Wayne Gretzky is about as revered as skilled athletes get. No person’s posted extra targets, 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 targets, was the quickest to 50 targets, gained the Hart Trophy probably the most instances.
On high of all that, it looks as if 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 unhealthy for The Nice One when The Nice 8 inevitably breaks his as soon as seemingly unbreakable profession mark of 894 targets. Heck, the best way Alex Ovechkin goes, it’d even occur this season.
“Hear, Wayne’s received loads of data that no person will contact, so I believe he’ll be OK giving that one up,” one NHL participant informed The Athletic. “Although I by no means thought that one can be touched.”
In a sport through which fist fights are basically authorized, in a league constructed on rivalries and hatred, there are valuable few matters that may method close to unanimity. After polling 161 NHL gamers, granting them anonymity so they might converse actually, it’s clear that Ovechkin’s objective chase is certainly one of them.
However what about enlargement? What about playing? What concerning the rulebook? There was loads of disagreement to be discovered there.
Listed here are the outcomes of our first participant ballot of the season, with a consultant sampling of one of the best feedback for every query.
Ninety-eight %. In need of “would you prefer to have Leon Draisaitl’s contract?” there won’t be one other query that garners that many yeses.
Ovechkin is 39 years previous, and the typical NHL participant is 28 years previous. 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 believe he’s confirmed how he’s in all probability one of the best objective scorer in historical past given the instances. I believe it could be cool to see. No person is ever going to get the opposite data, proper? So if he breaks this one, I believe that may be cool.”
“Sure, as a result of I might say that I performed towards the best objective scorer to ever play. My first objective was in Washington and he scored in that recreation, too. It will be cool to have our names on the identical recreation sheet.”
“It’s going to be cool enjoying within the period the place you possibly can say you performed towards Sidney Crosby, Connor McDavid, Nathan MacKinnon and one of the best objective scorer of all time.”
“I wouldn’t even thoughts being on the ice for the objective towards — so long as he doesn’t put it via my legs, go round me and go high nook.”
“I believe 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 informed 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 believe it takes away from Wayne Gretzky’s greatness? No. Not in any approach. However his file stood for thus lengthy and he’s nonetheless up to now 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 may catch him. Proper now, if Ovi catches him, it doesn’t take something away from Wayne.”
“I believe he already would have damaged it if it wasn’t for COVID and lockouts. I believe Gretzky has sufficient data.”
“Performed towards him so many instances and scored loads of targets on me; I’ll be part of historical past due to that … the incorrect approach,” stated Marc-Andre Fleury, agreeing to place his touch upon the file after doubtless making a gift of his id anyway. “However I believe 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 received such an amazing launch on his wrister coming down the wing or via the defenseman’s legs and stuff, so it could be cool.”
So nearly everyone seems to be rooting for Ovechkin to interrupt the file. Largely 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 cause: “It’s not about leaving different individuals guessing. It’s about defending us.”
It won’t be the wild west of the Seventies anymore, however hockey gamers can nonetheless be completely 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 received a banged-up knee, it’s not onerous for the opposite crew to take a pair additional slashes or whack at that knee and really harm it much more.”
“I do know guys would get focused. I’d goal individuals and hit his foot from the crease. However within the season, I believe they might be extra clear. Typically it’s so silly after they’re imprecise. You see them hit within the head they usually say ‘higher physique.’”
“As a participant, I need much less transparency. You don’t need individuals to know what’s incorrect with you. I believe it’s the identical factor with the best way it really works within the playoffs. If somebody is aware of that you’ve got 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 harm or injure individuals, 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 every 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 alternative. 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 all the cash that goes into betting, however I don’t need different groups realizing my enterprise.”
“If the betting market will get larger in hockey, they’re going to have to do this. Ours is so imprecise which is sweet for gamers, but when playing will get larger in hockey, they’ll have to do this as a result of it wouldn’t be honest.”
