Building With Blockbusters : Gretzky Trade Was the Key to the Kings’ Success This Season, but There Have Been Plenty of Other Big Deals During the Last Five Years

We are going to build for the future--keep all our No. 1 draft picks and form a solid organizational blueprint, eschewing the win-now philosophy of trading youth for experience.

Really.

The Kings, coming off a monumental playoff disappointment in a first-round loss to Edmonton last spring, said all those things during the long, somber summer. But during the summer of 1988, they mouthed a similar philosophy after losing a one-sided, first-round playoff series against Calgary.

They were going to construct their team around young building blocks such as Luc Robitaille, Jimmy Carson and Steve Duchesne. Already, the Kings had selected two promising goaltenders, Mark Fitzpatrick and Robb Stauber, and added another slick, speedy forward, Martin Gelinas, with the seventh pick in the 1988 entry draft.

Then came Aug. 9, 1988.

That was the day the Kings acquired Wayne Gretzky for Carson, Gelinas, three first-round draft picks and $15 million. It remains the most significant trade in hockey history and, from the Kings’ standpoint, has impacted almost every move the team has made since, forcing management to rewrite almost all its tenets in how the team should be constructed.

“When Wayne came in, we had a young team,” said Rogie Vachon, who was general manager from January 1984 to June 1992. “We were building for the future. It changed the whole scenario. We had to change everything in midstream. It was a win-now philosophy to take advantage of Wayne’s situation.”

Win now never happened.

Win five years later? Finally, the Kings have broken through, requiring four false starts and nearly 40 transactions before realizing the potential Gretzky was supposed to bring south with him. Monday, the Kings will play the Toronto Maple Leafs in Game 1 of their first Campbell Conference finals.

The Gretzky era has spanned two general managers (Vachon and Nick Beverley); three head coaches (Robbie Ftorek, Tom Webster and Barry Melrose) and three assistants (Bryan Maxwell, Rick Wilson and Cap Raeder). Only two players on the roster--Dave Taylor and Robitaille--preceded the Gretzky trade and have remained with the team since then. Two others, Carson and Mark Hardy, were previously with the Kings but were reacquired this season.

Since Aug. 9, 1988, there have been 38 trades or free-agent signings, many of them minor league deals. But there have been an astounding number of major trades--some of them featuring future Hall of Famers.

This is a team built by blockbuster.

“Every deal that this team had made has been designed to win the Stanley Cup,” Melrose said. “They’re not scared to make deals to win. That’s the type of person I am. Nobody can sit on their hands and win a Cup.

“You can sit there and play it safe by holding on to all your No. 1 picks. Then you never take any heat. Not taking chances is the easiest thing in the world.”

Five of the post-Gretzky deals fall into the blockbuster category:

--Goaltender Kelly Hrudey arrived in Los Angeles on Feb. 22, 1989, when the Kings traded Fitzpatrick, defenseman Wayne McBean and future considerations, which turned out to be defenseman Doug Crossman, to the New York Islanders. At that point, the Kings were unwilling to go into the playoffs with the relatively untested Glenn Healy and Fitzpatrick. Hrudey has won 102 regular-season games for the Kings and outplayed Vancouver goaltender Kirk McLean in the crucial moments of the Smythe Division finals.

--Forwards Tomas Sandstrom and Tony Granato joined the Kings on Jan. 20, 1990, when they were traded from the New York Rangers for center Bernie Nicholls. At the time, it was a widely unpopular deal because Nicholls was coming off a 70-goal season and had spent his entire NHL career in Los Angeles.

That deal, arguably, was the most important transaction for the construction of the team since the Gretzky trade. Gretzky himself said the Kings would not have upset the Calgary Flames in the first round of the 1990 playoffs without Sandstrom and Granato. It gave the Kings more depth and Gretzky had two speedy, talented wingers.

“That gave us a different dimension,” Vachon said. “A lot more speed and a lot more character. And I think both of them are very positive and great in the dressing room. I took some heat for that deal for about a year.

“I would say it was the biggest trade, especially the way they came in and played so well.”

--Jari Kurri, who spent a year out of the NHL playing in Italy, ended up in Los Angeles with a little help from the Philadelphia Flyers. Edmonton, which owned Kurri’s rights, would not deal directly with the Kings. To get Kurri, the Kings traded Duchesne and a checking center, Steve Kasper, to the Flyers on May 30, 1991.

