Wayne Gretzky is about as revered as skilled athletes get. No person’s posted extra objectives, assists or factors than him — in a profession or a single season.
He owns the NHL’s longest level streak, has probably the most 100-point seasons, claimed probably the most scoring titles, scored probably the most shorthanded objectives, was the quickest to 50 objectives, gained the Hart Trophy probably the most instances.
On high of all that, it looks like no person’s ever stated a nasty phrase concerning the man.
However don’t mistake respect for concern. No person’s going to really feel too dangerous for The Nice One when The Nice 8 inevitably breaks his as soon as seemingly unbreakable profession mark of 894 objectives. Heck, the way in which Alex Ovechkin goes, it’d even occur this season.
“Pay attention, Wayne’s bought loads of data that no person will contact, so I feel he’ll be OK giving that one up,” one NHL participant instructed The Athletic. “Although I by no means thought that one could be touched.”
In a sport by which fist fights are primarily authorized, in a league constructed on rivalries and hatred, there are treasured few matters that may strategy close to unanimity. After polling 161 NHL gamers, granting them anonymity so they may communicate truthfully, it’s clear that Ovechkin’s purpose chase is considered one of them.
However what about growth? What about playing? What concerning the rulebook? There was loads of disagreement to be discovered there.
Listed below are the outcomes of our first participant ballot of the season, with a consultant sampling of the most effective feedback for every query.
Ninety-eight p.c. In need of “would you wish to have Leon Draisaitl’s contract?” there won’t be one other query that garners that many yeses.
Ovechkin is 39 years outdated, and the common NHL participant is 28 years outdated. Macklin Celebrini was born two months after Ovechkin accomplished his spectacular 52-goal rookie season. A lot of the league grew up watching and idolizing Ovechkin. No shock that the phrase “cool” appeared 40 instances within the gamers’ responses.
“I feel he’s confirmed how he’s in all probability the most effective purpose scorer in historical past given the instances. I feel it will be cool to see. No person is ever going to get the opposite data, proper? So if he breaks this one, I feel that may be cool.”
“Sure, as a result of I may say that I performed towards the best purpose scorer to ever play. My first purpose was in Washington and he scored in that sport, too. It could be cool to have our names on the identical sport sheet.”
“It’s going to be cool enjoying within the period the place you’ll be able to say you performed towards Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and the most effective purpose scorer of all time.”
“I wouldn’t even thoughts being on the ice for the purpose towards — so long as he doesn’t put it by my legs, go round me and go high nook.”
“I feel it’s nice for hockey, as a result of it reveals it’s attainable.”
Gretzky has made it clear he’s pulling for Ovechkin. The Capitals star even instructed NHL.com final month that Gretzky texts him little pep talks when he’s slumping.
“If Wayne is rooting him on, we must always all be rooting him on, too.”
“Do I feel it takes away from Wayne Gretzky’s greatness? No. Not in any approach. However his file stood for thus lengthy and he’s nonetheless to this point above the pack, it’s not even shut. It’s like Tom Brady and whether or not he’s the best soccer participant or quarterback. It’s sort of undisputed. If (Patrick) Mahomes retains his tempo up for an additional 10 years, then he would possibly catch him. Proper now, if Ovi catches him, it doesn’t take something away from Wayne.”
“I feel he already would have damaged it if it wasn’t for COVID and lockouts. I feel Gretzky has sufficient data.”
“Performed towards him so many instances and scored a variety of objectives on me; I’ll be part of historical past due to that … the flawed approach,” stated Marc-Andre Fleury, agreeing to place his touch upon the file after seemingly gifting away his id anyway. “However I feel he’s been round for thus lengthy, he’s been such a superb shooter for thus a few years — one-timer, on the facility play — however he’s additionally bought such an important launch on his wrister coming down the wing or by the defenseman’s legs and stuff, so it will be cool.”
So nearly everyone seems to be rooting for Ovechkin to interrupt the file. Principally with one caveat:
“Simply not towards us.”
All of us roll our eyes when a participant skates off the ice along with his left arm dangling and a stone-faced coach lies proper to reporters’ faces and says, “lower-body harm” within the postgame presser. Right here’s the factor: The gamers roll their eyes, too. However they insist it’s for a purpose: “It’s not about leaving different folks guessing. It’s about defending us.”
