

Wayne Gretzky lifting the Stanley Cup – it seems so natural, doesn’t it? With No. 99 at the height of his powers, Edmonton won its first NHL title, and the question on the cover would be answered with a definitive “yes.” Not only did Gretzky’s Oilers win the Cup again in 1985, but Edmonton claimed five championships in seven years, interrupted only by Montreal in ’86 and archrival Calgary in ’89. That last Cup in 1990 was raised by captain Mark Messier, however, with Gretzky having been traded to Los Angeles in the summer of ’88.
The Great One and His First Stanley CupOne interesting anecdote from the story: after scoring 35 points in 19 games en route to the Cup, Gretzky revealed he had been bothered by an ankle problem for two months and was to undergo minor surgery in the off-season. The culprit? He was tying his skates too tight.
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