Gretzky, what a guy! (The Gretzky appreciation thread)

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=155833&hubname=

I love this guy, he's our spiritual leader, don't bash him in this thread people.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=155833&hubname=

I love this guy, he's our spiritual leader, don't bash him in this thread people.

No offense, but hasn't pretty much living in Canada the last 25 years been sort of a Gretzky appreciation fest?

Anywho, I don't understand why there would be bashing. He was pretty much hailed as a genius when Canada won gold in 2002.
So they went out early in the quarters....not the first good team to have this happen in the Olympics.

Gretzky is the best player of all time and a class act. I feel sorry for him as obviously he is laying the blame on himself and not the overpaid self centered, non patriotic lazy players themselves. Next year we need our Mike Peca's, Paul Kariya's and some grinders who want to win this thing for there countries.

No offense, but hasn't pretty much living in Canada the last 25 years been sort of a Gretzky appreciation fest?

Anywho, I don't understand why there would be bashing. He was pretty much hailed as a genius when Canada won gold in 2002.
So they went out early in the quarters....not the first good team to have this happen in the Olympics.
Did you see the bash thread earlier today? It made me sick and embarrassed to be a Canadian fan.

Did you see the bash thread earlier today? It made me sick and embarrassed to be a Canadian fan.

I saw some of the stuff. Much was okay, general disappointment, but a "someone had to lose, this year it was Canada" feel. But a few posters...holy overreaction Batman. Russia is a very good team. They weren't as experienced, or technically as deep, but its not like Canada lost to Belarus or something.

russia is fantastic...there is no reason to feel shame.
they just happen to have better players this year...big deal.

gretzky sucks at making hockey teams

But you guys are forgetting.
CANADA was thoroughly embarrased.
We were totally outplayed. Our skill level wasn't even close to Russia. The Coaching was useless and couldn't inspire the players we had.

Russia has a great team, and I understand anyone can loose in a one game elimination, but the only way Canada gets this badly embarrased at hockey is if there is a colosal failure at the top. :madfire:

He was a great player, I'll stop there.

dare I say it?

Bure > Gretzky

dare I say it?

Bure > Gretzky
When it comes to leaving biases aside and putting together a hockey team?
Absolutely.

But you guys are forgetting.
CANADA was thoroughly embarrased.
We were totally outplayed. Our skill level wasn't even close to Russia. The Coaching was useless and couldn't inspire the players we had.

Russia has a great team, and I understand anyone can loose in a one game elimination, but the only way Canada gets this badly embarrased at hockey is if there is a colosal failure at the top. :madfire:


I think if anything, Gretzky isn't getting enough credit. Who among us could put up with all the absolute nonsense from the media like he has without snapping? Besides all the self righteous Bertuzzi-hating Heatley-should-be-in-jailists of course. We all know those guys are perfect.

dare I say it?

Bure > Gretzky

Say it.

You might be right in terms of GM skill.

Player skill no, but none the less.

I dunno.

I don't see this as Gretzky's fault. I don't tihnk he picked a bad team or the wrong team, these guys just looked like they weren't trying...

When it comes to leaving biases aside and putting together a hockey team?
Absolutely.

Perhaps, but Canada has a ton more depth than Russia will likely ever have...I really doubt Bure had to think much about the players he wanted on the team.

When it comes to leaving biases aside and putting together a hockey team?
Absolutely.

i hope pierre macguire has the nice taste of foot in his mouth

applauding gretzky and then calling out bure asking "what was he thinking" putting guys like Shushinsky on the team

When it comes to leaving biases aside and putting together a hockey team?
Absolutely.

what biases, going what brought you to the dance before, as well as those terrible selections of Doan, Smyth, and the Goon who were some of the best forwards we had, especially Smyth and Doan "his and lowe's boys"

dare I say it?

Bure > Gretzky

Yeah I mean Bure has done what built a team that has got past Canada and to the semis, wow that is soo much better than Winning gold in 2002 and the World Cup in 2004

i hope pierre macguire has the nice taste of foot in his mouth

applauding gretzky and then calling out bure asking "what was he thinking" putting guys like Shushinsky on the team
Bure had the balls to take the young and enthusiastic players.
Malkin is only 19.
Gretzky was too blind to take a 21 years old Eric Stall, who by the way is currently dominating the highest league in the world.

Absolutely Bure>Gretzky

You are in the wrong thread moron.

