Gretzky Almost Played for Leafs | Toronto Maple Leafs News

What if Wayne Gretzky ended his legendary career with the Toronto Maple Leafs? In 1996, the hockey icon was poised to join the team—drawn by proximity to his ailing father and the Leafs’ desperate need for a superstar. General Manager Cliff Fletcher was all in, but the board balked, citing financial strain from their new arena. The deal fell through, and Gretzky signed with the Rangers instead, where he thrived for three more seasons. For Leafs fans, it remains one of sports’ most haunting “what ifs”—a moment when history might have turned a different way. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/645514d68e958cca