“I don’t assume it needs to be fairly to the extent of the NFL, however I believe we might be a bit of 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 of privateness.
“I don’t assume it’s a must 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 might see how on the flip facet, for those who’re enjoying like s—, properly, then individuals might 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 may be within the NHL directly. So, no, NHL gamers should not 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, more cash within the system. Extra groups, more cash for gamers. I’m on board for that, however preserve it at 82 video games and eliminate preseason.”
“Why not? Which means extra jobs.”
“Yeah, it’ll preserve me within the league longer.”
“If it brings in more cash, I’m all for it.”
“They’re going to. Did you see these valuations?”
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“As a fan, I’d say no. As a participant, I’d say sure. More cash, extra jobs. I believe that’s good.”
That stated, loads of gamers perceive the argument towards additional enlargement.
“We grinded to get to 32, and now rapidly we simply need the buy-in cash?”
“I sort of like the place it’s at now. I believe it’s excellent. Half the groups get in. So I’m a ‘no.’ The best way the playoffs are, with half the groups getting in, I believe it’s excellent. So I wouldn’t add simply due to that.”
However with the game turning into increasingly world, 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 apprehensive after they expanded the previous few that it could possibly dilute the product. However I believe 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 plain 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 street journey. So whilst you could be bored with commissioner Gary Bettman’s infinite experiment within the desert, there’s nonetheless loads of assist for an additional franchise within the Valley among the many rank and file.
“Each participant will inform you we love going to Arizona. It’s so good there. If we might get a greater proprietor in there this time and see what we will do, I believe it could thrive there.”
With greater than 7 million individuals within the metropolitan space, Houston has lengthy been a possible goal for the league. And gamers are on board with the thought.
“I’m gung-ho on Houston. I don’t wish to see one other Canadian crew. I believe Houston might be a very great spot.”
“Tax-free state. Tax-free. Sunshine states.”
“(Houston.) It’s the (fourth) largest metropolis within the U.S. they usually don’t have a crew but. We will’t go to a different Canadian market proper now, not with how the Canadian greenback is. You may’t go to Quebec Metropolis. The Canadian greenback is s—. You’d need to take the crew out of Winnipeg.”
Ah, Quebec Metropolis. Bringing again the Nordiques is all the time a scorching subject.
“I’d like to see Quebec Metropolis as a result of, being French-Canadian, the struggle between Montreal and Quebec is so good. However from a enterprise standpoint, I don’t know if Quebec is the correct 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 massive sponsors and the people who purchase the suites, I don’t know if they might assist. However I’d like to see them again. Individuals love hockey there.”
“I perceive the change price and all of the funds that include that, however I believe it’d be cool to have one other Canadian crew to make it eight.”
“Get out of Canada, we want (hockey-related income). Houston. It’s 5 million individuals. Quebec’s an amazing metropolis. I don’t assume it’s sufficiently big for an NHL crew.”
Then, in fact, there’s all the time a second Toronto crew.
“It will 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 might get a crew, I wish to see that. They go loopy for the Packers. I’ve performed there in junior and it was fairly enjoyable. I’d prefer to see one other crew in that space. Truthfully, I’ll give Wisconsin a crew. 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. Wonderful metropolis. Nice hockey followers. They pack the barn each evening. Nice enviornment. Like it there.”
“San Diego can be fairly cool. Get one other crew on the West Coast.”
“I believe 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 loads of skepticism that Fanatics was as much as the problem of taking on the NHL’s jersey manufacturing. The jerseys are made in the identical Montreal manufacturing facility with the identical specs because the previous ones, however the shoulder dimples had been eliminated and a few additional 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 believe all of them look superior. I’d say A. They give the impression of being nice. They did a superb job.”
“(A): I really like them. I can’t inform the distinction. And I like our observe jerseys. I believe they’re cool.”
“(C): I’m not an enormous fan. I don’t assume they’re that nice. I discover them a bit of uncomfortable and ponderous.”
