“Doesn’t Even Have the Courtesy”: Wayne Gretzky’s Wife Lashed Out at Edmonton Oilers’ Owner Over the NHL Legend’s Controversial Trade in 1988

While Wayne Gretzky is inarguably the greatest ever to play the sport, his trade from the Edmonton Oilers was something that created controversy in his career. The 1988 fiasco garnered a lot of attention, and many fell victim to fans’ wrath. One of the victims was Gretzky’s new bride, Janet Jones. Post-marriage, Jones received a lot of hate and blame for the trade. However, she retaliated.

During a statement to the public, Jones lashed out at the team’s owner, Peter Pocklington. She presented her side of the story while also blaming Pocklington for the entire mess. Decades after this mess, fans remember how Gretzky’s trade led to significant changes in the league.

Mrs. Gretzky declared false claims while Wayne was truly hurt:

The controversy began when Edmonton Oilers traded Wayne Gretzky and a few other players, soon after the star’s wedding. This caused a lot of fans to direct hate toward Janet Jones, who they thought influenced ‘The Great One”. But she soon lost her cool and blamed Pocklington in a scathing statement. The actress cited the team owner as the cause of Gretzky’s dismissal. She also disclosed that an amount close to $18 million was involved in the trade.

It is no secret that both Gretzky and Jones loved living in Edmonton. In fact, the hockey legend developed an emotional bond with the team. Jones disclosed how the couple always intended to live in Edmonton. The trade was a rude shock that they did not expect to hit any time soon.

Read More: “The Roots That I Was Cutting Off Were Deep”: Days After His Star-Studded Wedding, NHL Goat Wayne Gretzky Suffered a Major Emotional Setback in 1988

Jones exclaimed, “You play for a man for 10 years and he doesn’t even have the courtesy to call and tell you what is happening.” The legend got a call from the Los Angeles Kings’ owner, Bruce McNall, during his honeymoon. That is when they put 2-and-2 together. Pocklington, on the other hand, never communicated about this.

Oilers’ future and Gretzky’s role:

Since the trade, Wayne Gretzky went on to popularize hockey in the US amongst various youth groups. The star’s number 99 jersey became a widespread favorite. Supporters of ‘The Great One’ began rooting for his new team. While the Oilers posed a tough challenge in the form of the team forward, Mark Messier they still lacked fan support.

Meanwhile, Gretzky initially returned to his home team as the Vice President, in 2016. However, he stepped down a few years later in 2021, owing to multiple commitments and the pandemic.

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