I think if anything, Gretzky isn't getting enough credit. Who among us could put up with all the absolute nonsense from the media like he has without snapping? Besides all the self righteous Bertuzzi-hating Heatley-should-be-in-jailists of course. We all know those guys are perfect.
Yeah, I'm sure Gretzky had no idea Janet withdrew $500,000 from their joint account to make football wagers. :shakehead

Bure had the balls to take the young and enthusiastic players.
Malkin is only 19.
Gretzky was too blind to take a 21 years old Eric Stall, who by the way is currently dominating the highest league in the world.

Absolutely Bure>Gretzky

The Balls give me a break - HE HAD VERY LITTLE OPTIONS not to take him and you know what MALKIN AND OVECHENKIN HAVE BEEN IN MAJOR INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS BEFORE and have done well

Yeah, I'm sure Gretzky had no idea Janet withdrew $500,000 from their joint account to make football wagers. :shakehead

You are a genius, and what you said completely applies to this thread. Well done.

The Balls give me a break - HE HAD VERY LITTLE OPTIONS not to take him and you know what MALKIN AND OVECHENKIN HAVE BEEN IN MAJOR INTERNATIONAL TOURNAMENTS BEFORE and have done well
So?

Say in 2010 Crosby is 22 years old and leading the NHL in scoring.
OH NO. We can't take him for the OLYMPICS in Vancouver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He has never played here before. :biglaugh:

So?

Say in 2010 Crosby is 22 years old and leading the NHL in scoring.
OH NO. We can't take him for the OLYMPICS in Vancouver!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He has never played here before. :biglaugh:

Oh give it up already because it is clear that you have no clue about hockey, as well when did i say you have to play in the Olympics ?

Gotta love Wayne....in NO way is he responsible for this loss. I'm pretty sure the players he put on the team are capable of scoring some goals, they simple didn't. That's not Waynes fault.

Gotta love Wayne....in NO way is he responsible for this loss. I'm pretty sure the players he put on the team are capable of scoring some goals, they simple didn't. That's not Waynes fault.

EXACTLY!! His players (most of the them anyways) let him down in the worst way....by not trying.

Yeah, I'm sure Gretzky had no idea Janet withdrew $500,000 from their joint account to make football wagers. :shakehead
Let’s not forget “she” wagered $75,000 on the Superbowl even though she didn’t know who was playing.

Gotta love Wayne....in NO way is he responsible for this loss. I'm pretty sure the players he put on the team are capable of scoring some goals, they simple didn't. That's not Waynes fault.
If that’s the case, then people need to stop giving him credit for the wins in ’02 and ’04. Because after all, it was the players who scored the goals that won the games.

If that’s the case, then people need to stop giving him credit for the wins in ’02 and ’04. Because after all, it was the players who scored the goals that won the games.
Exactly. Wayne gets all the glory when we win and none of the blame when we loose. What a joke.

gretzky sucks at making hockey teams
Wrong thread my friend! Still sore about the world juniors?? What with the hate on for anything Canadian?

Gretzky's contribution to Hockey Canada goes well beyond the 2002 Olympic team. Before November 2000, when Gretzky was named executive director, nobody wanted to play for Canada at the World Championships. Gretzky came in and said right away that unless you're injured, you play at the Worlds, or it will be held against you when it comes time to pick the team. Suddenly, it became fashionable to play for Canada at the Worlds. (The only other time was in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when we were desperately trying to win it for the first time since 1961). And when guys got to the Worlds, they played their hearts out, instead of treating it as a way to pass time since they weren't in the playoffs. It's been a big part of our gold medals in 2003 and 2004.

As for this year's team: so much talent, so little concept of the team. You can blame Gretzky for picking players with no team concept, but in the end, I'd say any one of us would have picked at least 80 per cent the same players. I'd guess this team would need at least a 75 to 80 per cent shake up to make it further than this squad.

If that’s the case, then people need to stop giving him credit for the wins in ’02 and ’04. Because after all, it was the players who scored the goals that won the games.

Yup I agree.....the players deserve the credit when they win....and when they lose.

Wayne just gives them a chance...they need to run with it.

I don't really think it takes much skill to pick the Canadian national team. He's a nice guy and what not but the way the media and the fans were treating him as a genius in 2002 was sickening. The fact is that they didn't win because of him nor did they lose because of him in 2006.

