DALLAS — Wayne Gretzky was within the Dallas Stars locker room congratulating them after they superior to their third consecutive Western Convention closing, the place they’ll face the franchise with which “The Nice One” was a four-time Stanley Cup champion.
“He mentioned we’re going up towards a reasonably good crew now,” Stars captain Jamie Benn mentioned Tuesday, the day earlier than internet hosting Sport 1 towards Edmonton. “And I needed to ask him who he was cheering for. It felt proper, and he did not reply, clearly.”
Benn mentioned it was “fairly cool” that Gretzky visited the Stars after their 2-1 extra time win Saturday night time over Winnipeg that arrange a West closing rematch towards the Oilers.
Edmonton gained the West closing over the Stars in six video games final yr, then misplaced to Florida in a seven-game Stanley Cup Remaining.
“What an ideal honor to have the best participant of all time come down after the sport and say good day,” Stars coach Pete DeBoer mentioned.
Gretzky informed the Stars he had a lot enjoyable watching them play, and that they had been now going to play “one of many best groups ever.”
DeBoer was on the teaching workers for Canada for the crew’s 4 Nations Face-Off title earlier this yr and through that interval acquired to spend a while with Gretzky.
“Additional particular. That is my period. That is the man all of us grew up watching,” DeBoer mentioned. “He is a particular man once you get him 1-on-1 or in a coach’s room or behind the scenes. You possibly can see his ardour for the sport. He can sit and speak hockey and inform tales all night time.”
Gretzky was a part of 4 Stanley Cup titles in a five-season span within the Eighties with Edmonton. He was the NHL career-leading objective scorer with 894 objectives till Alex Ovechkin handed him on April 6 however nonetheless has essentially the most factors (2,857) and assists (1,963).
So when assembly the Stars and DeBoer, did Gretzky say something that may create headlines in Edmonton, similar to saying he hoped Dallas would win?
“He did not. He would by no means say that and I might by no means put him in that spot,” DeBoer mentioned. “He was very respectful of our group and the job we might achieved to that time. I believe all of us perceive his allegiance to Edmonton and respect that, so he by no means went past that.”