“(B): I don’t assume they appear as cool as a result of the previous ones had dimples on the shoulders.”
“(B): They’re a bit of smaller.”
“(B): They really feel a bit of longer.”
“(B): They’re a bit of heavier, a bit of stiffer.”
“(B): The neck is a bit of bit completely different, however apart from that they really feel the identical. I’d nonetheless like Nike stuff.”
“(C): Don’t discover a distinction however I want 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 constructive.”
“(A): They really feel the very same to me.”
Good luck making sense of all that, Fanatics quality-control crew.
Some gamers had been simply relieved the jerseys didn’t change colours when sweat-soaked and didn’t have tiny letters on the again.
“(C): I believed they’d be worse after seeing the baseball ones. The baseball ones had 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 previous Adidas (jersey) was an A, then this can be a B. I believe, for me, it’s the match and the sizing. And likewise a bit of little bit of the fabric by itself. You recognize typically if you seize a maintain of an previous instrument or an previous 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 completely different supplies. You may simply really feel the distinction.”
After which, in fact, there have been loads of gamers who greeted the query with a quizzical look.
“(B): I didn’t really know we had been sporting Fanatics jerseys.”
For those who’re sick of seeing individuals 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 objective that evening, when the over/beneath was 2.5.
“You get Venmo requests from followers,” one participant stated. “They’re calls for, not requests. ‘You owe me $200 since you had been on the ice when …’ and it’s insane. It’s actually unhealthy if you play towards Toronto as a result of it looks as if 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. While you spoil a man’s parlay or one thing? A hundred percent, that’s actual. I received one final recreation 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 each day. Truthfully, I’d say 75 % of them are them being mad about one thing. ‘How did you let in that late objective? I had the beneath. Thanks rather a lot. You f—ing suck.’ Issues like that always. I really feel like, as a goalie, we’re a bit of bit extra uncovered to it, too.”
“Oh yeah. Individuals on social media are approach crazier now as a result of they’ve extra pores and skin within the recreation. I believe that’s for all sports activities.”
That is one occasion through 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 if you ask 161 gamers an open-ended query like this, the solutions are everywhere in the hockey map. However there have been some widespread solutions.
“Steady extra time; abolish the shootout.”
“As an alternative of shootouts, three-on-three, then two-on-two. … It might be sort of enjoyable. However then it could be robust with the stats as a result of it might change issues.”
“Ten-minute overtimes. I simply assume extra time’s one of the best for the followers. I believe for the gamers, it’s enjoyable too.”
An extra time shot clock wasn’t fashionable, however there was loads of assist for an over-and-back rule, prohibiting gamers from regrouping past the pink line in extra time.
One other fashionable space of dialogue was energy performs, together with “two-minute majors” and “jailbreaks.”
“Energy performs shouldn’t finish if a objective is scored.”
“The PWHL jailbreak: A shorthanded objective leads to the participant leaving the field.”
“For those who rating shorthanded, the facility play ends. In Europe, for those who’re on the facility play and also you get scored on (shorthanded), the facility play’s over. I like that.”
Some gamers received actually particular with faceoffs and line adjustments. One simply wished to have the ability to sit on high of the boards whereas ready to vary once more. And a few gamers received a bit of wacky, with one suggesting eliminating the blue line totally and making the pink line the offside line.
A lot of dialogue about challenges and critiques, with some wanting extra and a few wanting none.
One participant wished to open up the methods through which a participant might rating. Hey, man, it’s robust 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 needs to be a objective. I additionally assume it is best to be capable of ‘head’ the puck in. The Andrew Shaw rule. I don’t know, for those who might head the puck in, that’s fairly spectacular.”
(Prime graphic: Meech Robinson / The Athletic, with pictures of Alex Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky from Harry Scull Jr., Bruce Bennett and Scott Taetsch / Getty Photographs)
