Holiday Auction Closing December 7 ,2019
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 12/7/2019
On August 9, 1988, in a move that heralded significant change in the National Hockey League, the defending Stanley Cup champion Edmonton Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky and two other players to the Los Angeles Kings for two players, $15 million in cash and the Kings' first-round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993. Gretzky's first season in Los Angeles saw a marked increase in attendance and fan interest in a city not previously known for following hockey. Many credit Gretzky's arrival with putting non-traditional American hockey markets on "the NHL map"; not only did California receive two more NHL franchises (the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim and San Jose Sharks) during Gretzky's tenure in Los Angeles, but his popularity in Southern California proved to be an impetus in the league establishing teams in other parts of the US Sun Belt.
Offered is a memento of Gretzky’s eight seasons (1988-1996) in Los Angeles, his signature on a replica LA Kings helmet. “The Great One” has signed his name in black marker on the right side of the white plastic “JOFA” helmet, which features his number “99” in a black and silver decal on the back, and a pair of Los Angeles Kings logo stickers on the front sides. At the time of his retirement in 1999 and through the present, Gretzky holds 61 NHL records: 40 regular season records, 15 playoff records, and 6 All-Star records. This item comes with a full LOA from JSA (X63024).