Jimmy Carson's post-hockey life after Gretzky trade
Jimmy Carson scored 55 goals for Los Angeles at 19 and was the key young player sent to Edmonton in the 1988 Wayne Gretzky trade. He later played for Detroit and returned to the Kings, finishing his NHL career at 27 with Hartford. After two seasons in the IHL, he moved into financial services.
Born in Southfield, Michigan, in 1968, Carson was selected second overall by Los Angeles in 1986. As an 18-year-old rookie he posted 37 goals and 79 points, then followed with 55 goals and 107 points, setting a then-record for U.S.-born scorers and becoming the second teenager after Gretzky to reach 50.
After Edmonton, where he recorded 49 goals and 100 points in 1988-89, he requested a trade and joined Detroit. He later returned to Los Angeles, contributed during a Stanley Cup Final run, and ended his NHL career with Hartford in 1995-96 at 27. He then spent two IHL seasons with Detroit.
This story may resonate with hockey fans who remember the Gretzky trade and wonder how its lesser-known centerpiece fared. It could also offer young athletes and their families a measured example of preparing for life after sport, since Carson moved into financial services. Former players facing short careers may see a possible path beyond coaching or scouting, while fans could gain a broader view of trade legacies and the personal transitions behind them.