The Most Embarrassing Moment In Gretzky’s Career

Gretzky Might Be The Best Hockeyplayer Of All Time, But He's Certainly Not The Best Fighter
#nhl #gretzky #hockey
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[@daved1535]

I saw an interview with Neal Broten on that fight. He said after the fight, he was in the penalty box next to Willie Plett, and Dave Semenko skated towards him while he was in the box. Broten thought to himself, "Oh shit I'm in trouble now." When Semenko got to their penalty box, he looked right at Willie Plett and said, "Now you're dead. " Plett then turned to Broten and said, "Thanks a lot, Neal."

[@misguidedangel6550]

Ironically Dave Semenko was traded from the North Stars to the Oilers for a 2nd and 3rd round pick at the draft and Minnesota drafted Neal Broten with that 2nd round pick they got from the Oilers

[@moosewhizzerdave2066]

Hockey stories are THE BEST.

[@bentighe4811]

Willi Plett could take care of himself. Great hair, too.

[@user-se4bz2zq6y]

Gretzky's worst moment had to be the commercial he made with Connor McDavid 😅

[@grumben123]

No, it was his guest appearance on a daytime soap opera. days of Our Lives?

[@FischerFan]

@@grumben123 It was a 1983 episode of 'The Young & the Restless'. I remember watching that soap in those days and I had no idea Gretzky had been cast in a cameo appearance on the show. My jaw dropped when I saw him appear on my television set! Wayne was from the 'Edmonton connection', amidst the storyline involving my favorite character, Paul Williams, who was battling the sinister Tony DiSalvo and the syndicate!

[@kevtheschmidt]

Don't forget the old 7up commercial with his brother 😂

[@ThouSwell-zx3fd]

Eat ice Connor 😂

[@sigep145]

His try at hosting SNL had some low points. I still love the Great One.

[@yoimstewy]

My fav Gretzky moment is when he gave the puck away to Steve Yzerman for the game 7 OT winner.

[@Beethoven5th]

Pinpoint placement by Yzerman

[@davidziemann9653]

@@Beethoven5th an absolute laser beam. that was an insane shot.

[@timbescorn8372]

I was jumping up and down in my living room when that happened. ❤❤❤

[@Losrandir]

Yzerman was pretty damn good, even Wayne can't win every single time

[@travzimmerman1340]

"Brat" (like a hotdog) "in" Gretzky's worst moment is SNL

[@assmane999]

HAHA….yes! Some of the most awkward television to exist. As bad of a fighter Gretz was, his acting was even worse.

[@misguidedangel6550]

​@@assmane999the acting on the ice was bad too I can still remember the dive he took in the Stanley Cup finals against the Islanders when Billy Smith slashed him

[@brentcarson9634]

Even though I was an avid 99 fan, I realized Jack Nicholson had little to worry about.

[@GET2222]

You gotta learn how to pronounce NEAL BROTEN’s name. You sound like a basketball player talking about hockey. Neal Broten was won the WCHA TITLE, won a gold medal in the Olympics and the best sports moment in history (ESPN) and a won a Stanley cup and you can’t pronounce his name. 😂

[@brianshaughnessy4020]

Broten also won the first Hobey Baker Award in 1981.

[@sniper161718]

Gold medal 1980. Broten was a damn good player

[@russell-di8js]

best sports moment in history? Wow thems big potato's!!

[@ScreaminSeamen]

Calling out someone for not pronouncing a name correctly and then using a sentence like "Neil Broten was won the WCHA title"....ohhh the irony.

[@Batman-bh6vw]

Completely understandable mistake considering there's nothing to indicate his name should be pronounced the way it is pronounced.

[@jefftapper4799]

The fourth reason Neal Broten is my hockey hero. Hat trick of championships: NCAA, Olympic Gold, and Stanley Cup. Icing on the cake is that he whooped Gretzky’s ass during my childhood MN hockey fandom.

[@gianlucad8003]

I had the luxury of seeing both Bobby Orr and Wayne Gretzky, play, and even though I couldn't stand the Bruins and didn't like Bobby Orr, I still say he is the greatest player of all time. Not only was he a prolific goalscorer as a defenseman, he was great defensively and an awesome fighter.

[@ronlangill8689]

I can see an argument for either. Those two were the only ones whose mere presence changed the entire way their team would play. Even the mighty Bruins languished in 4th early in a season when Orr was injured, and then shot up to 2nd quickly upon his return.

[@FischerFan]

Certain players on Bobby Orr: 'Basically, he was the fourth forward and THAT'S the guy who's the most dangerous!'. - Gordie Howe 'Had you given Bobby Orr a proper pair of knees, Gretzky would still be chasing his records!' - Dennis Hull

[@FOXLIES]

Once Orr took afull page add in a major US newspaper endorsing trump he lost me...hero to ZERO!!!

[@billo6938]

I agree 100% that Orr was the greatest player of all time.

