In 1988, the Kings sent three players and three draft picks to the Oilers in exchange for Wayne Gretzky. The three players the Kings sent were Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, and Doug Smith. The three draft picks the Kings sent were the first-round picks in 1989, 1991, and 1993.

The Oilers used the first-round pick in 1989 to select Petr Klima, who played for the Oilers for five seasons. The Oilers used the first-round pick in 1991 to select Jason Arnott, who played for the Oilers for three seasons. The Oilers used the first-round pick in 1993 to select Jason Bonsignore, who never played for the Oilers.

The Kings used the players they acquired in the trade to build a contender. Gretzky led the Kings to four Stanley Cup Finals appearances, winning two Cups in 1993 and 2002.

The trade tree of the Wayne Gretzky trade is still going on today. Players who were acquired in trades that were ultimately the result of the Gretzky trade include Patrice Bergeron, David Pastrnak, and Jack Eichel.

The Gretzky trade is the greatest trade in NHL history. It not only helped the Kings win two Stanley Cups, but it also had a profound impact on the NHL as a whole.