Kurri, although he had a disappointing debut season as a King, shouldered the load when Gretzky missed the first 39 games of this season because of a back injury. He moved from right wing to center and played some of his best hockey since his Oiler days, accumulating 57 points in the first 35 games.

--Future Hall of Fame defenseman Paul Coffey became a King, joining his former Oiler teammates through another three-way deal with the Flyers and Pittsburgh Penguins on Feb. 19, 1992. The Kings gave up Brian Benning, Jeff Chychrun and a first-round draft pick (Jason Bowen).

--The Coffey experiment was short, lasting less than a year. But Melrose, wanting his two former players, Gary Shuchuk and Marc Potvin, was willing to compromise and let the deal get bigger, so Coffey was traded to the Detroit Red Wings on Jan. 29 for Carson.

There are other factors in the building of the Kings that can’t be overlooked.

Vachon, the much-maligned general manager who was in a difficult position, received no credit for good trades--McNall or Gretzky made those, according to the grapevine--and total blame for poor deals. But he stole Mike Donnelly, a 20-plus goal scorer, from the Buffalo Sabres in October, 1990, giving up the forgettable Mikko Makela. His other quiet heist, which received little notice at the time, was picking up center Corey Millen from the Rangers’ scrap heap. Millen, a 20-goal scorer last season, was on his way to another decent season before being slowed by a groin strain.

Gretzky deserves mention for persuading McNall to bring in the high-priced talent. Gretzky approached then-Islander general manager Bill Torrey and asked: “What will it take to get Kelly Hrudey?” Not all the moves worked out, but Gretzky has been right more often that not.

Current general manager Beverley made a concerted effort last summer to bring rookie defenseman Alexei Zhitnik from Ukraine. “His father was very influential,” Beverley said. “He told us in no uncertain terms: ‘This boy. He will do it.’ His dad was adamant. He was right.”

In the summer, Beverley found that veteran forward Pat Conacher might be available because he apparently was not going to fit into New Jersey’s plans. “This was a guy we could pick up for depth and that would tie into Barry’s approach as a coach,” Beverley said.

With left wing Warren Rychel, a career minor leaguer, Melrose’s power of persuasion won out. Also helping convince Beverley to bring Rychel into camp was Rychel’s agent, former King defenseman Tom Laidlaw.

Melrose says it will be easier to reach accord on player transactions now that he has been in Los Angeles for a season.

“Nick believes in the same things I do,” Melrose said. “It will be easier as they get to know me.”

Everyone in the front office had a role in the building process.

And how does Melrose describe his role?

“I’m like the foreman,” he said. “I tell people what to do and hopefully they’ll listen to me.”

Cast of Kings

Staff writer Lisa Dillman takes a look at the Kings’ roster and how it was put together.

* ROB BLAKE (DEFENSEMAN) Fourth-round draft pick, 1988. At 23, he sets the tone with his helmet-rattling checks, providing an example for his young proteges, Alexei Zhitnik and Darryl Sydor.

* JIMMY CARSON (CENTER) Acquired from Detroit with Gary Shuchuk and Marc Potvin for Paul Coffey, Jim Hiller and Sylvain Couturier, Jan. 29, 1993. Next up is the third round . . . and whheeerre’s Jimmy? His five goals helped douse the Flames in the first round, but Carson was the invisible man against Vancouver.

* PAT CONACHER (CENTER/LEFT WING) Acquired from New Jersey for future considerations, Sept. 3, 1992.

Finally, a checking center to exorcise the ghost of Steve Kasper. Conacher’s role has expanded greatly in the playoffs.

* MIKE DONNELLY (LEFT WING) Acquired from Buffalo for Mikko Makela, Oct. 1, 1990. One of Rogie Vachon’s quietest and best trades. Mikko who?

* TONY GRANATO (WING) Acquired from New York Rangers with Tomas Sandstrom for Bernie Nicholls, Jan. 20, 1990. The ultimate pest, he can annoy an entire team into submission.

* WAYNE GRETZKY (CENTER) Acquired from Edmonton with Mike Krushelnyski and Marty McSorley for Jimmy Carson, rights to Martin Gelinas, first-round selections in 1989, 1991 and 1993 drafts and $15 million, Aug. 9, 1988. The reason for the great expectations, and daunting disappointments, of the previous four postseasons. Playing this one as if it’s The Last Stand.

