Dhameystir weedha soo socota: Gretzky wuxuu rabay fursad kale oo uu ku guuleysto horyaalka ka hor inta uusan howlgab noqon. Si kastaba ha noqotee, jahwareerka ayaa u horseeday Gretzky inuu cadaadiyo maamulka isagoo dalbanaya in Boqorrada ay helaan karti ku habboon - weeraryahan sare oo weerar ah iyo difaac weerar ah oo isaga la ciyaaraya, ama wuxuu raadin lahaa inuu meel kale ka ciyaaro markii qandaraaskiisa uu dhaco dhamaadka xilli ciyaareedka. Laakiin arimaha lacagaha la dhaqay ee socda ayaa ku dhawaad suurtagal ka dhigey dhaqaale ahaan iyadoo la siinayo fursadaha jeegaga ciyaartoyga oo aan la soo koobi karin. Bishii Febraayo 27, 1996, Gretzky waxaa loo beddelay St. Louis Blues, oo loogu beddelay ciyaartoyda da'da yar ee Craig Johnson, Patrice Tardif, Roman Vopat, oo ah doorashada wareega koowaad ee 1997 draft (Matt Zultek) iyo doorashada wareega shanaad ee 1997 draft.
Qorshaha 1996 (Peter Hogan). Marka laga reebo Craig Johnson oo kasban lahaa booska ugu muhiimsan ee liiska toddoba xilli ciyaareed oo kale, inta kale ee ciyaartoyda ku lugta leh ayaa la waayay waqti aad u gaaban, mana jirin wax doorasho ah oo laga soo iibsaday ganacsiga ayaa ciyaaray hal ciyaar oo loogu talagalay Boqorrada, sidaas darteedna waxay ka dhigeysaa mid ka mid ah ganacsiyada ugu xun taariikhda xayeysiinta.