Gretzky interview on NBC right now.

Truth be told, I think the title of this thread needs to be changed from the Gretzky appreciation thread, to the Lemieux appreciation thread.

Because it seems Canada can’t win at the Olympics or the World Cup without Mario.

Truth be told, I think the title of this thread needs to be changed from the Gretzky appreciation thread, to the Lemieux appreciation thread.

Because it seems Canada can’t win at the Olympics or the World Cup without Mario.

Yes, they lost one year in the quarterfinals, therefore they cannot win without Lemieux ever. They should just pull out of all future olympics, world championships, world cups, and world juniors. Also, Gretzky should be put to death. Only then would bitter gretzky haters be happy. Actually, then they would probably complain that he died too arrogantly because people would then be sad, and say nice things about him.

Yes, they lost one year in the quarterfinals, therefore they cannot win without Lemieux ever. They should just pull out of all future olympics, world championships, world cups, and world juniors. Also, Gretzky should be put to death. Only then would bitter gretzky haters be happy. Actually, then they would probably complain that he died too arrogantly because people would then be sad, and say nice things about him.

Don't bet on it.

But you guys are forgetting.
CANADA was thoroughly embarrased.
We were totally outplayed. Our skill level wasn't even close to Russia. The Coaching was useless and couldn't inspire the players we had.

Russia has a great team, and I understand anyone can loose in a one game elimination, but the only way Canada gets this badly embarrased at hockey is if there is a colosal failure at the top. :madfire:

I don't know if Russia badly embarassed us

gretzky sucks at making hockey teams
lets not go that far...4 years ago he assembled the team that won the gold...

Gretzky has had a really tough year. I feel sorry for. His mother dies, his grandmother dies, gambling allegations, now this. It must suck for him

Wrong thread my friend! Still sore about the world juniors?? What with the hate on for anything Canadian?

i am Canadian :rolleyes:

lets not go that far...4 years ago he assembled the team that won the gold...


whats his record as a GM?

won in SLC, won World Cup, lost last WC, lost Torino

russia is fantastic...there is no reason to feel shame.
they just happen to have better players this year...big deal.
Better players and a better put together team. And it seemed like they were also much more into it.

lets not go that far...4 years ago he assembled the team that won the gold...
It wasn't because of Gretzky, it was because of the coin in the ice.

I don't really think it takes much skill to pick the Canadian national team. He's a nice guy and what not but the way the media and the fans were treating him as a genius in 2002 was sickening. The fact is that they didn't win because of him nor did they lose because of him in 2006.
Exactly. If this was a real GM job would hockey canada have handed it over to Gretz without and GM experiance?

in Gretzky i trust

gretzky sucks at making hockey teamsIrresponsible statement. :teach:

2002 Olympic Gold Medal
2003 IIHF World Champions
2004 IIHF World Champions
2004 World Cup Champions...

dare I say it?

Bure > GretzkyYou base your results on a sample size of 1? :huh:

Bure has done a great job of revitalizing the Russian national team for this tournament, but before we can compare anything, let's wait a few more tournaments...

or until they win more than the quarterfinals

whats his record as a GM?

won in SLC, won World Cup, lost last WC, lost Torino

He's won 2 best-on-best tournaments and lost 1. Pretty good record if you ask me. If you weren't so worried about always trying to stir things up, maybe you would appreciate it as well.

whats his record as a GM?

won in SLC, won World Cup, lost last WC, lost TorinoHe was not a part of the 2005 IHWC in Vienna - his mom was diagnosed with cancer at the time so he did not take part.

As I mentioned above, he was the Executive Director (or GM if you wanna call it) of the 2003 and 2004 IHWC Gold medal teams.

I was watching Leno, and was amazed when it was cut short to the Olympics and lo and behold, they were talking about Canada's loss and it was just great.

It just seemed totally refreshing to have NBC talking about hockey. Bob Costas had a one-on-one interview with Gretzky and for once, asked him real questions about the loss, the state of hockey in North America, and at one point, respectfully put the pressure on him regarding the gambling and it was just great to avoid all the hockey cliches and cookie-cutter interviews that pass for the typical media. - In the end, Costas explained that those close to the case expect it to unravel, that perhaps the authorities were trying to catch a big fish once they learned of Janet's involvment and may have overeached. Tocchet himself may be cleared.

