How Wayne Gretzky almost became a Maple Leaf in 1996
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- čas přidán 19. 11. 2017
- Scott Morrison breaks down how The Great One, Wayne Gretzky thwarted the Maple Leafs playoff dreams in 1993 and how Gretzky almost became a member of the Leafs some years later.
- Sport
Gretzky also said if the Rangers had signed Pavel Bure in 1999 instead of 01, he would have played at least one more season. Instead Pavel was traded to Florida in early 99 and Wayne retired a few months later. Pavel came to New York in 2001-2003 and retired from knee problems. I always wonder, what the 1999-2000 Rangers would have done because Pavel in 99 to 01 was still putting up almost 60 goals (58, 59) in the 99-2000 and 2000-2001 seasons.
It boggles my mind that Leaf ownership said no to 99 joining the Leafs in the summer of 96. He was a great player and I think he was a top ten scorer his last year. Can you imagine Sundin/ 99 and Gilmour as your centers? Gretzky jerseys and merchandise would have made ownership tens of millions of dollars..
He was 36 not top lol, In 1999
@@Igoruhandchu But 4th and 5th in the two years prior.
@@Mat-ss8uw Mario Lemieux was 1st at the same age as wayne the fruit
@@Igoruhandchuage 35 Gretzky had 102 points, age 36 he had 97 points, age 37 he had 90 points…he led NHL in assists at age 36 and 37…in middle of low scoring trap years where goalies had 2.00 GAA or less
defeating the Leafs...and not playing for them, turned me into a huge Gretzky fan .
So that was the second time Gretzky almost played in Toronto; the first time being when Harold Ballard and Peter Pocklington tried _trading franchises_ in the late-80s.
No one ever mentions Gilmour's headbutt no call in that game too, but I remember lol
Like someone else mentioned, I would love to have seen Gretzky and Bure lineup in NY, that could have been something special, and giving us more year of the Great One!
So..what you're saying is that the real price of the Air Canada Centre was Gretzky?
As a leafs fan I wish Gretzky had played for them and the only way to make Gretzky play for the leafs is to put him on them in NHL 20
Gretzkys to damn good for the leafs
too*
Fools, the Management of Maple Leafs were... Not to sign the greatest player in the world!!!
There's one tiny fact that never get's mentioned about all this. Gretzky also wanted an ownership stake in the Leafs or he wouldn't sign. Wayne and his dad wher more about money then people think. Stavro revealed that to Howard Berger on a flight home from the World Championship.
@@aai3661 Is that why Gretzky refused to take $1 million dollars just to CONSIDER playing another year in NY after 1999? All Gretzky had to do was say "I thought about it, and I'm still retiring" and he could have kept the money. That was the deal the Rangers front office offered him. Instead, Gretzky said "I've already made up my mind, and I can't steal your money" and declined the cash. Yeah, sounds like a "money hungry" guy right?
In 1996 he wasn't the greatest player in the world. He was towards the end of his career and not even close to the player he was with the Oilers.
Gretzky actually did want to join the maple leafs but his wife wanted to be an actress in California so he chose LA instead. He even stated that in an interview. He also stated in an interview that he wasn’t supposed to win that series against the Leafs. He was supposed to have a penalty and wasn’t supposed to be on the ice. He even skated up to the ref and mentioned that.
czcams.com/video/6sQHanp5aoo/video.html
One could dream.
God, could you imagine that team with Getsky?
Great one Gretzky
The Fans didn't want him. He was too expensive and fans felt he got away with an intentional high stick costing the Leafs a chance at the final. I remember a lot of fans being furious over Gretzky potentially coming to Toronto. His father, Walter, was a very nice fellow. A kind person and did a lot of charity work.
Missed being 99 here by 1.
Oh well we now have marner and auston matthews and tavares
So what.... and Winnipeg Jets had first crack at Gretzky before Edmonton.
So that being said "Close only counts in Horseshoes and Hand Grenades."
Gretzky wouldn’t resign with St. Louis as he didn’t get along with Mike Keenan.
Can you imagine if the Leafs actually signed Gretzky
Noooope...there is a bit more to this story. The part that never came out because Gretzky and his people didn't want it to was that Gretzky also wanted a substantial ownership stake in the Leafs to come play there. Around 12%. For a guy now well on the downside of his career. Does anything come to mind at all about his Ranger years except his farewell tour? NOPE. Steve Stavro revealed this to reporter Howard Berger years later.
He did help the rangers get to the conference final in 97 and came close to knocking off Lindros's flyers and going to the final
Sure sportsnet keep thinking that
As journalists of the game I'm pretty sure to Sportsnet has more credentials then you do
He was closer to going to Vancouver.
I don't remember that at all. I remember Vancouver and Edmonton wanted him.