[@CncrndCtzn]

@@FOXLIESYou need help. Like, seriously. No joke.

[@martyberger7168]

Neil Broten was a heck of a hockey player

[@chrisbraceland3743]

Not even in the same atmosphere.

[@brucewayne3602]

yeah ... he also back-checked besides playing offence !!!

[@brucewayne3602]

must add+++ that #4 redefined the game on a very bad knee along with a bad one ... imagine if ???????????????

[@MrJoeolive]

Neal Broten; Olympic Gold medalist, NCAA champion, Stanley Cup champion, scrap with the Great One. What a resume!

[@MrJoeolive]

Forgot to mention winning the Hobey

[@FischerFan]

My favorite Wayne Gretzky moments: This mismatch, and Billy McCreary drilling number 99 in early 1981.

[@williamrobinson604]

Poor Bill McCreary. One of the best hits ever, and the last shift he ever played in the NHL

[@FrankDimarco-ok1fz]

and never played a nhl game again he was with the leafs im sure that hit had something to do with it

[@dannycarlow8204]

Not Bill's last game or shift. He played the rest of that season. It was his last before becoming a ref. Not sure why people think it was his last game. I guess it keeps the narrative going about how protected he was by everyone.

[@glenm99]

​​@dannycarlow8204 I don't think he finished the season in the NHL. He dressed for 10 more NHL games, but spent most of the year in the AHL. He has AHL playoff stats from that season. The referee Bill McCreary is a different person.

[@goleafsgo8496]

Totally agree with you BUT considering the different era and style of play hats off to Ovie who is chasin him down on the goal scoring front. Impressive in its own right .... 😊

[@VazzVegas]

The way Wayne dropped the gloves, Neal looked confused, lol. "Like seriously, dude? Alright, here's your whoppin'".

[@potterrenovations5124]

Broten won every championship except Junior. He won the Stanley Cup with the Devils in 95. Tremendous hockey IQ and if Brooks picked you to be on his team - that's all you need to know about heart and guts.

[@flybynight1929]

It's Br-ah-ten, not Br-oh-ten. And he was one of the best skaters who ever played, and he won a gold medal.

[@alfredcam5213]

Figure skater, got it & checks out.

[@dennis3351]

best skater ever 🤭yup

[@mattwilkie9713]

Broten won a high school championship, a NCAA National Championship, a Stanley Cup, and a gold Medal on the 1980 "Miracle" team. Pretty darn great resume

[@rzn2258]

So what

[@larrydanadavid2435]

Skating is one of the most important skills in the game of hockey and these lug heads aren’t recognizing…

[@justinmercado6515]

Gretz put up 2,857 points.Thats unreal!

[@williamfinamore4623]

Wayne Gretzky ...The John boy of Hockey... Goodnight Elizabeth !

[@norwoodwildlife9849]

It's funny because Broten wasn't much of a fighter himself and you can tell he wasn't even trying, he was more like, am I really fighting Gretzky?

[@ronlangill8689]

Looked like Broten's goal was to just keep Gretzky down and not do too much damage to get the wrath of an enforcer. I believe in his book, Gretzky said there was a time he was down on the ice during a brawl, opened his eyes, and the opponent on top just had his fist near Gretzky's face and said "just don't move". He didn't want to hit Gretzky either.

[@nathanadrian7797]

In a brawl versus Vancouver, Gretzky ended up against Gino Odjick. Big Gino(Vancouvers enforcer) just gently ushered Wayne to the boards where they talked while everyone else fought. Later in his career, there was a respect for Wayne most players don't receive.

[@dennis3351]

Seems Broten slapped Gretsky a few times with his glove then kept him down yes.

[@6ffrey958]

Broten was not a fighter, and this instance was the only one I saw him in. They both should have gotten an extra 2 min for delay of game with that kindergarten fight.

[@krob5375]

That was bad, but Alex Semin still has him beat. Funniest shit I've ever seen in an NHL fight.

[@darnellpistachio2991]

LOL

[@notsosilentmajority1]

The NHL let all teams and players know that Gretzky was essentially "off limits". He was a huge meal ticket for the entire league and the NHL didn't want anything happening to him. He's a class guy and a great representative of the sport.

[@jogendron6320]

You obviously didn’t watch him play. Another clueless millennial 😂😂😂

[@notsosilentmajority1]

@@jogendron6320 Clueless millennial? I played hockey as a teenager when he entered the league. I saw his entire career, even when I was stationed overseas. If you don't have something constructive to say, you shouldn't say anything. It's even worse when you don't know what you're talking about. I'll leave it at that.

[@darnellpistachio2991]

​​@@notsosilentmajority1so where is your source that the nhl created a no touching gretzky rule? youre a flames fan yeah?

