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“Yeah, bittersweet is the right word,” he said.

“You can’t replace the memories. Maple Leaf Gardens closed and so did the Montreal Forum, but you can’t replace the history there. The timing’s right (to move downtown).

Photo by JASON FRANSON / THE CANADIAN PRESS

Gretzky looked back at his early days as an Oiler and how nervous he was. “My first practice I think I was in a light blue jersey with Cowboy Flett and Peter Driscoll on my wings,” said Gretzky, who scored his first Oiler goal at Rexall against the Winnipeg Jets.

“Yeah, against Markus Mattsson. I remember it like it was yesterday.”

“I wasn’t wearing 99. Driscoll wore 24 I think, and Steve Carlson 25. I think I was 26.”

“Glen (coach Sather) wanted to take the pressure of me so he said I shouldn’t be 99. I remember saying ‘OK’ but after the game I was so excited. I’d played well and I wanted 99 back. So I got it. But my first Oiler goal? Wasn’t as 99,” said Gretzky.

Photo by File / Edmonton Journal

Gretzky’s favourite moments were the 18th birthday party he had on the ice with a big cake and new long-term contract with his family there, and the first Cup win in May of 1984, of course.

“I thought it was such a great contract but Ace (Bailey) and Cowboy pulled me aside and told me I was underpaid. My dad didn’t think so, though. Once he gave it his stamp of approval and said it was a great deal, I signed it,” said Gretzky.

And the first win over the New York Islanders?

“I remember we were up 4-0 after two periods and it was like Christmas for the 22 kids … we were thinking how we were going to lift it (Cup). Then they got two goals in the first minute of the third. I remember thinking, ‘What just happened?’ I think that was the best defensive hockey we ever played over the last 18 minutes,” said Gretzky.

jmatheson@postmedia.com

On Twitter: @NHLbyMatty