It won’t be the wild west of the Nineteen Seventies anymore, however hockey gamers can nonetheless be totally ruthless. Significantly within the playoffs.
“This nameless? I imply, throughout the common season, you’re not going to focus on a man’s harm. However within the playoffs, you’re going to.”
“If you already know a man’s bought a banged-up knee, it’s not laborious for the opposite staff to take a pair further slashes or whack at that knee and really damage it much more.”
“I do know guys would get focused. I’d goal folks and hit his foot from the crease. However within the season, I feel they could possibly be extra clear. Typically it’s so silly once they’re imprecise. You see them hit within the head and so they say ‘higher physique.’”
“As a participant, I would like much less transparency. You don’t need folks to know what’s flawed with you. I feel it’s the identical factor with the way in which it really works within the playoffs. If somebody is aware of that you’ve a nasty wrist, we’re going to slash your wrist. Similar factor you see in soccer. Final weekend or the week earlier than, everyone knows Justin Herbert has a nasty ankle, guys are rolling on it. We’re aggressive. It’s violent on the market. Everybody says they don’t attempt to damage or injure folks, however everyone knows you do.”
“Possibly they’ll do one thing the place throughout the common season it’s clear, however within the playoffs it’s hush-hush.”
The NFL has a each day harm report that features particular accidents and a classification from possible to questionable to uncertain to out. Given how a lot cash is spent on fantasy soccer and soccer betting, the league has no selection. Some gamers really feel it’s solely a matter of time earlier than the NHL reaches that time, too.
“I perceive why they do it within the NFL, with fantasy and the entire cash that goes into betting, however I don’t need different groups understanding my enterprise.”
“If the betting market will get greater in hockey, they’re going to have to do this. Ours is so imprecise which is good for gamers, but when playing will get greater in hockey, they’ll have to do this as a result of it wouldn’t be honest.”
“I don’t assume it must be fairly to the extent of the NFL, however I feel we could possibly be a bit extra clear. And, at a minimal, constant amongst all of the groups. Followers should know when their favourite participant goes to be again enjoying.”
Some gamers simply need a bit privateness.
“I don’t assume you need to specify what the harm is. Who cares? If it’s higher physique, it’s higher physique. If it’s decrease physique, it’s decrease.”
“I hate it. I don’t assume anybody ought to know except you need them to know.”
Alternatively …
“I may see how on the flip aspect, should you’re enjoying like s—, nicely, then folks may perceive that possibly there’s one thing that’s holding you again.”
There are greater than 1.6 million registered hockey gamers on this planet. Solely 736 of them will be within the NHL directly. So, no, NHL gamers aren’t going to say no to a different 46 NHL roster spots, thanks very a lot.
“Extra jobs for gamers is healthier. We will play longer. From an NHLPA participant standpoint, extra money within the system. Extra groups, extra money for gamers. I’m on board for that, however hold it at 82 video games and eliminate preseason.”
“Why not? Which means extra jobs.”
“Yeah, it’ll hold me within the league longer.”
“If it brings in extra money, I’m all for it.”
“They’re going to. Did you see these valuations?”
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“As a fan, I might say no. As a participant, I might say sure. More cash, extra jobs. I feel that’s good.”
That stated, loads of gamers perceive the argument towards additional growth.
“We grinded to get to 32, and now abruptly we simply need the buy-in cash?”
“I sort of like the place it’s at now. I feel it’s good. Half the groups get in. So I’m a ‘no.’ The way in which the playoffs are, with half the groups getting in, I feel it’s good. So I wouldn’t add simply due to that.”
However with the game turning into an increasing number of international, the expertise pool simply retains getting deeper. As one participant put it, there are fourth-liners within the NHL proper now who would skate circles round nearly anybody from the Unique Six period.
“I used to be nervous once they expanded the previous few that it will possibly dilute the product. However I feel we’re nonetheless getting thrilling hockey. We nonetheless have thrilling gamers. It’s labored. It’s extra jobs. I’m in favor of it.”
So the apparent query then turns into the place?
Arizona was the laughingstock of the sports activities world for years. However it was additionally seemingly each participant’s favourite highway journey. So when you could be bored with commissioner Gary Bettman’s countless experiment within the desert, there’s nonetheless a variety of help for an additional franchise within the Valley among the many rank and file.
