Gretzky says he almost came to Detroit instead of L.A.

By @MichaelCaples –

According to a report from the Montreal Gazette, if Wayne Gretzky’s wife had her way, the Great One would have moved to Detroit instead of Los Angeles in 1988.

Gretzky spoke at the Greatness in Leadership forum in Lethbridge, Alta., yesterday, and apparently he told a story about how his wife – actress Janet Jones – suggested he request a trade to Detroit when the Oilers were shopping him around. Instead, his father talked him into going to L.A.

From Bill Graveland’s article:

“At the end of the day and this is kind of unique the Oilers said, `what city do you want to go to?’ I had the choice of New York, Detroit or L.A.

“Everyone thought that my wife (actress Janet Gretzky) had picked L.A. and my wife said, `you should play in Detroit.’ It was my dad who called me and said, `you should play in L.A.’ For whatever reason, he said, `I think you should move to L.A.’ and I became an L.A. King after that.”