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Los Angeles Dodgers: The 2010s were a decade filled with almosts

By Jamaal Artis

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after giving up a solo home run to Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals in the eighth inning of game five of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on October 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 09: Clayton Kershaw #22 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts after giving up a solo home run to Juan Soto #22 of the Washington Nationals in the eighth inning of game five of the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals at Dodger Stadium on October 09, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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Mandatory Credit: Ken Levine /Allsport – Los Angeles Dodgers
Mandatory Credit: Ken Levine /Allsport – Los Angeles Dodgers /

Gretzky’s Los Angeles Kings

The Los Angeles Kings pulled off a blockbuster trade to bring Wayne Gretzky, the greatest hockey player on the planet, to come to LA in the summer of 1988. From the time Gretzky arrived with the Kings the once mediocre franchise all of sudden became the hottest ticket in town.

Not only was Gretzky an attraction but the Kings’ level of play was elevated as well. In the previous seven seasons before Gretzky arrived the Kings had won one playoff series and had missed the playoffs completely three times.

With Gretzky, the Kings were immediate winners, eliminating Gretzky’s old team, the Oilers, in their first playoff series since the trade. The Kings would make the playoffs five straight seasons, win until this date their only division title and win a playoff series four of those five seasons.

The Kings seemed to reach the ultimate goal by making the 1993 Stanley Cup Finals after a Gretzky hat trick in game seven of the Conference Finals. The Kings even started the series with a 1-0 lead over the Montreal Canadiens.

The Kings would not win another game being swept out losing four straight. The Kings would never make another playoff with Gretzky in tow and it would take another 19 years before they finally won the Stanley Cup.

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