“Wasn’t Comfortable Making That Decision”: Wayne Gretzky Immediately Turned to His Family After Receiving Massive Update Over a 1:45 Am Call in 1996

Three years before retiring in 1999, Wayne Gretzky had to make an important decision that would impact his life. In 1996, Gretzky had to select the team he wished to play in. In talks with 3–4 teams, Gretzky got a positive response from the Vancouver Canucks management who wanted to meet him. In a 2023 podcast episode of Unreel: West Coast Express, Scott Rintoul interviewed Gretzky who then told the real backstory about this negotiation. 

The ice hockey champion disclosed how the deal with the Vancouver Canucks appeared difficult from the start in this podcast. Recounting the times when he went to Seattle for the negotiation, Gretzky told an interesting anecdote of the first day of the negotiation. In fact, he received a 1:45 am call from the Vancouver Canucks management. What went down on the call? Let’s find out! 

Wayne Gretzky relates the behind-the-scenes action of the negotiation with the Vancouver Canucks Management 

Gretzky stated in the Unreel: West Coast Express podcast that the Vancouver Canucks general manager had specified that Trevor Linden would be the Vancouver Canucks team captain. Despite agreeing to this, the deal was not signed due to hesitation from the team owner John McCaw. Gretzky recalled, ‘I think it was John McCaw who stood up and went ‘you know what? I’m not good at negotiating, I’m gonna leave.”  After this statement, both Gretzky and McCaw spent the rest of the day at McCaw’s office, unable to reach an agreement. 

Later, Gretzky related how till 11 pm, his deal with the Vancouver Canucks had not been finalized yet. However, surprisingly, this wasn’t the end of the story. At 1:45 am, Gretzky got a call that a deal had been agreed upon. Shocked, ‘the Great One’ then said that he would have to talk to his family before taking this life-changing decision. Gretzky further explained, “And that’s when, you know, the delegation really wanted an answer by the time I got the phone call. and I just wasn’t comfortable making this decision.” 

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After Gretzky refused to sign the deal without discussing it with his family, the deal fell through. According to The Great One, “John just pulled the plug and said okay we tried, they’re not interested in doing it.” Post this, Gretzky later played for the New York Rangers. After playing his last game for the New York Rangers in 1999, The Great One made a heartfelt confession. 

The Great One’s confession in his last NHL conference 

Gretzky gave this press conference after playing for New York Rangers in a match versus the Pittsburgh Penguins. In the conference when Gretzky was asked why he hadn’t yet removed his Rangers jersey, he had an emotional response. Expressing his desire to never take off the jersey, Gretzky knew he would never have the chance to wear that jersey again. 

Later, the White Tornado implied how retiring from ice hockey was hard. He also got nostalgic about his childhood days when he was just a boy who fell in love with ice hockey. Further, Gretzky described how he developed a passion for the game. 

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Do you think Gretzky took the right decision to play with New York Rangers after the failed deal with Vancouver Canucks? Share your views in the comments section.