Jun 21, 2019; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Wayne Gretzky on stage as Philip Broberg is selected as the number eight overall pick to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 21, 2019; Vancouver, BC, Canada; Wayne Gretzky on stage as Philip Broberg is selected as the number eight overall pick to the Edmonton Oilers in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena. Mandatory Credit: Anne-Marie Sorvin-USA TODAY Sports
Wayne Gretzky has seen hockey change in many ways. He has been a player, coach, executive, and now a fan. In an appearance on The Aftershow in 2011, he delved into the NHL and said the league must keep its biggest stars playing in games.
While talking about player safety and the debate over fighting in hockey, Wayne Gretzky did not take a strong public position.
He said it would be unfair for him to tell current players how to handle the issue. Instead, he expressed trust in the NHL’s discipline department and the league’s work to remove dangerous plays from the game.
“They want to take the dirty part of the game out,” Gretzky explained. “We can’t afford to have the best players not playing. It’s too important to have Sidney Crosby on the ice. It’s too important to have Alex Ovechkin and Steven Stamkos.”
Apr 25, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Apr 25, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Penguins center Sidney Crosby (87) against the Philadelphia Flyers during the first period in game four of the first round of the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Xfinity Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
Gretzky also praised modern hockey. He said the players are more skilled and athletic than before, pushing the game to a very high level now.
“It’s a better game now than when I played. The players are better. They’re bigger and faster. It’s gotten to another level,” Gretzky said, per Sportsnet.
When star players miss time due to avoidable injuries, it hurts everyone. Gretzky stressed that protecting top talent is not special treatment, but about keeping the game’s best players on the ice consistently.
Gretzky’s Long-lasting Admiration for Crosby
Wayne Gretzky’s comments about protecting the NHL’s biggest stars were justified even more after his recent praise for Sidney Crosby’s long career.
More than a decade after stressing the importance of keeping top players on the ice, Gretzky pointed to Crosby as one of hockey’s greatest players.
Speaking on The Pat McAfee Show, Gretzky compared Crosby to legendary athletes who stayed at the top of their sport for many years.
“He wants to continue. And listen, he’s our Tom Brady. He’s our LeBron James, a guy that can still bring it at an older age,” he said.
The comparison underscores Wayne Gretzky's statement about the NHL protecting its biggest stars. At 38, Sidney Crosby is still performing at a high level, leading the Penguins and playing for Canada.
He is showing that great hockey IQ can remain effective even in the later stages of a player’s career.
Besides encouraging Crosby to continue playing, Gretzky’s respect for him goes back many years. He recalled attending a development camp and immediately noticing a young Crosby standing out against older players.
“I said, ‘Who’s that little guy out there? He’s the best player out there,” Gretzky recalled. “They said, ‘That’s Crosby. He’s only 14.”
From that moment, Wayne Gretzky has viewed Crosby as a special player. His recent comments show why protecting generational stars has always been important for the NHL.
What do you think? How should the NHL balance physicality with the need to protect stars like Crosby, Ovechkin, and Stamkos?
Read more at the NHL Fan Central.
Written by
Kapil Manghnani
Edited by
Sijo Paul