What if the Oilers never had traded Wayne Gretzky?(NHL)

On August 9, 1988, Wayne Gretzky was traded from (more accurately, sold by) the Oilers to the Kings. Gretzky, Marty McSorley and Mike Krushelnyski went south, and the Kings sent Jimmy Carson, Martin Gelinas, three future first-round picks and $15 million to Edmonton. The trade broke hearts in Edmonton and tore the best player out of a dynasty. What if the deal never had been made?

What if ...

Bobby Orr could have undergone modern knee surgery early in his career?

Instead of only nine full seasons, Orr plays 20 and sets defenseman scoring records the way Wayne Gretzky set overall scoring records. In fact, Orr owns most of those until Gretzky comes around. Paul Coffey, Ray Bourque and Larry Murphy chase but never catch the great Orr's records. The debate is loud: Who is the best player ever, Gretzky or Orr? It's a tossup.

The United States had lost to the Soviet Union in the 1980 Olympics?

Young American players don't have the motivation to play hockey early, go to college to play or aspire to be in the Olympics. The development of U.S. hockey is severely stunted, and the NHL is without American players such as two-time Stanley Cup champion Devils center Scott Gomez, who benefited from USA Hockey programs.

The Canadiens and Patrick Roy had patched up their differences, and he never had been traded to the Avalanche during the 1995-96 season?