**Brett Hull Defends Wayne Gretzky’s Place in the Modern NHL**
NHL legend Brett Hull recently weighed in on the ongoing debate about Wayne Gretzky‘s place in the modern era. Hull spoke candidly, giving a blunt assessment that refuted the notion that past eras aren’t on the same level as today’s elites.
Gretzky is considered by many to be the greatest hockey player of all time. Despite Alex Ovechkin breaking his all-time goals record last season, Gretzky remains the all-time points leader. Hull, who played against ‘The Great One’ and even briefly alongside him on the St. Louis Blues, believes Gretzky could easily thrive in today’s NHL.
During a recent episode of his Ice Guardians Podcast, the two-time Stanley Cup champion didn’t hold back. He scoffed at how ridiculous he felt the question, and the debate surrounding it, had become. Hull highlighted Gretzky’s vision on the ice and goal-scoring ability as skills that would allow him to excel even in the modern game.
“People ask Wayne Gretzky if he could score in this [modern NHL]. I’m like, ‘Are you kidding?’ Oh my God. [Alex] Ovechkin would still be chasing him,” Hull said. “It was a game of illusion. He would take everyone one way, turn up, and the whole game would be on the other side of the ice.”
He continued: “[Gretzky] told me that he could get the puck in his own end, look up, and never look up again, and just throw little blind passes and it’d be right on someone’s tape. Because, his vision of what was happening was so incredible.”
**Wendel Clark Backs Brett Hull’s Stance on Wayne Gretzky**
Wendel Clark also echoed Brett Hull‘s sentiments on Wayne Gretzky’s ability to thrive in the modern NHL. The former Toronto Maple Leafs captain shared his own experience playing against ‘The Great One’ and emphasized how crucial Gretzky was to his team.
During his appearance on the Ice Guardians Podcast, Clark compared current players’ styles to Gretzky’s and pointed out where Gretzky excelled. He noted that the former Edmonton Oilers captain was so impactful that he could go an entire game seemingly unnoticed yet still contribute significantly.
“He’s the only guy I’ve seen out of all the greatest players that has never had to play in traffic. And at the end of the night, never in front of the net, never see, he’s got four points,” Clark said. “Sidney [Crosby], Ovechkin’s in the traffic, McDavid’s cutting through with speed through traffic. Wayne could do the whole game not [having to] and yet, he was the reason somebody scored.”
**Hull Believes Gretzky Could Have Scored Even More Goals**
Hull also claimed that Gretzky could have scored even more goals during his Hall of Fame career if he had used a different hockey stick. During the episode of Ice Guardians Podcast, Hull recalled a conversation with Gretzky about his choice of equipment and speculated that better gear might have led to even greater records.
“I told Wayne, I said, ‘Could you imagine how good you’d be if you had a decent stick? I go, ‘You’re carrying a 2×4 out there that doesn’t flex,’ And he could shoot it,” Hull said. “Unreal. Well, that’s why they call him ‘The Great One’ and always will be. I don’t care how many goals Ovechkin gets, he’ll never get to 2500 points, 1600 assists. That’s crazy, he’s got more assists than anybody has points.”
Brett Hull’s strong endorsement of Wayne Gretzky’s timeless skills serves as a reminder of just how extraordinary ‘The Great One’ truly was — and continues to be — in the world of hockey.
https://heavy.com/sports/nhl/edmonton-oilers/nhl-legend-blunt-take-wayne-gretzky/
