In an interview, Gretzky talked about the fact that he initially wanted to go to Detroit because of Gordie Howe, and he grew up a fan of the player and the team. However, in the interview, Gretzky said that his Dad called him to offer a piece of advice and said, "There is only one Gordie Howe and Detroit is Detroit. Why don't you do something different and go to LA?"
What if Wayne Gretzky went to Detroit instead of the Los Angeles Kings?
If the Los Angeles Kings didn't add Wayne Gretzky, that time period from the late 1980s to the early 1990s would have looked very different. They would advance past the first round in four of the first five seasons that Gretzky was with the Kings, including the Stanley Cup Final in 1993.
They would also win their only division championship during that time period during the 1990-91 season.
In terms of the trade itself, the players and picks they sent to Edmonton didn't really materialize or develop the way many expected. The Kings didn't lose much on that front so the team would not have been nearly as good and players like Bernie Nicholls and Luc Robitaille wouldn't have been as successful.
The Kings probably would not have gotten Barry Melrose as a head coach, as it wouldn't have been an attractive job. Melrose's tenure with the team was up and down as he helped them reach the Stanley Cup Final, but the team struggled in the two seasons after that.
While the Kings never were able to secure a Stanley Cup during Gretzky's time in Los Angeles, it was still a great move and one that the Kings should be happy that his Gretzky's Dad convinced him to take his own path.