* MARK HARDY (DEFENSEMAN) Acquired from New York Rangers with Ottawa’s fifth-round pick in 1993 for John McIntyre, March 22, 1993. Old King is an old King, reacquired at the trading deadline this season as extra defensive insurance. Was scratched in the last two playoff games.

* KELLY HRUDEY (GOALTENDER) Acquired from New York Islanders for Mark Fitzpatrick, Wayne McBean and future considerations (Doug Crossman), Feb. 22, 1989. In the pressure-packed Smythe finals, he outplayed Canuck goalie Kirk McLean in perhaps his finest moment as a King.

* CHARLIE HUDDY (DEFENSEMAN) Acquired from Minnesota with Randy Gilhen, Jim Thomson and fourth-round draft choice in 1991 (Alexei Zhitnik) for Todd Elik, June 22, 1991. Gretzky’s buddy has been jolted out of a three-month slump by, what, an old Edmonton Oiler film festival?

* RICK KNICKLE (GOALTENDER) Signed as a free agent, Feb. 15, 1993. Acquisition of the year? Career minor leaguer’s enthusiasm, and six victories, helped jar the Kings out of their midseason malaise.

* JARI KURRI (CENTER/RIGHT WING) Acquired from Philadelphia with Jeff Chychrun for Steve Duchesne and Steve Kasper, May 30, 1991. One-timed shots against Vancouver reminiscent of his Oiler glory days. Defensive skills remain nonpareil.

* LONNIE LOACH (LEFT WING) Claimed on waivers from Ottawa, Oct. 21, 1992. Prolific scorer who played for Barry Melrose in Adirondack, now lost in the shuffle of highly skilled, prominent King forwards.

* MARTY McSORLEY (DEFENSEMAN/FORWARD) Acquired from Edmonton with Wayne Gretzky and Mike Krushelnyski, Aug. 9, 1988. Struggled a bit in the first two rounds but dropped his tag of “Gretzky Bodyguard” long ago.

* COREY MILLEN (CENTER) Acquired from New York Rangers for Randy Gilhen, Dec. 23, 1991. Third member of the five-foot-something line, along with Donnelly and Granato. Still looking to regain scoring touch after a severe groin pull knocked him out for three months.

* MARC POTVIN (FORWARD) Acquired from Detroit with Jimmy Carson and Gary Shuchuk, Jan. 29, 1993. The third member of Team Adirondack has played the least, sitting on the bench for Game 5 against Vancouver.

* LUC ROBITAILLE (LEFT WING) Ninth-round draft choice, 1984. Teammates call him Lucky, which goes to show that nicknames can be deceptive. Luck had nothing to do with his 63 regular-season goals.

* WARREN RYCHEL (LEFT WING) Signed as a free agent, Oct. 3, 1992. The prototypical Barry Melrose player, he would walk over coals if the coach told him it would help the team win. Was he plucked from an Anthony Robbins video?

* TOMAS SANDSTROM (RIGHT WING) Acquired from New York Rangers with Tony Granato, Jan. 20, 1990. A sweet Swede--until he hops over the boards onto the ice.

* GARY SHUCHUK (FORWARD) Acquired from Detroit with Jimmy Carson and Marc Potvin, Jan. 29, 1993. Another Melrose hunch came up aces in Game 5 when Shuchuk came out of oblivion to score the game-winner in double overtime.

* ROBB STAUBER (GOALTENDER) Sixth-round draft choice, 1986. Possesses the team’s best nickname--”Blue Line”--because of his proclivity for leaving the crease for fearless jousts with opposing puck-handlers.

* DARRYL SYDOR (DEFENSEMAN) First-round draft choice, 1990. His nickname is Sid, and, as the Canucks will attest, he can be vicious.

* DAVE TAYLOR (RIGHT WING) 15th-round draft choice, 1975. Problem Bruce McNall would love to ponder: Does Taylor or Gretzky take the first lap around the rink with the Stanley Cup?

* TIM WATTERS (DEFENSEMAN) Signed as a free agent, June 27, 1988. Every year, the Kings say they won’t be needing Watters much longer. Still proving them wrong at 33.

* ALEXEI ZHITNIK (DEFENSEMAN) Fourth-round draft choice, 1991. Hit-nik is more like it for this rugged rookie from Kiev. Left Pavel Bure a fallen comrade in second round.