Hockey·Video

CBC Archives: The 'other' Gretzky trade

When you think of "The Gretzky Trade," the deal that comes to mind is the Aug. 9, 1988 blockbuster that sent The Great One from Edmonton to L.A. But, a decade earlier, it was another high-profile swap that launched Gretzky's Oilers tenure.

1978 swap launched Great One's Oilers tenure

Wayne Gretzky, pictured here in 1987, joined the Oilers in '78 and the NHL in '79. (Allsport/Getty Images)

When you think of "The Gretzky Trade," the deal that comes to mind is the Aug. 9, 1988 blockbuster that sent The Great One from Edmonton to Los Angeles.

But, a decade earlier, it was another high-profile swap that launched Gretzky's Oilers career.

This clip from the CBC archives looks back at the 1978 WHA trade that sent a 17-year-old Gretzky from the Indianapolis Racers to the Edmonton Oilers.