How Close did the Rangers Come to Landing Wayne Gretzky in 1988?

[ PHOTO: SPORTS ON EARTH ]

August 13, 2018

Sportsnet New York

NOTE: This story was originally written for and published on August 9, 2018.

Today is the 30th Anniversary of Wayne Gretzky's trade from the Edmonton Oilers to the Los Angeles Kings.

Gretzky was traded to LA for a package that included Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three future first-round (traded to NJ for Corey Foster, Marty Rucinsky, Nick Stajduhar) draft picks and $15 million.

Reports from the New York Times in 1988 indicate that Rangers GM Phil Espositio was approached by Edmonton GM Glen Sather about Gretzky at the draft that June.

The Oilers said that they approached the Rangers because their owners at the time, Gulf and Western, "could afford him."

Espositio said at the time that he was interested in Gretzky but that once they started discussing terms he lost interest.

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