[@notsosilentmajority1]

@@darnellpistachio2991 Lol, no I'm not a Flames fan but that was a good one. You obviously have some hockey knowledge and know what's going on. The thing is that it was talked about it all the time when Gretzky first came out and it's almost like no one wants to admit to it anymore. Years ago it was an open secret. It's almost like carrying, an offensive foul and traveling in the NBA. No one seems to want to admit that these "rules" are highly overlooked to keep scoring up, especially for the more popular players. If people keep saying the same thing long enough, it must be true, right? Does anyone think there will be a "source" about something that supposedly didn't happen? Lol, yeah, nah.

[@bradshaw9667]

Teams that Gretzky was on had enforcers that were just fighters, if you hit Gretzky a dirty way you were going to be in a fight for it. His Teams protected him, not the league. It was Great hockey back then.

[@ninjanoodle2674]

Gretzky survived in the NHL because he had players on his team whose sole responsibility was to protect him. There is a reason that when Gretzky was traded from Edmonton to the LA Kings that he specifically asked that Marty McSorley be included in the trade. Opposing players knew that if they messed with Gretzky, they were going to get pummeled.

[@Po-pol-vouh]

Absolutely! Gretzky was slow like a snail and can hardly be considered as number one.

[@ninjanoodle2674]

@@Po-pol-vouh What are you talking about? Gretzky was not slow... he is the uncontested best hockey player ever.

[@darnellpistachio2991]

​@@Po-pol-vouhgo watch soccer

[@danman6669]

@@Po-pol-vouh Check out his stats. Even if he theoretically were "slow like a snail" (which isn't true), almost every one of his records still are untouchable to this day.

[@wesleyloroff2736]

@@danman6669 Mario had better average (per game etc) unfortunately his sickness prevented him getting the records Gretz had. As a fun fact there's 1 record Gretzky did get, Gordie Howe's playing in 6 different decades. Try that

[@robertchase6387]

His "fight" against Phil Sykes was pretty embarassing too.

[@robertjrobicheau8456]

I believe his 215 points is as unbreakable a record as Cy Youngs 500 wins and Nolan Ryan's 5714 strike outs.

[@natureboy915]

You misprounced Brotens name. How are you a hockey fan???

[@jogendron6320]

You can’t even spell mispronounced

[@DudleyDoright-ru2ch]

Watched them all and Orr always gets my vote because he won the scoring title as a D-man. Best skater as well, Lemieux, Gretzky and Dionne are always in the mix. Note, Dionne ended up third all time in scoring when he retired and he did on a poor team, generally a forgotten superstar.

[@rebeltvr6046]

Neil Broten had a 100 pt season and was a terrific offensive player too. Imagine Gretzky fighting Chris Nilan or Terry O'Reilly? That would never happen.

[@chrisbraceland3743]

Respect

[@danbratten3103]

Neal Broten was the first American born player to score 100 points in an NHL season.

[@rebeltvr6046]

@@danbratten3103 I didn't know that. Cool.

[@NolantheReds38]

Since the 1981-82 NHL season Neal Broten was my all-time favorite hockey player growing up. Where He had more huge hockey accomplishments. In High school he appeared in the state tournament in three consecutive years (1977-79)with his brother Aaron. He won a sort of Quadruple Crown (if you count his WCHA rookie of the year he is sought of a 5x title winner) as being the only man ever to win the NCAA college hockey Championship as he did as a Freshman in 1979 with the Minnesota Gophers. And he also won the first ever Hobey Baker award- (which is college Hockeys player of the year as a junior where he went back to the NCAA Chamionship in 81) & he was also won a Gold Medal as a member of the 1980 “ miracle on ice” team & to to round it all out that Quadruple crown he won the Stanley Cup in 1995 the year he was traded to The Devils.Getting the game-winning goal in Game Four against the Detroit Red Wings to clinch the title. As that he is still the only Hockey player to win all 4. (5 if you add winning WCHA rookie of the year in 79) And as NHL rookie with the Minnesota North Stars in 1981-82 He scored an amazing 98 points (at the time most ever by an American) and did it in only 73 games. Scoring 38 goals that year and more impressively shot over 20%! And to round out his 1985-86 season he He was the first American to score 100+ points! as he scored 105 in 1985-86 season. After the Gold medal and then being the only player on that team to go back to college where as mentioned in his his junior year in 1981 he played in his 2nd NCAA Championship then he went to the North stars where as he joined he played the last three regular season games in 80-81 then made the Stanley cup and lost. So to recap In 1 year in 1980-81 he won the 1980 miracle on ice Gold metal, he went back to the college championship as a junior & then he won the Hobey Baker then after playing the last 3 games for the North Stars in 81 he made the Stanley Cup, All in a year!! He was recently voted by the people of Minnesota as the greatest hockey player in the history of the state.He was and is simply a winner. And should be in the NHL Hall of Fame! (And Neal’s hair would get wavy during games from the sweat and the humidity from the ice, So NO WAY! Neal never had a perm!) I do appreciate you doing a piece on Neal Broten but next time you do mention him you’ve got to pronounce Neal’s name correctly ITS NOT BROTE-DEN! thank you.