“Each participant will let you know we love going to Arizona. It’s so good there. If we may get a greater proprietor in there this time and see what we are able to do, I feel it will thrive there.”
With greater than 7 million folks within the metropolitan space, Houston has lengthy been a possible goal for the league. And gamers are on board with the concept.
“I’m gung-ho on Houston. I don’t wish to see one other Canadian staff. I feel Houston could possibly be a very great place.”
“Tax-free state. Tax-free. Sunshine states.”
“(Houston.) It’s the (fourth) largest metropolis within the U.S. and so they don’t have a staff but. We will’t go to a different Canadian market proper now, not with how the Canadian greenback is. You’ll be able to’t go to Quebec Metropolis. The Canadian greenback is s—. You’d should take the staff out of Winnipeg.”
Ah, Quebec Metropolis. Bringing again the Nordiques is at all times a sizzling matter.
“I’d like to see Quebec Metropolis as a result of, being French-Canadian, the combat between Montreal and Quebec is so good. However from a enterprise standpoint, I don’t know if Quebec is the appropriate name as a result of it’s a smaller market. However I do know they’ll fill the rink with followers and stuff. I’m not a enterprise man, however the huge sponsors and the people who purchase the suites, I don’t know if they may help. However I might like to see them again. Folks love hockey there.”
“I perceive the change fee and all of the funds that include that, however I feel it’d be cool to have one other Canadian staff to make it eight.”
“Get out of Canada, we’d like (hockey-related income). Houston. It’s 5 million folks. Quebec’s an important metropolis. I don’t assume it’s sufficiently big for an NHL staff.”
Then, after all, there’s at all times a second Toronto staff.
“It could do higher than Atlanta or Houston or one thing.”
“They’d in all probability win a Cup earlier than the Leafs.”
Another ideas:
“Positively not Atlanta. We’ve already seen that one fail sufficient.”
“If Inexperienced Bay may get a staff, I wish to see that. They go loopy for the Packers. I’ve performed there in junior and it was fairly enjoyable. I’d wish to see one other staff in that space. Truthfully, I’ll give Wisconsin a staff. No matter makes extra sense numbers-wise and financially. It’s a hockey hotbed.”
“We performed (in Austin, Texas) a bunch of instances within the American League. Superb metropolis. Nice hockey followers. They pack the barn each night time. Nice enviornment. Find it irresistible there.”
“San Diego could be fairly cool. Get one other staff on the West Coast.”
“I feel the market (in Dubai) is nice and it’d be cool to go there.”
“Is Miami too near Fort Lauderdale?”
After the Main League Baseball uniform fiasco this previous season, there was a variety of skepticism that Fanatics was as much as the problem of taking up the NHL’s jersey manufacturing. The jerseys are made in the identical Montreal manufacturing unit with the identical specs because the outdated ones, however the shoulder dimples have been eliminated and a few further material was used within the forearms, that are vulnerable to board burn.
Some gamers didn’t even discover. Some did. Some might need imagined some issues.
“(A): I feel all of them look superior. I’d say A. They appear nice. They did a superb job.”
“(A): I really like them. I can’t inform the distinction. And I like our observe jerseys. I feel they’re cool.”
“(C): I’m not an enormous fan. I don’t assume they’re that nice. I discover them a bit uncomfortable and ponderous.”
“(B): I don’t assume they give the impression of being as cool as a result of the outdated ones had dimples on the shoulders.”
“(B): They’re a bit smaller.”
“(B): They really feel a bit longer.”
“(B): They’re a bit heavier, a bit stiffer.”
“(B): The neck is a bit bit totally different, however apart from that they really feel the identical. I might nonetheless like Nike stuff.”
“(C): Don’t discover a distinction however I favor Adidas.”
“(B): You discover the distinction. It’s not as thick, so it’s not what it was. However I used to be anticipating approach worse, in order that’s a optimistic.”
“(A): They really feel the very same to me.”
Good luck making sense of all that, Fanatics quality-control staff.
Some gamers have been simply relieved the jerseys didn’t change colours when sweat-soaked and didn’t have tiny letters on the again.
