Wayne Gretzky has nothing but respect for Alex Ovechkin as the Russian attempts to break his all-time goals record. 'If he does get close and does break it I'll be there at the game hopefully and hopefully I'll be the first guy to shake his hand.'
Gretzky, of course, didn’t always hold hockey’s most sought-after offensive records. He dethroned his childhood idol along the way, eclipsing Gordie Howe’s all-time goals and points records during his career. With Thursday marking the 20-year anniversary of Gretzky’s last NHL game, he reflected on passing Howe and that, should Ovechkin ever score goal No. 895, he’d handle it much the same way Howe did.
“I just have nothing but respect for the young man,” Gretzky said of Ovechkin. “He plays hard, he plays physical, he wants to win. He’s not selfish. And as I said if he breaks my record I’ll be the first guy there to shake his hand. I think it’s good for hockey. I think it’s great for sports when people break records.
“As my dad said when I broke Gordie Howe’s record, and I was a little bit embarrassed, he said ‘you know one day someone’s going to come along and maybe break your record and you just make sure you handle yourself the same way Gordie Howe did.’ And that’s what I’m trying to do. Listen, I have nothing but respect and time for Alex and good for him. If he does get close and does break it I’ll be there at the game hopefully and hopefully I’ll be the first guy to shake his hand.
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