[@101snapper]

Bobby Orr most killed player - bad knees shortened his career and guys like Tiger Williams played in the 70's - You weren't allowed to touch Gretzky or Semenko would be all over you. He also played in an era when there was a massive increase in goals scored until goalies started looking like the michelin man in net - If Ovechkin played in the 80's I couldn't imagine his goal totals - he scored most of his goals during a time when goals were at a premium being scored -

[@patbrennan6572]

Nice to see he took on a heavyweight. Neil Broten. LOL .

[@JamesGibson-iz9el]

Rookie season? If I'm not mistaken; he never was a NHL rookie because he started in the WHL.

[@chocolateface8664]

WHA. He would be a rookie because it’s a different league.

[@guins99]

Yes, and those stats helped pad his career totals …

[@chocolateface8664]

@@guins99 what’s that mean?

[@dannycarlow8204]

​@@guins99How did his one season in the WHA pad his NHL stats? The two are separate sets of stats.

[@darnellpistachio2991]

​@chocolateface8664 actually Gretzky never had an official rookie campaign in the NHL, because the WHA is/was a professional hockey league. otherwise, Gretzky would be in on the NHL record book for the "50 goals as a rookie" title, but alas, he is not, despite having 50 goals in both his WHA rookie season, and 50 goals in his first NHL season.

[@TKDChad999]

K thanks. Gonna bleach my eyes now.

[@StarvingDad4Change]

I guess the FACT, that a memo went around the leagues general managers, that stated that NO ONE was allowed to touch Gretsky!!! Because everyone was coming out to see him play and he was filling the arenas around the league, meaning that the owners of the teams were making great money and that meant more money for everyone, teams, managers, couches, players!!! So there was the unwritten rule, NO ONE touches Gretsky!!! I remember one of his first games, a rookie defenseman from Toronto, hit Gretsky with a clean, perfect hip-check sending Gretsky, sailing through the air, landing on his back, Gretsky was taken off the ice on a stretcher!!! That defenseman never played another game in the NHL, AHL, CHL or the European hockey league, that kid was NEVER Seen again, because Gretsky wasn't to be touched, TRUE STORY!!! Too back the NHL didn't feel the same way about Bobby Orr, that was twice the player, Gretsky ever was and he did it, with everyone trying to put him out of the game!!! Because they couldn't catch him and he had to many moves, until they started checking his legs, you can't skate without legs, Bobby had 7 surgeries on one knee and 6 on the other, just trying to stay in the game he loved, it was heart breaking to watch, look him up, if you want to see a real player, the best ever!!!

[@chrisbraceland3743]

So what does that tell ya? People want to see the skill over watching the goons!

[@chellenta1175]

I think that Gretzky had one big advantage: he saw the court very well, and in his free time from the game he constantly studied the playing style of his opponents, their weaknesses, tactical formations - a smart player. And a question for you: Gretzky came to the World Championships, the Canada Cup - they didn’t touch him there? I watched the finals of the Canada Cup-87 and the powerful Kasatonov and Fetisov didn’t seem to touch him much

[@StarvingDad4Change]

@@chellenta1175Well if Gretzky, with all his knowledge of the game and the players, was so great, Why was he a failure as a coach for the Coyote's and with all his skills, Why was he (NHL's Lead scorer) passed over, in the Olympics, for a shoot-out and replaced by Ray Bouroque, against the Czechs!!! Because he's NO good at one on one, with skilled goalies!!!

[@chellenta1175]

@@StarvingDad4Change I heard that the NHL bosses took great care of the Gretzky, because the blue-eyed blond attracted boys and girls from students to the stands and to TV broadcasts, BUT: 1978 WJHC - 8+9 =17 points 1982 Ice Hockey World Championships - 6+8 = 14 points Soviet, Czechoslovak defenders were also forbidden to touch Gretzky

[@nodakliberalhawk]

A lot of the greatest players don't make good coaches. Coaching is more about psychology and pushing the right buttons on players. Being a great player doesn't mean you can coach from the bench.

[@daveblock4061]

I take nothing away from Gretzky, but even he said it was Gordie Howe, and no one controlled or owned all 200 feet like Bobby Orr.

[@KT22672]

I’m grateful that we had season tickets to the pens in the 90s, once I was old enough I started going too and I think back and realize, I got to see amazing things, the last time Gretz played in Pittsburgh, I got to see Lemieux’s jersey get taken DOWN from the rafters, I got to watch Jagr lead the pens, I got to see 87, and 66 on the ice at the same time. I’m grateful that I got to experience these legendary moments even if I was only 7 or 8, it meant so much to me I remember it like it was yesterday

[@darnellpistachio2991]

if you were 8 when you saw Sid and lemieux play together, you dont remember seeing Gretzky's last game in Pittsburgh.

