Wayne Gretzky names all-time team, leaves off Mario Lemieux

Did Wayne Gretzky toss some shade at Mario Lemieux by leaving him off his all-time team? 

Wayne Gretzky is arguably the best NHL player of all time. At the very least, he is without question the most popular. Gretzky took the NHL to previously unattainable heights of popularity during his career. Fittingly, he will serve as the NHL’s centennial ambassador during the league’s celebration of its 100th season.

At a press conference, Gretzky got asked the $64,000 question: Who’s on his all-time team? Gretzky gave an answer Mario Lemieux likely objects to:

It’s worth noting Gretzky played with Grant Fuhr, Paul Coffey, and Mark Messier with the Edmonton Oilers, winning four Stanley Cups. His respect for the late Gordie Howe is well known. Jean Beliveau is arguably the best Montreal Canadiens player ever.

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But where’s Lemieux, the other player who is consistently in the best player in NHL history conversation? You’d think Gretzky would make it a point to name Super Mario to his all-time team. This likely angers Penguins fans because Lemieux has a case for being the best player ever.

Sure, Gretzky has the stats. But the Oilers were a super team back in the 1980’s. Lemieux single-handedly made the Penguins relevant and led them to two Stanley Cups as a player (and two more as an owner). He came back from cancer and a significant back injury during his career. Had it not been for injures, Lemieux might have come close to Gretzky’s numbers.

Gretzky has a lot of respect for Lemieux, so it’s likely this is nothing. The Great One has always been a spokesman for his teammates. That’s why his teammates love him and why he is in the conversation for best leader in NHL history. Lemieux is probably too busy celebrating the Penguins Stanley Cup win to care, anyway.