I can't imagine something similar coming out of a CBC or Canadian interview with Gretzky - he looked awfully uncomfortable, but was honest in his answers and Costas represented hockey pretty well. It was just great to hear Costas asking directly "what was missing?" "why did you lose?" "3 shut-outs" "did you need youth?" and just going for the right questions instead of walking around like in the typical Canadian hockey interview.

Gretzky explained in his NBC interview that the pressure on Team Canada was enourmous, that the team wasn't having fun whereas the Finns and other teams were. Sakic couldn't bear the entire burden and leaders like Steve and Mario were clearly missed. They were playing desperate hockey and just didn't get into the game.

Costas did get the part about Mario and Steve wrong though - he said that if Gretzky was that influential, he could've gotten them on the team and didn't realize that they were tops on Gretzky's list and both of them pulled out themselves.

In talking about the sport in the US, Gretzky identified himself more as an American, with his American family and commitments and all the teams he's played for in the past decade +.

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/news_story/?ID=155833&hubname=

I love this guy, he's our spiritual leader, don't bash him in this thread people.
i just saw him on nbc with bob costas - took it on the chin - stand up guy

whats his record as a GM?

won in SLC, won World Cup, lost last WC, lost Torino

Wow, this is A Grezky appreciation thread. If you wanna bash him do it in a diffrent thread. Hes won a gold, a World cup, and he never GMed TEam Canada at the World Champions. Get your sources before making stuff up.

Wow, this is A Grezky appreciation thread. If you wanna bash him do it in a diffrent thread. Hes won a gold, a World cup, and he never GMed TEam Canada at the World Champions. Get your sources before making stuff up.

You've gotta ignore him, it's pretty obvious the guy is just trolling. He must be intentionally getting his facts wrong just to provoke a reaction, otherwise he's probably the biggest moron on the boards.

Let’s not forget “she” wagered $75,000 on the Superbowl even though she didn’t know who was playing.

Who cares?

People bet illegally on football every single day...

Exactly. Wayne gets all the glory when we win and none of the blame when we loose. What a joke.

What?

Wayne is heaping all the blame he can on himself.

But you guys are forgetting.
CANADA was thoroughly embarrased.
We were totally outplayed. Our skill level wasn't even close to Russia. The Coaching was useless and couldn't inspire the players we had.

Russia has a great team, and I understand anyone can loose in a one game elimination, but the only way Canada gets this badly embarrased at hockey is if there is a colosal failure at the top. :madfire:

Ugh - tell me about it.

I mean, did you see how Gretzky looked totally disinterested out there on the ice? No desire and no finish at all. I don't think I saw him finish a single check. And talk about slow foot speed - he looked like he was skating with a piano on his back! For a crash & bang winger, he sure wasn't creating a lot of chances. Did he even win a single faceoff? He was definitely our worst defenseman out there, and holy crap, is he ever washed up as a goalie! He played with zero intensity and absolutely deserved this outcome. If there is one player that should wear this loss it's Wayne.

:shakehead

i am Canadian :rolleyes:

Oh yea, you're a rabid supporter of Canada.

This is funny. Only us Canadian puppets would glorify the GM of a team when we get bounced out in the quarterfinals. Only we would give credit to a man who picked a cheap shot criminal (Bertuzzi) one of his underacheiving players (Doan) a guy who over acheived in '04 and had never been anywhere near that since (Draper), and leave guys off the team albeit younger players but better more energized players that would have created scoring chances all the time.

Rocket Richard would be rolling over in his grave if he heard us glorify an underacheiving team that got bounced out in the quarters by the Russians. Geez even Harold Ballard would too. let's face it guys Gretzky made a few mistakes. He relied on experience too much and not at how good a player is doing right now. In 2010 Brent Sutter should coach this team no questions asked. Gretzky and Quinn should politely bow out. Look Bowman never coached again after '81, neither did Sather in '96, nor Crawford in '98. Losing is unnacceptable in Canada. I'm ashamed of the whole team, Quinn and Gretzky. Gretzky should pick up his brain, he left it in 2002.

Wayne Gretzky was one of the greatest players of all time. That's all I have to say about him, I don't know him personally, IMO he made some bad choices with Team Canada, his presence will not help the Coyotes to the post season and people are finding out his personal life is not all that perfect.