[@KT22672]

@@darnellpistachio2991I was 7 when Gretzky played the last game in Pittsburgh, I was 13 in 2005, the 7 or 8 reference was to Gretzky since that’s what the video is about

[@spirg]

guy was treated like a china doll his whole career...

[@moosewhizzerdave2066]

He wasn't a physical player on any level, but he played the game on an entirely different level.

[@Chaturanger]

He had the gretzky's don't touch rule.

[@moosewhizzerdave2066]

@@Chaturanger He had cement-head to enforce that.

[@JFK-ir7yz]

It was as if the league told players they couldn’t hit Gretzky when he was playing.

[@user-db6pt7vr3l]

And rightfully so. He made millions for the other players and the game.

[@JFK-ir7yz]

Uh huh. That’s why I don’t watch sports anymore. When I realized it’s just sports entertainment and not competition, all about the “millions for players and the game.” I thought, how completely stupid. It’s like watching the WWE. So I disagree the “rightfully so” part. The greatest? When the league won’t let other players hit you? Haha. Uh huh.

[@danlrusso]

Disagree that it was impressive that Gretzky avoided the physical game enough to score all those points. The fact is that, since he had the talent to play everything but the physical side of hockey, the Oilers made an investment in him and he was protected by the ominous cloud that hung over opponents that deterred them from even cleanly checking him. And that ominous cloud is called the enforcer, or some call them goons. I was really sick of seeing Gretzky skate untouched around opponents who refused to check him even cleanly, probably because they didn't want a target on their back after that or even facing an immediate fight with the enforcer. You didn't see prima donnas like that in the days of Rocket Richard, Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull or Bobby Orr. Everybody played all aspects of the sport. Not just everything but the part they were weakest at because their team paid one of their teammates to protect them by taking up their slack. Owners and/or managers/coaches were to blame because it was about the almighty dollar and the huge salary they paid the prima donna. That investment needed to be protected and the enforcer was told that the job of goon was their job and if they refused, they could be traded or sent down. I'm sure that deciding on the right player who wouldn't refuse more often than not occurred.

[@ThomasAlanRugg]

Not consensus. #4 Bobby Orr, played D and led the league in scoring top plus minus, AND fought.

[@nikolaivista920]

Fabulous Number Four is the GOAT!!

[@hansolo1147]

1:46 Random WHALERS highlight! I approve!

[@SantaDog81]

"Never fight a man with a perm" - Idles

[@JPBelanger]

Never a rookie in the NHL 🙂 This moment of smartassedness was brought to you be me! JP! 🙂

[@BrandonBowen-ck2yg]

The Alex Semin Caps/NYR fight was the best!

[@aaronpoliwoda8054]

I remember reading somewhere that Gretzky received some sort of Sports Illustrated sportsmanship award before the game.

[@6ffrey958]

Back in the 80s & 90s the NHL had this blood lust style of playing. Especially during the playoffs. Gretzky wasn't a hack type player. Also, as like today the media love to fluff up superstars.

[@moemanncann895]

NHL did NOT consider Wayne as a rookie in his first NHL season, therefore no Calder consideration. Waynes stats do NOT include his WHA totals

[@billo6938]

Gordie Howe's WHA stats are not counted either.

[@woxyroxme]

If that was the case then Gordie Howe would have the most career goals and Bobby Hull would be #3 and Ovi would never catch any of them

[@davidsamuels9557]

So if Gretzky wasn't a rookie, how could they not count his WHA stats? 😅 The NHL just didn't want Gretzky to win the Calder Trophy, because he was a WHA player. WHA stats weren't counted and the four surviving WHA teams were classified as "expansion teams", but Gretzky wasn't a rookie because he played in the WHA. 😅 The NHL was having it both ways with that double speak. They couldn't get away with that today. Gretzky wasn't a rookie. WHA stats should have been counted in the NHL. The National Football League counted American Football League stats, when they merged with the AFL. The National Basketball Association didn't count American Basketball Association stats, when they merged with the ABA.

[@davidsamuels9557]

​​@@billo6938 All WHA stats should have been counted in the NHL. The National Football League counted American Football League stats, when they merged with the AFL. The National Basketball Association should have counted the American Basketball Association stats, when they merged with the ABA.

[@moemanncann895]

@@davidsamuels9557 Exactly, NHL made some arbitrary decisions back then including having expansion teams protect only a handful of players with the rest thrown in an expansion draft. The WHA team rosters were raided pretty good and each expansion team had a stronger lineup before they joined the NHL. The exact opposite of what they gifted Vegas

[@Migmaw]

Back when the NHL had a code. The reason Probert and others didnt kill Gretzky wasnt because he could avoid it and was so slick skating, the code protected the stars and enforcers didn't hit or set out to hurt the stars. However rats got beat by enforcers or got their teammates into shit for playing dirty and enforcers went after the bigger guys to settle a score.

