{"id":102074,"date":"2021-02-27T09:30:35","date_gmt":"2021-02-27T14:30:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/?p=102074"},"modified":"2025-12-01T20:19:00","modified_gmt":"2025-12-02T01:19:00","slug":"today-in-hockey-history-st-louis-blues-acquire-wayne-gretzky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/2021\/02\/27\/today-in-hockey-history-st-louis-blues-acquire-wayne-gretzky\/","title":{"rendered":"Today in Hockey History: St. Louis Blues Acquire Wayne Gretzky"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Hockey is back! <span data-contrast=\"auto\">Normally we\u2019d be closing in on the NHL trade deadline for the final push of the season. However, we\u2019re in a different world. Last Word on Hockey is still going to look back at <a href=\"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/today-in-hockey-history\/\" target=\"_self\">each date\u2019s historical significance<\/a> to the game. We\u2019ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that happened on this day. Here\u2019s our look at this date in hockey history for February 27th, featuring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/g\/gretzwa01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Wayne Gretzky<\/a>.<br \/>\n<\/span><\/p>\n<h2>Today in Hockey History<\/h2>\n<h3>Wayne Gretzky Traded to St. Louis<\/h3>\n<p><strong>1996:<\/strong> The Blues acquire the Great One for forwards <span id=\"token-0D4398C9E1FCFDD57578B\" class=\"token token-hyperLink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/j\/johnscr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Craig Johnson<\/a><\/span>, <span id=\"token-410A9531DACE9116C2E9F\" class=\"token token-hyperLink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/t\/tardipa01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Patrice Tardif<\/a><\/span>, <span id=\"token-40651A0B4B7C6CF76DD9A\" class=\"token token-hyperLink\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/v\/vopatro01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Roman Vopat<\/a>. St.Louis also sends a<\/span> first-round pick in the 1997 NHL Draft and a fifth-round pick in the 1997 NHL Draft.<\/p>\n<p>The Blues go 6-10 with five ties after acquiring Gretzky, are eliminated in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoff. Gretzky joins the New York Rangers in the off-season and none of the players the Kings get make an impact.<\/p>\n<h3>Other Notable Events<\/h3>\n<p><strong>1918:<\/strong> The Ottawa Senators and the Montreal Canadiens play the first neutral-site game in Quebec City. Frank Neighbor scores twice to give Ottawa a 3-1 victory.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1977:<\/strong> Chicago Blackhawks forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/mikitst01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Stan Mikita<\/a> scores his 500th career goal in a 4-3 loss to the Vancouver Canucks. Mikita becomes the eighth player to reach the milestone.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1980:<\/strong> The Winnipeg Jets trade <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/hullbo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bobby Hull<\/a> to the Hartford Whalers for future considerations. He gets two goals and five assists before retiring at the end of the season.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1982:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/savarde01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Denis Savard<\/a> becomes the second player in Blackhawks&#8217; history to get 100 points in a season. He joins <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/hullbo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Bobby Hull<\/a> with an assist in a 5-3 win over Los Angeles. Savard finishes with 119 points to earn the most points in team history.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1989:<\/strong> Rangers forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/laflegu01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Guy Lafleur<\/a> gets his 17th and final career hat trick in a 6-4 home win over the Kings. It&#8217;s his only hat trick with the Blueshirts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>1992:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/f\/forsbpe01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Peter Forsberg<\/a> helps Sweden win its first Olympic men&#8217;s hockey gold medal in Lillehammer, Norway. He beats <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/hirscco01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Corey Hirsch<\/a> in the seventh round of the shootout to give the Swedes a 3-2 win over Canada.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2000:<\/strong> New Jersey Devils goalie <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/brodema01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Martin Brodeur<\/a> becomes the first goalie to win 35 games in four straight seasons. He also gets his 40th career shutout in 3-0 win over Montreal.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2002:<\/strong> Pittsburgh Penguins great <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/l\/lemiema01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mario Lemieux<\/a> gets his 1,600th point in a 5-4 loss to Los Angeles. He nets two assists to become the seventh player in league history to reach the mark.<\/p>\n<p><strong>2003:<\/strong> Detroit Red Wings forward <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/h\/hullbr01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Brett Hull<\/a> gets to 1,300 points in a 7-2 win over the Toronto Maple Leafs. Hull gets two goals and an assist to surpass the mark.<\/p>\n<h3>Other Notable Events<\/h3>\n<p><strong>1908: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/blairan01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Andy Blair<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1916: <\/strong><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/benoijo01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Joe Benoit<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1949: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/d\/demarab02.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Ab DeMarco<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1951: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/b\/butleje01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jerry Butler<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1953: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/d\/davidjo01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">John Davidson<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1967:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/e\/eakinda01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Dallas Eakins<\/a>; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/k\/kronro01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Robert Kron<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1968: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/s\/sullimi01.html?utm_campaign=Linker&amp;utm_source=direct&amp;utm_medium=linker-\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Mike Sullivan<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1971: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/m\/modryja01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Jaroslav Modry<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1985: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/c\/coburbr01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Braydon Coburn<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>1991: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.hockey-reference.com\/players\/c\/cizikca01.html\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Casey Cizikas<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a id=\"rYkJGeWISS5TevPmbqueIg\" class=\"gie-single\" style=\"color: #a7a7a7; text-decoration: none; font-weight: normal !important; border: none; display: inline-block;\" href=\"http:\/\/www.gettyimages.ca\/detail\/174177414\" target=\"_blank\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Embed from Getty Images<\/a><script>window.gie=window.gie||function(c){(gie.q=gie.q||[]).push(c)};gie(function(){gie.widgets.load({id:'rYkJGeWISS5TevPmbqueIg',sig:'HxKiwqStqeyV__qSnhQh1SD941xV4pykmYqL5inniUQ=',w:'594px',h:'393px',items:'174177414',caption: true ,tld:'ca',is360: false })});<\/script><script src='\/\/embed-cdn.gettyimages.com\/widgets.js' charset='utf-8' async><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Hockey is back! Normally we\u2019d be closing in on the NHL trade deadline for the final push of the season. However, we\u2019re in a different world. Last Word on Hockey is still going to look back at each date\u2019s historical significance to the game. We\u2019ll remember the moments that shaped the sport of hockey that [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2352,"featured_media":102267,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","sfio_featured_image":false,"sfio_embed_code":"","_ef_editorial_meta_date_first-draft-date":"","_ef_editorial_meta_paragraph_assignment":"","_ef_editorial_meta_checkbox_needs-photo":"","_ef_editorial_meta_number_word-count":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[32,8245,4547,4548,6331],"tags":[2091,2113,2715,4014,2553,3534,287,1086,1558,1020,2316,2087],"class_list":["post-102074","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blues","category-history","category-hockey","category-nhl","category-today-in-hockey-history","tag-bobby-hull","tag-brett-hull","tag-casey-cizikas","tag-dallas-eakins","tag-guy-lafleur","tag-hockey-history","tag-john-davidson","tag-mario-lemieux","tag-martin-brodeur","tag-mike-sullivan","tag-peter-forsberg","tag-stan-mikita"],"modified_by":"Michael Kovacs, ADMIN","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102074","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2352"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=102074"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102074\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":479029,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/102074\/revisions\/479029"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102267"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=102074"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=102074"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/hockey\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=102074"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}