Vancouver were much more in on Gretzky than Toronto. Never heard talk of him going back to Edmonton.
Would’ve been amazing if he did
Words that rhyme with Canuck ; Not Gretzky
Of course the leafs would talk about The Great One would join their favourite team.... thats all they talk about; every decent player is going to be traded to toronto!
He wasn't really close for the Leafs, but he was close to becoming a Canuck
Who??
There is one huge detail being left out of this. Gretzky wanted an ownership stake to come and play with the Leafs. Wouldn't doubt that was the same issue with the management offer. That was revealed by Stavros himself. Gretzky and his dad where much more about the money than they ever lead people to believe.
I suspect it was the U.S. television networks that probably blocked this trade.
To have Gretzky play for a Canadian-based team would have meant that there wouldn't be as much interest in him in the U.S. as would be the case were he playing for a U.S.-based club.
(But to be fair, the Toronto Maple Leafs still to this day have a substantial following in upstate New York, a following which goes back to the days when Foster Hewitt's "Hockey Night In Canada" was on CBC radio with it';s powerful 50,000-watt stations)
He also became a Canadiens if he didnt join the WHL
Ownership is to blame primarily but Gretzky could have made it happen if he wanted to. With all the millions he had already He could have taken a pay cut in order to join the Leafs. I guess they're both to blame partially
Only on Sportsnet would they need to make a video about a non-story about something that "almost" happened. What joke.
Shocking 😮one of richest franchise TML🙄 😒 lost Gretzky 😳 😢😢😢😢
Nobody called him a snake? So why is JT one?
lucas Rozmus you’re dumb
Money trouble? They had a licence to print money based on Gretzky Leaf jersey sales alone.
He also wanted about 12% ownership of the which,based on the value of the team and the Gardens ar the time ,translates to about another 80 million. ThATS why they nixed it
I dont understand how an elite NHL player as Gretzky can go his whole career without playing for his boyhood favorite team....the Red Wings.
coltukkor happens all the time...look at players like Stamkos Doughty(still may) Tavares etc all Leafs fans growing up but don't end up signing there. Being a fan as a kid and dealing with the business side are 2 different things. Like 3 years ago NO ONE wanted to sign or play for the Leafs. Now they are a major FA destination.
Shows you how much the Leafs organization disrespects their fans.
His first choice was Vancouver, so...
I like how Sportsnet makes every thing about the leafs. Oilers sign McDavid, how does this effect the leafs? Winnipeg goes on winning streak, can the leafs keep up? What a joke.
I Flat Earth when they post other teams also i don’t see u going on that video and saying leafsnet
I Flat Earth flat earth? Lol meet you at the edge
I Flat Earth it’s a leafs channel
gilmour was high-sticked
Yes he was. It was in the video captain obvious.
Ok now I see leafs bias as a leafs fan lol
LMFAO all.these people.chirping the Leafs saying he was closer to other places or all.about the Leafs need to read his newest book.
He shouldn't of went to RANGERS, that team sucked him dry, first season was good but last two seasons team n players sucked, Niklas SUNDSTROM was his Scoring Ace that the gm was hoping on, they could have had BURE but waited to grt BURE, JAGR, LINDROS, MESSIER etc back after he retired.
Habs93
One of the biggest goons to ever play.
👹NO HE'S NOT
Wayne train you're an ass
Why do leaf fans always think they're gonna get the best players in the league?
most fans are reasonable, its always the media that blow things out of proportion.
cuz they're all from here
Should have grabbed him from Oilers ...It was planned - most likely - that he would go to L.A. by top M's ;)
I can't believe this man they call him best lolz
I think Gretzky was a big bust👌
Exactly. People can be stubborn about that all they want but if they can’t take the truth, they might as well live with a VR headset. Gretzky was garbage. I’m amazed he even figured out how to tie his skates.
CZcams Sucks he was signing autographs since he was like 10 to kids around his age
Tyler Boyd they were restraining orders you genius
CZcams Sucks lol. He may not be the best player to you, but he should be up there as one of them. To me it’s hard to pick Bobby Orr, or Wayne Gretzky as the best player ever
Tyler Boyd Gretzky is garbage. He’d kill to be at the same level as Heatley.
leafsnet
Sundin, Gilmore,Gretzky. Would have Wow.
man who cares. this is old news
Not getting him as a player was terrible but not getting him as a president was a smart move
So The Maple Leafs blew it....par for the course.
So who is this Wayne Gretzky guy and why is he so important?
Gretzky is overrated
so you're dumb?
ry4nx no?
ry4nx i just think he isnt the best ever
Matthew McDowall no he isn’t
Look at the stats.Says it all.
He should've signed with the Senators. Biggest bust of Gretzky's career
Garbage goals and prancing around like a fruit.