By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Icy Canada
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Canada Immigration
  • Canadian Cities
  • Entertainment
  • Destinations
  • Education
  • International Visas
Reading: Wayne Gretzky: The Most Influential Player in NHL History? 
Share
Notification Show More
Reading List
top country songs 2016
Canada Top Country Songs 2016: The Best Top 10
December 3, 2022
Tips on Surviving a Brutal Canadian Winter 1
Tips on Surviving a Brutal Canadian Winter
December 31, 2020
Vancouver's World Famous Celebration Of Light.- events in canada
Latest Canada Immigration News 2020
November 10, 2020
Canadian Tourists Decreasing in the US 2
Canadian Tourists Decreasing in the US
January 20, 2020
Can You Bring Your Spouse While Studying Abroad? 3
Can You Bring Your Spouse While Studying Abroad?
December 21, 2018
Latest News
indian buffet vancouver
Largest Indian Buffet Vancouver: 6 Important Things to Know
February 2, 2023
business in Ontario
How to Start a Business in Ontario: 10 Important Steps You Must Know
February 2, 2023
Customer intelligence.
From Data To Insights: How Customer Intelligence Is Revolutionizing Marketing & Sales
February 1, 2023
Palace in Richmond
A Complete Guide on the Palace in Richmond: 12 Facts You Should Know
January 31, 2023
Canadian ETF
Best Canadian ETFs: 10 Best Canadian ETFs Essential Information
January 31, 2023
Aa
Icy Canada
Aa
  • Home
  • About Us
  • Privacy Page
  • Terms & conditions
  • Business
  • Sports
  • Canada Immigration
  • Canadian Cities
  • Entertainment
  • Destinations
  • Education
  • International Visas
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Home
  • Blog
  • Complaint
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
- Advertisement -
Ad image
Icy Canada > Blog > Sports > Wayne Gretzky: The Most Influential Player in NHL History? 
Sports

Wayne Gretzky: The Most Influential Player in NHL History? 

Icy Canada Team
Icy Canada TeamJune 8, 2021
Updated 2022/03/07 at 9:02 AM
Share
Wayne Gretzky: The Most Influential Player in NHL History?  4
by ozaiachin /unlimphotos
SHARE

On talent alone, Canada’s Wayne Gretzky is undoubtedly one of the NHL’s all-time great players. Despite retiring in 1999, the Great One continues to hold a whole host of different records, including receiving the most Art Ross Trophies in a career. There can be no doubts that the Ontario-born center’s legacy will live long in the memory, but he’ll be remembered for far more than his on-field contributions.

Had it not been for Gretzky, it’s feasible to suggest that the NHL wouldn’t have become the global phenomenon that it is today. Of course, ice hockey would have reached new audiences in the digital era, but the Canadian was a catalyst in bringing fresh eyes to the sport. With that, let’s consider if he’s the most influential NHL player of all time.

His Style Attracted New Audiences

It’s a testament to Gretzky’s mentality that he won four Stanley Cups across his 21-year playing career. Unlike others who failed to reach the sport’s pinnacle, the Canadian knew how to become something more than just a good player. As we highlighted here at Icy Canada, the now 60-year-old recalls that as well as knowing where the puck is, a great hockey player knows where the puck and players would go and where they already were to intercept them properly. The athlete credits his late father, Walter Gretzky, for this blend of psychology and strategy, that ultimately lead to Wayne’s massively successful career.

While other great players have since graced the NHL, few believe that the sport will ever produce another Gretzky. The former center had all attributes required to enjoy a trophy-laden career, which included nine Hart Trophies. While he wasn’t the fastest skater, his on-rink agility and control remain unrivaled. His ability to shift his body, combined with his creativity and shooting accuracy, set him apart from his rivals. Because of Gretzky’s impressive eye for goal, up-and-coming players try to replicate his shooting game by focusing on several skills, including accuracy and deception.