[@bentighe4811]

I hate that Broten's name was mispronounced here. He was an excellent player too, and he deserves to be remembered.

[@davidhanson8728]

Both these combatants were non-fighters who generally would have an enforcer step in. I guess the ref and teammates let them go at it for a chuckle. They were the both the offensive stars of their teams. Neal was the first American born hockey player to score 100 points in a season and was part of the Mircle on Ice. And Gretzky was well... Gretzky. Nice Memory.

[@jeffreyval9665]

Gretzky's hockey iq was just one of many things that made him so great. Nobody could ever get a clean check on the guy. They were always glancing blows. He was always a few steps ahead of everyone else. After a few seasons, people didn't even bother trying to square him up or try to catch him with his head down. It just wasn't gonna happen.

[@dannycarlow8204]

When you watch a highlight video, watch how many times he gets hit with a stick because they can't get the body on him.

[@jeffreyval9665]

@dannycarlow8204 I know. I was pretty young at the time, but I remember watching him play. Saw him a few times in person at the old spectrum in Philly and in Hartford when the Whalers were still around, lol. He was just smarter than everyone else. He was obviously the greatest ever, but he rarely did anything where you said omg this guy is the most amazing player I've ever seen but at the end of the game he'd have 4 or 5 points. He just made everything look so easy and effortless. I remember crying as a little boy when Gretzky and the Oilers beat my Flyers in the Stanley Cup, lol.

[@dannycarlow8204]

@@jeffreyval9665 Oh my god, that has to one of the funniest things ever. You're not going to believe this but Philly is the only NHL team to make me cry when I was little when they won game 6 in 1987. I wanted the Oilers to win and had to actually admit to my mom why when she asked me why I was crying. I told her and she reassured me that Edmonton would win the next game. Does this mean we're some kind of crybaby soulmates or something? I have to tell my mom this. This is too funny.

[@jeffreyval9665]

@dannycarlow8204 Yeah, that definitely is a weird coincidence, lol. Being up 3-1 in the series with all the momentum only for the Flyers to win the next 2 games to force a game 7 was amazing!! Philly had all the momentum going into that game 7 and were even up 1-0 if I remember correctly. That was a heartbreaker for me as a very young kid. Such a great series, and I think Hextall (who played out of his mind) ended up getting MVP in the losing effort. I'm still waiting to see the Flyers and Sixers win a championship in my lifetime. I thought it was gonna be their year when they came back and won being down 3-0 to Boston, but a great Chicago team and the Flyers' horrible goaltending in that championship were just too much to overcome.

[@dannycarlow8204]

@@jeffreyval9665 I was born in Winnipeg and we knew it was never going to be our year. We were never wrong. Now I live just outside Vancouver and all it's been is just more heartbreak.

[@jonlesher5116]

In hockey being fast & agile makes up for lack of physical strength.

[@SLiMCHiCKeN5150]

That's what McSorley was brought in 😂

[@williamrobinson604]

LOL, was Gretz pitching a tent in that weird photo?

[@tedtalkshockey1966]

I saw that game, neither one of them really wanted to fight, they both had tears in their eyes.

[@andrewwalton5889]

If Mike Bossy stayed healthy he would have all the nhl scoring records guy was the most pure goal scorer in nhl history hands down.

[@fixxthecat]

Technically speaking. I give Gretzky props for actually trying despite the outcome. Theres alot of players nowadays and the past little while who have those gloves cemented on and hid behind the refs.

[@ml.2770]

I remember the sportscaster laughing during the highlights of the day.

[@mikelindellspillow2609]

Gretzky's perm should be in the hall of fame too

[@alfredklag4894]

Little talented hockey players were protected by less talented, bigger, tougher guys. I was there.

[@terryholden3064]

Hockey is a two-way sport. Gretzky will always be considered the greatest scorer. But as a senior citizen who has seen all of the greats (early 60's on), I don't recall him being very active in the forechecking/backchecking aspect of the game. He was a "blue-line" player who excelled at scoring. It's almost as if he avoided being anywhere near the boards. To be considered the GOAT, I feel a player has to excel in both offense and defense. I thought Orr had the most dominating 8-9 year span of anyone in the game. If longevity is to be considered, then you might want to consider Howe or Lemieux.

[@Losrandir]

Come on, we all got pictures like that, he just happens to be quite famous

[@darksaga80]

This fight happened the day after Sports Illustrated named him "Sportsman of the Year." which the commentators continually pointed out after the fight.

[@canadiansabresfan]

My guess is Gretzky was more embarrassed when the Oilers won the Cup without him in 1990.

[@yostification]

But you were not allowed to touch him.

[@63shakeandbake]

I think that no one ever did proved that. i can't count the amount of times guys could have buried him into the boards and they wouldn't hit him. I think after Orr had to retire after all the dirty punishment he took, the league decided with Gretzky that they had to protect him. With the NHL so financially strapped they could ill afford to lose Gretzky to injury.

[@mrdubes1]

He got points when he wasn't even on the ice. Wasn't even in the arena. Ffs wasn't even in the City.. That's talent..

[@tman6663]

I was at that game at Northlands, Gretz was just frustrated..it was a very sad fight

[@daved1535]

I'm not sure why he was frustrated. The Oilers ended up winning that game 8-2

[@tman6663]

@@daved1535 oh really? How many points did he get? Minn was all over him..

[@dannycarlow8204]

​@@tman6663It was Wayne's only Gordie Howe hat trick. He scored a goal and two assists in an 8-2 win.

[@tman6663]

@@dannycarlow8204 oh wow you are quick..that’s not a Gordie Howe hat trick speedy

[@dannycarlow8204]

@@tman6663 Go look up Gordie Howe hat trick and if Wayne ever had one. Go check it out speedy. Get back to me.

[@dannycarlow8204]

How is this embarrassing? This was the night of his one and only Gordie Howe hat trick. Of course Wayne scored one goal and two assists.

[@jaydlytning]

Interesting fact, thanks! Wayne Gretzky got a Gordie Howe hat trick!

[@lynardskynard8443]

There was an unwritten no touch Gretzky rule in the NHL, look what happened to McCreary of Toronto, Suter was another one for team USA. He skated around not worrying about ever getting hit in NHL, he was protected. What records did he break in international hockey or Olympics where teams didn't give a shit who he was, yeah, I thought so.

[@user-db6pt7vr3l]

They both look heart-broken engaging in this fight. I heard afterwards, they got a room.

[@irishmick6709]

If I had my druthers, I would have rather been more like Gordie Howe, Messier, or Shanahan…..players that scored many goals, but were all physically tough. Wayne definitely had his own talents though!

[@geofflepper3207]

Saying that Gretzky should be embarrassed because he wasn't a very good fighter is like saying that Einstein should have been embarrassed because he had trouble controlling his hair. Who the heck cares? Nobody with any sense. Imagine an NHL manager saying, "Well, we had a chance to sign Gretzky as a free agent but he has no ability to beat up people so we passed on him".

[@hackiehackerson]

guess you don't understand that the fighting was a big part of hockey, equal to the skills back then. before the crying began.

[@ikelasider1051]

@@hackiehackerson Yeah it was such a big part , Thats why Mike Bossy { Maybe the greatest pure goal scorer in NHL History } played his entire career without one single fight ....Let's pick him apart next

[@hackiehackerson]

@@ikelasider1051 you understand that the teams always protected their mvps to save them from penalties, don't you?

[@ikelasider1051]

@@hackiehackerson what you mean is ..Teams had "Goons" Enforcers who were gonna give you a beating if you go after our star player .....but nothing can prevent a cheap shot like this kzbin.info/www/bejne/o52Wfp6Za8aiZsk

[@donluego9448]

Even though Gretzky had very good passing skills he was only checked hard 5 times in the early 80s. That definitely helped his numbers.

[@jogendron6320]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂 All the goalies never stopped the puck when he shot and even the defensemen were just created a big hole in the middle for him to skate free.

[@darnellpistachio2991]

go back to soccer

[@kenw2225]

Always thought Mario was the goat. Yes Gretzky was good great but Mario was the best talent ever and his numbers prove it

[@sbenn6917]

His acting skills, on Saturday night live, were pretty embarrassing.

[@thisspacenotforrent]

0:49 'the way he played around that prominent part of the game' was cause he had 6ft3, 215lb Dave Cementhead Semenko on his line for most of his career...why he was untouchable...the ONLY person I ever saw who fought Probert and where Probert looked scared despite Probert being on cocaine...

[@Mik-xq2co]

Fighting is not something Wayne would every have excelled at and I think we all (including Gretzky) would agree on. Fighting is just one aspect of the game, and it takes a special kind of player to be good at it. My son was much more of a finesse player and not so much into the physical game. He told me a funny story where he was a try-out camp (can't recall for what junior team) and an opposing player dropped his gloves. My son was like shit, he knew he could not back down as scouts were watching. So, he dropped his gloves, and they took swings at each other. My son said that the other guy missed and when my son hit him (I am assuming not too hard as he is not too large of a person), the guy stepped on his skate and fell to the ice. By record my son "won" that fight which was his one and last I think he ever officially got into. A couple of shifts later the other skater went up to my son and asked him if he wanted to go again. My son looked at him and said "hell no". The guy asked him why and my son was like because you will kick my ass! They both had a chuckle and kept on playing. What he lacked in size he excelled at in smarts 🤣

[@nickgfgfgf4790]

0:28 but his legs looks pretty strong...

[@QSaranis]

Semin vs Staal 01/03/09... Most embarrassing fight ever

[@nodakliberalhawk]

The embarrassing fights are the staged fights. Shouldn't happen.

[@darnellpistachio2991]

​@@nodakliberalhawkkeep your comments untyped, thanks.

[@nevarmaor]

LOL If he hadn't put up the numbers he did he would never have been in the NHL to be rated the worst fighter.

[@Eminim97]

He never played around it 😅 he always had 2 tough guys on his line at all times. Nobody wanted to touch him cause they knew what would happen. Lemiux on the other hand didnt need 2 people to protect him. Lemiux will always be known as the great. Gretzky is the fake great

[@dadum634]

Anybody who hit Graitski was immediately sent to the minors!

[@ryantourney2879]

What is a "Graitski ?

[@jimcroft1387]

And then he starts promoting on line sports gambling.

[@GdF420]

Yup I did lose some respect towards the Great One for that - It is beyond pathetic, a disgrace - Same for today's multimillonnaire players like Auston Matthews

[@watcher63034]

Semenko and McSorely played with Gretzky, and he never fought for himself like the truly great hockey legends did like Gordie Howe, Maurice Richard, Bobby Hull, Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr, etc...

[@GdF420]

True, even Mario Lemieux had to fight fair and square to prove he had his place But with Gretzky it was different, can't blame him for that. Same with Guy Lafleur, they weren't in that stereotype macho stuff. Can't remember if Mike Bossy had to or felt the need to fight

[@manningchiro]

Ha haaaa... LMAO -- Gretzky throws gloves down!! Looks like he practiced that move :)

[@shawnblackwood1471]

How did he survive amongst all those tough guys ?? Simple there's always been a code a tough player, fighter would not try to fight a skill player , and Gretzky had a Pitbull named McSorley by his side . Actually a worst fight was a couple years back when some Russian born player was slapping his opposition like a 4th graded as he couldn't make a fist .

[@bindardondat5292]

You forgot to mention Cementhead. Gretzky's on ice bodyguard.

[@BR-dj8ep]

That North Star jersey is hideous

[@ThatGenXGuy8794]

That fight is why Neal Broten isn't in the Hockey Hall of Fame. Otherwise, he has a HHOF worthy resume.

[@jogendron6320]

😂😂😂😂😂😂😂🤡🤡🤡

[@ThatGenXGuy8794]

@@jogendron6320 "Laugh it up, fuzzball."

[@jogendron6320]

He fought Gretzky so he’s not in the Hall of Fame! Ok Karen 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@ThatGenXGuy8794]

@@jogendron6320 You must be a liberal. GFY!

[@user-we2yt5on9b]

It really wasn’t much of a fight at all. It would have been embarrassing to most players to have 2 minute roughing penalties called.

[@wm9312]

Back in his career an opponent was asked why they didn't't just hit him more. The player replied "It's like trying to hit a rope"

[@chrisbraceland3743]

Skill

[@darnellpistachio2991]

according to most of the boston and pittsburgh fans, its because the NHL made a "no touching gretzky" rule 😅😂

[@rogerzotti1]

great reply by Gretzzky ...

[@ltrillium1000]

there is absolutely ZERO consensus that he is the greatest of all time. Bobby Orr was the greatest hockey player - period

[@michaelmohrle1773]

No, that would be Gordie Howe, just ask Bobby Orr and Gretzky.

[@af1966]

He stated he never liked fighting. I remember he said that yesrs ago

[@secard4202]

I heard a guy checked him hard once and was out of the league.

[@jogendron6320]

What I heard is he got shot and left for dead in a back alley.

[@darnellpistachio2991]

​@@jogendron6320back to soccer with you

[@tjp1451]

""You lose 100% of the fights you don't accept." - Wayne Gretzky - Michael Scott"

[@jaydlytning]

Ha ha ha

[@user-gt1ip1dk8x]

Gretzky would have been nothing without body guards. Would not have survived the first season if it wasnt for them

[@jogendron6320]

Thanks captain obvious that’s why they were there 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@user-gt1ip1dk8x]

You are an oilers fan arnt you LOL@@jogendron6320

[@darnellpistachio2991]

isnt that why all teams had enforcers?

[@vrokhlenko]

Nothing to be ashamed of - getting beat up by an Olympic champion

[@buffalobraves9]

Neal Brott-N, not Bro-Ten

[@kungfu2toe]

Dudes all leg 😅

[@richardthompson6366]

There have been worse fights and worse fighters than Wayne Gretzky.

[@Chaturanger]

Being from the South, never watched hockey until the mid 90's. Heard from a number of people, being very talented but also nobody ever hit him, just let him skate by and take his shot... Any truth to that? Would Gretzky have been an average player if he was checked at the Blue Line? If Gretzky got cheap shotted as much as Bobby Orr and Mario Lemieux he wouldn’t have lasted 3 years and not even in the conversations as greatest player ever.