Kings Ransom

On August 9, 1988, the NHL was irrevocably altered by a single signature. The Edmonton Oilers, fresh off their fourth Stanley Cup in five years, agreed to move Wayne Gretzky, a Canadian national treasure and the greatest hockey player ever to lace up skates, to the Los Angeles Kings in a multi-player, multi-million dollar deal. As Oilers fans reeled at the unthinkable, fans in Los Angeles rushed to secure season tickets at a rate that overwhelmed the Kings' box office. Overnight, a franchise long overlooked in its 21-year history found itself selling out games and receiving standing ovations, and a league often relegated to 'little brother' status exploded from 21 teams to 30 in less than a decade.