Wayne Gretzky joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for the very first NHL Wraparound episode. The Great One discusses Connor McDavid and the Edmonton Oilers' remarkable 22-3 turnaround in their last 25 games, Connor Bedard adapting after Brendan Smith's legal jaw-breaking hit, generational players from Bobby Orr through Sidney Crosby to Austin Matthews potentially reaching 800 goals, and Alex Ovechkin's chase of 894. Hear about playing at 147 pounds in Indianapolis, learning from Bobby Clarke to play behind the net because Phil Esposito could stand in the box, why today's players are better than the 80s, Gordie Howe's class when records get broken, Edmonton's four-line success with Paul Coffey coaching defense and Mattias Ekholm's impact, Kenny Holland's patience at 2-9 not trading for a goalie, and transitioning to TNT with Liam McHugh, Anson Carter, Henrik Lundqvist and Paul Bissonnette who studies more than people realize. Plus the only wraparound goal Gretz remembers, steak vs salmon game day meals, playing against Mark Messier in Edmonton, and teaching Coyotes kids to be pros on a $25M payroll.
IN THIS EPISODE:
[00:00] - Welcome: First NHL Wraparound guest ever, Wayne Gretzky, The Great One
[01:00] - Only wraparound goal Gretz remembers: Vancouver 1997 hat trick third goal
[02:00] - Darren Blake traveling secretary: ordered salmon in Vancouver, Gretz wanted steak
[03:00] - Steak and potato game day meal entire career, never eaten salmon on game day
[04:00] - That night scored three goals, last one wraparound against Cloutier
[05:00] - Today's kids: Nathan MacKinnon, Connor McDavid, practice tricks, get excited
[06:00] - Gretz not comfortable with skills competition: nothing to gain, everything to lose
[07:00] - Connor Bedard jaw injury: Brendan Smith legal hit coming through middle
[08:00] - Smith answering the bell: showed teammates toughness, respect for game
[09:00] - First day Indianapolis training camp: 147 pounds, Blaine Stoughton "this is our savior"
[10:00] - Playing against bigger competition entire career: 6 vs 10-year-olds, 11 vs 12-year-olds
[11:00] - 14 playing against 20-year-olds, 16 playing against 20-year-olds, never big
[12:00] - Learned to protect myself through years of bigger competition
[13:00] - Age 14 junior B coach Dean Pappas: Phil Esposito greatest center
[14:00] - Esposito 500 shots one year, middle of box on power play, nobody could move him
[15:00] - Coach: go home watch Bobby Clarke, played out of corners more than behind net
[16:00] - Started playing behind net and corners because of size, copying Bobby Clarke
[17:00] - Couldn't stand in middle of box: would've been on rear end, guys knocked you over
[18:00] - Generational player definition: combination of skill, talent, consistency, championships
[19:00] - Gordie Howe retired, Bobby Orr retired, Guy Lafleur retired, Mike Bossy retired
[20:00] - Along came Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier, Steve Yzerman, game survived
[21:00] - Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin: consistent every year, Crosby 37 having best year
[22:00] - Both won championships, great for NHL, wonderful in communities
[23:00] - Helping people less fortunate, helping kids who want to play hockey
[24:00] - Not just on-ice, combination of ice, Stanley Cup, fitting into community
[25:00] - Leon Draisaitl, Nathan MacKinnon, Mitch Marner, Austin Matthews, Connor McDavid next
[26:00] - Great players, great for league, great in communities
[27:00] - Never say we were better in 80s: these kids better than we were 40 years ago
[28:00] - Progression: 20 years from now kids will be better than today, how NHL grows
[29:00] - Impressed how kids handle themselves, play hard every night, show up competitive
[30:00] - Winning Stanley Cup big part: MacKinnon and Makar won, Sidney won, Ovechkin
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