He was a great player lets leave it at that. Nobody here knows him personally, you're not living with the guy

wayne is a class act and always will be. He is also a very hard worker, and i guarantee you he spent countless hours going over the roster because he wanted to represent canada the best he could. I think he did a good job. The players were out-played against russia and finland, they were outplayed in the last 2 periods by the czechs, and ran into a really hot goalie in gerber. Nobodys fault, just that russia was better, played harder, and deserved the win.

i am Canadian :rolleyes:
Yeah, but are you really Canadian?? Who were you cheering for in the Olympics? World Juniors? Yeah...thats what I thought.
I Am Canadian

i am Canadian :rolleyes:
You're in the wrong country

What's in it for him? Why is he doing this? Gretzky has said he is going to reconsider his role in hockey, and I wouldn't blame him if he walks away completely. All the flak he's receiving over the olympics, a disappointing Coyotes team, the gambling nonsense. Add the death of his mother and grandmother and it's been a rough year. He could easily say to hell with it and go lay on a beach somewhere for the rest of his life. He certainly doesn't need the money.

Gretzky took on the Hockey Canada GM role because he's a proud Canadian. He did a damn fine job the first time around and now it's all his fault? Ridiculous. He didn't have to take on this job, but he certainly gets my respect because he did. There isn't a better ambassador to the game and there is nobody more loyal to Canadian hockey than Wayne Gretzky. But look at the BS he has to put up with.

Yeah, but are you really Canadian?? Who were you cheering for in the Olympics? World Juniors? Yeah...thats what I thought.
I Am Canadian

I cheered for Canada at the 03 WJC, and SLC, and just about every World Champ. till the most recent :dunno:


just because I hated the 05WCJ team and this years horrible Olympic roster doesn't mean I hate everything Canadian :rolleyes:

just because I hated the 05WCJ team and this years horrible Olympic roster doesn't mean I hate everything Canadian :rolleyes:

Actually, yes, it pretty much does.

I will agree with the group that thinks that Gretz the person putting together a team for the Olympics is not even close to the player he was on the ice.
Both Canada and the US had all the wrong kind of players on their respective teams.

Actually, yes, it pretty much does.

no, it just means i hate the recent teams

no, it just means i hate the recent teams

No. I've read (too) many of your posts over the last few months since the WJHCs. You obviously have some kind of bitterness for Canada or a lingering malaise about being Canadian. Why else would you put a Ukraine flag under your name, and cheer against Canada in the sport that it lives and breathes like no other? Possibly you have some slavic ties and that's your excuse, but that doesn't fly. I'm part Scottish by blood, but I would never cheer for Scotland or Great Britain over Canada in any international event in a million years. Nobody who is really Canadian, and has an appreciation for the the history and culture of our country, of which hockey is a central part, would hope for its defeat in an international event like the WJHC or the Olympics.

It is very classy of Gretz to come out and take all the blame for his team failure.
Some of the comments he made at the Olympic were very true. He said his players were too uptight & were under too much pressure. As a result the players were not having fun & relax. I think they are too consumed in their mind about winning gold medal for Canada instead of worrying about how to improve each game & what system of play needs to execute during the game. He was right about calling some younger players to step up their game to help out the veterans like the way some players did in 2002. People forgot that Lemieux was not great at 2002 Olympic either, it was Sakic’s, Iginla’s & Brodeur’s great play that help us win the gold.
At Torino, no players step up to take charge & especially to take pressure off some players.
A big mistake Gretz made is to have Bertuzzi on the team. Bertuzzi has never been the same player since the Steve Moore incident. Bertuzzi is very uptight most of the time, I haven’t seen him crack a smile in a long time. That lawsuit against him made it even worst for him. Having Bertuzzi around can affect the team’s mood & karma. It seems every players are so tense out on the ice. They seem to have the “Jeremy Witherspoon” Olympic mentality out there— very uptight & not able to cope with pressure. In no way am I saying that we lost solely because of Bertuzzi, he actually did play slightly better than some players. It just seem to me that Bertuzzi is a gloomy player to have around.
I wished we have some more exuberant players on the team to rub off the nervousness of some players. It is so obvious that no enthusiasm was shown by any players. When you have a dressing room full of nervous players, no matter what talent you have, you are not going to be successful.

I hope Gretz stays in Team Canada- and I think it would be great if he coached the 2010 squad- he gets a few more seasons coaching in and it would be a perfect fit. He is happiest close to the ice and the players. "99 Forever"- hang in there Gretz and things will get better for you and your family. :clap: