McNall, Gretzky and the 1994-95 NHL Lockout by Mudge Studios

McNall, Gretzky and the 1994-95 NHL LockoutTrading Cards Magazine 1995

As mentioned in a previous post, The 1994-95 NHL Lockout was big news as the threat of a total loss of the National Hockey League season loomed. I remember getting the assignment from Trading Cards Magazine to do another Lockout themed illustration back in '95. This time I was to feature L.A. Kings Owner Bruce McNall with Honus Wagner Card and Wayne Gretzky feeling the pinch (that's an understatement!) of NHL's inability to come to an agreement of a Collective Bargaining Agreement. Sounds a lot like 2012, huh?
As mentioned above, Bruce McNall was an NHL team owner. McNall acquired the Los Angeles Kings in its entirety back in 1988. You may recall that McNall shocked the Hockey World when he traded for Super Star Wayne Gretzky as well as Marty McSorely and Mike Krushelnyski from the then NHL Power House- the Edmonton Oilers. Gretzky got a huge raise in that blockbuster deal- going from almost one million to three million dollars per season! As a result, NHL Player salaries would certainly never be the same after that! Well, You've guessed it- that brings us to the NHL Lockout of '94-'95 with the concept of the Salary Cap being the Biggest Issue and Hurdle that would result in THE LOST SEASON.
Unfortunately for Bruce, The Lockout was only part of what would certainly cause his rapid decline. Turns out that McNall had defaulted on a $90 million loan, would be convicted and serve time for conspiracy and fraud and eventually have to sell his Team. The concept for this illustration was to have McNall and Gretzky in a Great Depression type setting with McNall wearing nothing but a barrel holding his prized 1909 T206 Honus Wagner Baseball Card and some rare foreign coins. His Sidekick, Wayne Gretzky, who remained friends with McNall, has his bags packed as he desperately seeks to find some work- even if food is the only compensation.
End the Hockey Lockout Now! We are all feeling the pain. For now- you can check out the Wayne Gretzky Merch that Mudge has selected from Amazon.com. Recommended are Gretzky Jerseys, Books, Dvds and More!