“(C): I assumed they’d be worse after seeing the baseball ones. The baseball ones have been see-through. I used to be like, ‘These are the worst jerseys ever.’ I don’t know what those the followers are getting. However the ones we’ve gotten are good materials.”
“(B): They’re not so good as they was once, so I’ll give them a B. As a result of if the outdated Adidas (jersey) was an A, then this can be a B. I feel, for me, it’s the match and the sizing. And likewise a bit little bit of the fabric by itself. You realize typically whenever you seize a maintain of an outdated instrument or an outdated machine, and you already know that is sturdy, it’s by no means going to interrupt? You don’t get the identical factor these days. But in addition they’re made with totally different supplies. You’ll be able to simply really feel the distinction.”
After which, after all, there have been loads of gamers who greeted the query with a quizzical look.
“(B): I didn’t really know we have been sporting Fanatics jerseys.”
In the event you’re sick of seeing folks posting each little wager they make on social media, think about being tagged in these posts. Or having these bettors demand you pay them again since you solely had two pictures on purpose that night time, when the over/underneath was 2.5.
“You get Venmo requests from followers,” one participant stated. “They’re calls for, not requests. ‘You owe me $200 since you have been on the ice when …’ and it’s insane. It’s actually dangerous whenever you play towards Toronto as a result of it looks like everyone is betting on Leafs video games. However that’s Toronto for you.”
We’re going to dive extra deeply into this phenomenon later within the week, however right here’s a fast sampling of responses:
“Yeah, that’s actual. Whenever you wreck a man’s parlay or one thing? A hundred percent, that’s actual. I bought one final sport the place some man wager on my variety of pictures or one thing after which he’s DM’ing me: ‘You f—ed my parlay!’ Pardon my language, however that’s what he stated.”
“Oh, nearly every single day. Truthfully, I’d say 75 p.c of them are them being mad about one thing. ‘How did you let in that late purpose? I had the underneath. Thanks lots. You f—ing suck.’ Issues like that continually. I really feel like, as a goalie, we’re a bit bit extra uncovered to it, too.”
“Oh yeah. Folks on social media are approach crazier now as a result of they’ve extra pores and skin within the sport. I feel that’s for all sports activities.”
That is one occasion by which it helps to be a fourth-liner or a third-pairing man.
“I don’t assume I’m the betting favourite.”
One rule change
We’ll dive deeper into this one later this week too, as a result of whenever you ask 161 gamers an open-ended query like this, the solutions are all around the hockey map. However there have been some widespread solutions.
“Steady additional time; abolish the shootout.”
“As an alternative of shootouts, three-on-three, then two-on-two. … It could possibly be sort of enjoyable. However then it will be powerful with the stats as a result of it may change issues.”
“Ten-minute overtimes. I simply assume additional time’s the most effective for the followers. I feel for the gamers, it’s enjoyable too.”
An additional time shot clock wasn’t widespread, however there was loads of help for an over-and-back rule, prohibiting gamers from regrouping past the pink line in additional time.
One other widespread space of debate was energy performs, together with “two-minute majors” and “jailbreaks.”
“Energy performs shouldn’t finish if a purpose is scored.”
“The PWHL jailbreak: A shorthanded purpose ends in the participant leaving the field.”
“In the event you rating shorthanded, the facility play ends. In Europe, should you’re on the facility play and also you get scored on (shorthanded), the facility play’s over. I like that.”
Some gamers bought actually particular with faceoffs and line modifications. One simply wished to have the ability to sit on high of the boards whereas ready to alter once more. And a few gamers bought a bit wacky, with one suggesting eliminating the blue line solely and making the pink line the offside line.
Numerous dialogue about challenges and evaluations, with some wanting extra and a few wanting none.
One participant wished to open up the methods by which a participant may rating. Hey, man, it’s powerful to attain on this league. If the puck goes in, it goes in, proper?
“Permit kicking and head-butting the puck in. You’re going to the gritty space. If you may get a skate on it, that must be a purpose. I additionally assume you must be capable to ‘head’ the puck in. The Andrew Shaw rule. I don’t know, should you may head the puck in, that’s fairly spectacular.”
(Prime graphic: Meech Robinson / The Athletic, with photographs of Alex Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky from Harry Scull Jr., Bruce Bennett and Scott Taetsch / Getty Photographs)