3 things you may not have known about the Wayne Gretzky trade

30 years ago today, the Edmonton Oilers shocked the sports world by trading Wayne Gretzky to the Los Angeles Kings.

The NHL-changing transaction simply known now as "The Trade" had a lasting impact on the league, the two franchises involved in the deal, and it was arguably the most notable trade in this history of sports.

In honour of the 30th anniversary of the trade, here are three things you may not have known about that deal.

The Thicke Connection

Wayne Gretzky was housesitting for Alan Thicke and babysitting his son Robin when the Kings' owner called to tell him that the trade was on, as per Grantland:

McNall: I remember calling when the deal was finally done. It was early in the morning and I had to get Wayne to the airport with me to fly on to Edmonton, and it was [his son] Robin who answered the phone. I said, “Robin, I need Wayne,” and he said, “What’s going on, what’s going on?” And I said, “The deal is done, we got him.”

Thicke: Yeah, that’s all true. I was in Norway with my son Brennan, and Wayne and Janet were taking care of Robin. Robin answered and said, “I’m sorry, Wayne is asleep.” And McNall said, “Well, you better wake his ass up.”

Call Off The Trade?

As per NHL.com, Oilers' owner Peter Pocklington and GM Glen Sather actually offered to call off the trade.

Moments before the Edmonton press conference, Pocklington and Sather pulled Gretzky aside and offered to call off the trade. Gretzky refused.

"My mistake was not going over to him and putting my arm around him and saying 'Wayne, it's OK, pal. If you want to call it off, let's do it,'" Pocklington said. "That's what I should have done."

Ambitious Canadian Politician

Is the most Canadian thing ever a member of Canada's Parliament proposing that the Federal Government step in and block the trade?  Simply put, yes, as per NHL.com:

A member of Canada's Parliament even proposed the federal government block the trade or buy Gretzky's contract and sell it to another Canadian team.

"The Oilers without Gretzky is like apple pie without ice cream, like winter without snow, like Wheel of Fortune without Vanna White," New Democratic Party House Leader Nelson Riis said.