The Day the Great One Left

On August 9, 1988, the unthinkable happened: the greatest player in hockey history was traded away from his dynasty, changing the sport's map forever.

• The greatest player on earth was suddenly a California King.

• Canada lost its crown jewel to a Hollywood script.

• One trade turned a regional game into a continental empire.

• Hockey's map was forever altered by a single signature.

01. The Unthinkable Headline

02. A Nation in Mourning

The trade was a calculated gamble to turn the Los Angeles Kings into a powerhouse and...

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03. The Hollywood Effect

04. A Map Redrawn

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01. The Unthinkable Headline

02. A Nation in Mourning

The trade was a calculated gamble to turn the Los Angeles Kings into a powerhouse and...

Click again — Open details →

03. The Hollywood Effect

04. A Map Redrawn

Click a snapshot to focus it. Click again to open details.