Wayne Gretzky trade

Video: Some of Wayne Gretzky’s greatest moments

By James O'BrienJan 26, 2011, 2:50 PM EDT

As Joe pointed out this morning, “The Great One” turned 50 today.

What can be said about Wayne Gretzky that hasn’t already been written in countless mediums? Most agree that he is the greatest hockey player to ever lace up skates, but even those who would point to Bobby Orr or some other luminary would agree that he made the greatest impact. Gretzky was to hockey what the Beatles were to the British invasion and Michael Jordan was to the NBA.

When it comes to a player who provided more assists alone than any other hockey player scored points, earned nine Hart Trophies and four Stanley Cups (among other awards), it’s difficult to succinctly summarize such a career in video form. So instead of trying to provide a video-based synopsis, we’ll instead share some of our favorite moments.

(NHL.com has more if this doesn’t satisfy your Gretzky cravings.)

Gretzky becomes the all-time points leader (watch him break the goals record here.)

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Gretzky becomes the fastest to 50 goals:

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The Gretzky trade:

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And because we’re about to enter All-Star weekend, his four-goal performance in the ’83 game:

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Former Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington’s sentencing hearing pushed back to October 27

By James O'BrienOct 15, 2010, 10:49 AM EDT

Former Edmonton Oilers owner Peter Pocklington has been dealing with some legal issues lately, as the man many people blame for The Wayne Gretzky Trade pleaded guilty for perjury charges in a bankruptcy case.

Pocklington was supposed to find out what kind of sentence he will face – he’s hoping to avoid jail time in favor of going under house arrest, probation, paying fines or some combination of the three – on Thursday but apparently the judge postponed that sentencing date.

U.S. District Judge Virginia Philipps reset the hearing for Oct. 27 after admonishing Pocklington’s attorney for filing the 78-page document just a few days ago.

Outside court, attorney Brent Romney said he knew he filed late but wanted to give the judge the most up-to-date information about Pocklington’s cooperation with authorities in his bankruptcy case.

It never sounds very good when a judge is “admonishing” your attorney, but I am not going to pretend that I have any legal expertise right now. Seeing the mighty fall is often a strange sensation, yet you wonder if there is a feeling of Schadenfreude among Canadian hockey fans. We’ll pass along information as it trickles through in about two weeks.