is that crazy long? or just interesting because of Gretzky?

That is crazy long.

Most hockey trade trees go at most a decade or so. Gretzky has the current longest trade tree in history.

https://youtu.be/lvuqTgdiM_E

This is one of many in depth trade trees to help put it into perspective of how insanely long it is

It’s a long time, but I can’t verify if it’s the longest in North American pro sports. It’s also interesting because it’s Gretzky, so yes. He’s considered to be the greatest player in the history of his sport, and he was traded in his prime. It’s an example of the impact he had on the NHL that trading a single player has a cause/effect lasting that long.

Not nearly as long yet but pretty funny: MLS has international roster spots to limit the number of foreign players on teams to foster local talent. These spots can be traded, typically for the length of a season.

In 2005 Real Salt Lake traded a spot permanently to the Colorado Rapids for Adolfo Gregorio, who made a whopping six appearances for them. He was released the following season, never to play professionally again.

Steve Dangle has a really good YouTube video on this trade tree.

Dirty Dangles boys!

wheel, snipe, celly!

Arguably as bad a trade as if the Bulls traded Jordan in 1992

> He’s considered to be the greatest player in the history of his sport

He's considered by many to be the greatest player in the history of any sport.

They won a championship without Gretzky a few years later, so it wasn’t that bad. But when it was announced there were basically riots across Canada lol.

I can't even spell sparts, and i know Wayne Gretzky

>It’s a long time, but I can’t verify if it’s the longest in North American pro sports

How long did the Eric Lindros trade pay dividends for Quebec/Colorado?

We should have stopped up-voting this when it hit 99.

They won in 90 and were the second to last Canadian team to win the cup. The Canadiens won in 93 and no Canadian team has won since then.

Also potentially important to note that the oilers had won 4 championships with Gretzky in the years prior to the trade. So maybe they keep him.and win more but also they could have thought he was already 9 years into his career and why not sell when he's still hot not realizing he would continue to be an amazing player for another decade+.

The Erick Karlsson trade in 2018 is on track to surpass it, but you know check back in the 2050s

I will always make the argument for Sir Donald Bradman as an Australian cricketer who was so far ahead of any player at the time and since for this spot.