Wayne Gretzky boldly declared 18-year-old Connor McDavid the perfect star for a new NHL generation
In 2016, Wayne Gretzky acclaimed then 18-year-old rookie
Connor McDavid
as the ideal player for the modern
NHL
, foreseeing his unique route to greatness. Gretzky underscored McDavid's exceptional on-ice vision, puck retrieval skills, explosive acceleration, and passion for the game, comparing him to hockey legends.
He predicted McDavid would achieve 800 career goals and lead the Oilers to championships.
Before the records and awards, Wayne Gretzky saw a legend in
Connor
McDavid
Back in February 2016, hockey legend Wayne Gretzky offered profound insights into an arising phenom, 18-year-old Connor McDavid, during his rookie season. Gretzky, in an interview, utterly declared McDavid the "perfect guy" for the contemporary National Hockey League, a witness to his exceptional talent and promising future.
When pressed to draw parallels between McDavid and other players, Gretzky featured individuality. He phrased, "It's tough to compare players. I always say guys sort of make their own footprints on the ice, their own path. Connor, without question, is going to make his own path. He's the perfect guy for this era."
Gretzky's admiration extended to McDavid's on-ice attributes, phrasing, "He sees the ice extremely well.
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He has a nose for getting pucks back when he loses them. He has an explosive acceleration to get to another gear that other guys don't have. And most importantly, you can tell he loves to play and he loves to win."
Wayne Gretzky compared teen Connor McDavid to legends and predicted a historic NHL future
Drawing parallels to an elite group, Gretzky remarked, "We don't get players of that caliber come along so often. Crosby came along. Ovechkin came along. You've got guys like Bobby Orr, Mario Lemieux, Mark Messier, and Connor is kind of in that realm of that conversation."
He even alluded that McDavid possessed the passing prowess of Lemieux and the scoring touch of Brett Hull, boldly foretelling, "He'll be on his way to the 800-goal mark. There's no question in my mind."
Gretzky replicated his high praise in October 2016 when McDavid, at just 19, was named captain of the Edmonton Oilers. He proclaimed, "I don't think there's any question that Connor's the best 19-year-old hockey player I've ever seen and I saw (Mark) Messier, I saw Lemieux, I saw Lafleur.
This kid is special." Gretzky concluded with a lighthearted comment that he could score 60 goals playing alongside McDavid, confidently noting, "He will win some championships.
'
Even with McDavid's incredible personal achievements and top-tier play, the Stanley Cup is still the one championship he and the Oilers are fiercely chasing.
Also Read:
Wayne Gretzky gets brutally honest about Gordie Howe's influence and how he survived fame
FAQs
Q: What did Wayne Gretzky say about Connor McDavid in 2016?
Wayne Gretzky called 18-year-old Connor McDavid the 'perfect guy' for today's NHL and predicted his greatness.
Q: Who did Wayne Gretzky compare Connor McDavid to?
Wayne Gretzky compared Connor McDavid to legends like Sidney Crosby, Mario Lemieux, and Mark Messier.
Q: Did Wayne Gretzky think Connor McDavid could reach 800 career goals?
Yes, Wayne Gretzky believed Connor McDavid had the tools to score 800 goals and dominate the league.
Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
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