The Greatest Player In Hockey History Wayne Gretzky Joins The Pat McAfee Show

Gretzky asserts that the NHL's current 'up and to the right' trajectory is largely due to the high quality of its players. He notes that these athletes are not only great on the ice but also understand their responsibility in promoting and selling the sport, contributing to its broader appeal.

Gretzky states, 'We have so many wonderful guys in the game of hockey, not only are they great athletes and good players, they're good people and they understand the responsibility of not only playing the game but helping sell the sport.'

A key factor in the NHL's expansion, particularly in the United States, is the success of American teams in international competitions. Gretzky specifically points to the US winning gold medals as a moment that elevates hockey to 'another level' and increases its popularity.

Gretzky mentions, 'in the United States with the Americans winning, hockey's gone to another level.' He also highlights the clean sweep of gold medals by US teams (men's, women's, Paralympics) as a 'huge deal for a sport.'

Unlike his era, Gretzky believes that a superstar's team location no longer significantly impacts their ability to grow the sport or gain recognition. The global reach of television and streaming means every game is accessible, making the world a 'smaller place' for player exposure.

Gretzky states, 'I don't think where you play now, there's a difference of selling the game or making the game bigger because the world is a smaller place. My first two years in Edmonton, I'll bet 40 of the 80 games weren't even on TV.'

Gretzky credits significant rule changes, such as the elimination of hooking, holding, and the red line, for making the game faster and more skill-oriented. He expresses a desire to have played under these modern rules, acknowledging the superior athleticism of today's players.

Gretzky notes, 'Mario was a big big backer of he got rid of hooking and holding in hockey... They took out the red line. I would have loved to been able to play hockey without a red line. My goodness, how much fun that would have been.'

While the NHL didn't explicitly ban fighting, the decision to eliminate it from youth, college, and junior hockey has created a new generation of players who have never fought. This systemic change has naturally reduced the prevalence of fighting in the professional game.

Gretzky explains, 'The league and the players association did one great thing. They didn't eliminate fighting... But what the league did was you can't fight in youth hockey anymore. You can't fight in college hockey. You can't fight in junior hockey. So all these guys coming up now, they've never been in a fight.'