I thought of posting on this before. I don't know why I haven't. But then this just came along. We know what would have had happened, The Jets would have probably won a Stanley Cup or two. Mind you, it takes more than just one guy to be the champs; but we're talking about the guy.
The problem with this article is that Gretzky also had a supporting cast of fellow Hall-Of-Famers such as Mark Messier, Jari Kurri, Glenn Anderson, Kevin Lowe and Grant Fuhr among others. Even if the Jets were allowed to keep the core of their team that won the 1978-79 Avco Cup, it really only included the likes of Willy Lidstrom (before he was traded to the Oilers in 1982 for Laurie Boschman), Morris Lukowich and maybe Markus Mattson (a decent goalie from Sweden that could've had better numbers in the NHL, if he had a better defense in front of him) Barry Long was due for retirement, Bobby Hull had been traded to the Hartford Whalers (and was also about ready to retire) and Anders Hedberg and Ulf Nilsson had already signed with the New York Rangers as free agents. What chance in the world did the Jets have to ice an even half-competent team?
There is a famous, if not erroneous back story that goes something like this: Jets owner Barry Shenkarow was on a plane with Oilers owner Peter Pocklington. Pocklington who had just recently acquired the contract of a young, skinny kid named Wayne Gretzky offered a wager to Shenkarow that if he beat Pocklington at a game of backgammon, Shenkarow could have the services of Gretzky. However, if Pocklington won, he would recieve the whole Winnipeg Jets franchise. Shenkarow of course balked at the offer, not wanting to risk his whole newly acquired franchise for one, unproven 18-year-old player. If only Shenkarow had taken the chance. But, to be honest, I wouldn't have made that bet either. Would you? Honestly? Sure, it was Wayne Gretzky. But he wasn't Wayne Gretzky, the greatest player to lace up a pair of skates then. Who could have possibly known? It appears not even Pocklington, or why would he have made such a bet? If it even happened at all.