<iframe width=”560″ height=”315″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/tlY7sL8qP8U” title=”YouTube video player” frameborder=”0″ allow=”accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture” allowfullscreen></iframe>

Gretzky was at the forefront of the NHL’s growth during the late-20th century because of his offensive-minded playing style. As a result, ice hockey is now the most-watched sport in Canada, while the action-packed game has also enjoyed an upturn in viewership throughout America. There can be no doubt that the Ontario-born player forever changed the face of ice hockey and, as NBC Sports states in their feature piece, “defied the rules of gravity in his craft”. Whether or not Gretzky would have registered record-breaking numbers within the modern game is somewhat irrelevant because present-day ice hockey is what it is because of the Canadian center.

The Famous Trade of 1988

Regarding Gretzky’s influence, there is far more to his illustrious playing career than his on-field style. In June 1985, the NHL introduced the Gretzky rule, which related to coincidental penalties, before being scrapped in 1992. Away from the sport’s rules, the impact of Gretzky’s move to the Los Angeles Kings is still felt today.

In 1987-88, Gretzky won the Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers. As per Hockey Answer, this was his fourth and final triumph with the Oil before his famous switch to the LA Kings. In moving from Edmonton to Los Angeles, he took ice hockey to new heights in America, with the Canadian’s highly-anticipated move creating new marketing opportunities outside of Canada. A few years after Gretzky’s trade, five new teams joined the NHL, including the Florida Panthers, San Jose Sharks, and Tampa Bay Lightning.

The mid-1990s expansion speaks volumes about Gretzky’s impact on enhancing ice hockey’s popularity throughout America, and those that came to fruition have made their mark on the sport. Since being founded in 1992, Tampa Bay Lightning have won two Stanley Cups, and they could add a third to their collection in 2020-21. As of June 3, Jon Cooper’s team are priced at +275 in the NHL odds at Betway to win the sought-after trophy. If they succeed, they’ll move level with the New Jersey Devils on three Stanley Cup victories. Few can argue that the 1998 switch didn’t positively change the NHL, with it laying the foundations for new teams, which, in turn, led to a more competitive outlook.

There Will Never Be Another

In sport, it often only takes one individual to alter perceptions. Whether it’s Gretzky in ice hockey or Bayern Munich’s electric full-back Alphonso Davies in soccer, who is already on course to be a Canadian star, each have played a pivotal role in local expansion and enhancing viewership figures. In NHL history, few players have been the catalyst for new team formations and rule changes, so it’s impossible to dispute that the 60-year-old goalscoring record holder isn’t the most influential participant of all time.

Icy Canada Team June 8, 2021
Share this Article
Facebook TwitterEmail Print
Previous Article How to Avoid Common Gambling Mistakes 5 How to Avoid Common Gambling Mistakes
Next Article French River Provincial Park: 9 Best Things to Do 6 French River Provincial Park: 9 Best Things to Do
Leave a comment

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Stay Connected

Facebook Like
Twitter Follow
Pinterest Pin

Latest News

camping checklist
101 Camping Checklist: Ultimate Guide to All Essentials
Featured
Calgary movers.
Top 7 Calgary Movers – Find the Best Calgary Moving Companies
Featured

You Might Also Like

Toronto Blue Jays
Sports

The 5 Most Impactful Events In Canadian Sports History

January 11, 2023
Playing ice hockey.
Sports

Most Played Canadian Sports in 2023

January 5, 2023
Qatar World Cup.
Sports

Will England’s 56-year wait for World Cup glory end in Qatar?

December 5, 2022
A NFL score board showing numbers of each team with sky in the background.
Sports

Does the Buffalo Bill success rule out Toronto return?

November 17, 2022
//

Icycanada.com your home to Canadian life, the outdoors, events, immigration news, and more.

Icy Canada

3-11860 River Rd, V3V 2V7,

Surrey, BC, Canada

+17789512734

Have questions? Reach out to us at team@icytales.com

Disclosure Statement

We are reader-supported. And we review products independently. When you do buy a product after clicking on a link, we may earn a small commission. That doesn’t mean you will pay more. No, because our commission is independent of what you would pay otherwise. It’s what helps us keep small businesses like us alive.

© 2022 Icy Canada. All Rights Reserved.

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Privacy Page
  • Terms & conditions

Removed from reading list

Undo
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

RegisterLost your password?