The call came about 9 a.m. on Aug. 9. Jimmy Carson`s mother awakened him with news that Los Angeles Kings owner Bruce McNall wanted to speak with him. ”And we knew right away what that meant,” Carson said.
Well, the Carsons only knew in part what that meant.
Carson, 20, a center, had been traded, that much was certain. It was not just any trade, but hockey`s biggest and most controversial. In exchange for Carson, left wing Martin Gelinas, three first-round draft picks and $15 million, the Kings received forwards Mike Krushelnyski and Marty McSorley-and the Great One, Wayne Gretzky.
”It was really a case of mixed emotions,” said Carson, who scored 55 goals and 107 points last season.
”On the one hand, I`m thinking what an honor this is. And then all of a sudden I think, `What am I going to do with my new house in LA? How are the fans going to like me? They`re losing Gretzky; I`ll bet they`re really going to resent me.` Those were the initial reactions.
”But everything`s been sorted out, and everyone-fans, media and players- has been great to me. I`m starting to feel like a major part of this nucleus. Like I said when I was traded, if nothing else, I`m an answer to a lifelong trivia question.”
Perhaps part of the reason Carson has been received so warmly is that he led the Oilers in preseason scoring with 8 goals and 8 assists in 10 games.
