Although Wayne Gretzky had been traded once before, no one ever expected him to be traded again. He was set to retire in a Kings jersey. Then on February 27, 1996, he was traded to the St. Louis Blues.
The Blues sent Los Angeles three players and two draft picks, which on paper seems like a good deal for the Kings. Three players; Craig Johnson, Roman Vopat, and Patrice Tardiff, 1996 5th round pick (Peter Hogan) and a 1997 1st round pick (Matt Zultek)
Hogan and Zultek never played a game in the NHL.