carson was drafted by the los angeles kings in the 1986 nhl entry draft as the second overall pick. he scored 37 goals as an 18-year-old rookie in the 1986–87 nhl season. in just his second nhl season he notched 55 goals, and established himself as one of the sport's top young players. along with martin gélinas, he was a key part of the august 9, 1988, blockbuster trade that sent them, the kings' three first-round draft picks in 1989, 1991 and 1993, and $15 million cash to the edmonton oilers for wayne gretzky, marty mcsorley and mike krushelnyski.