Wayne Gretzky Quotes - Page 3

The greatest thing about playing obviously is winning, and you can't replace that experience with anything.

I think the greatest thing about playing obviously is winning, and you can't replace that experience with anything.

There's no perfect coach in the world. Coaches are human, too. Mistakes are made. But, fundamentally, if you're sound, you eliminate as many mistakes as possible.

I miss 100% of the shots I don't take.

I think the Americans are ready to play, they want to beat us. I think that players like Chris Chelios and his leadership over there goes a long way.

By no means could I play at the level of these kids who play in the NHL now but as 50-year-olds go, I feel really good and I feel blessed that I'm still healthy.

I really wanted to write a book [99: Stories of the Game] on the tradition and history of the league, where kids can pick it up and read it and learn things and say, "Geez, I didn't know that. That's pretty cool."

Lifting the Stanley Cup for the first time. There's nothing like it. It's the greatest story. In my era, they used to say you couldn't be a superstar without winning one. I remember thinking when I lifted it: "Now they can't say that about me."

It's just amazing how many companies suddenly want you to hold up their products after you've held up the Stanley Cup.

Gordie Howe and Bobby Hull and Jean Béliveau probably looked at us in the '80s and said, "These guys are soft. We used to take the train."

That's the hardest part of this whole process. The best part is picking the players and the worst part is telling basically five players they are not going to play tonight.

I grew up such a fan. It was my life. Everything I did was hockey related and everything I have is because of hockey and the NHL.

The biggest difference between L.A. and Edmonton was that instead of people looking at me I was looking at them.

I get a lot of parents coming up to me, telling me they are grooming their kids to be professional athletes. I'm really against that. I think it's a great life, and yeah, you can lead them in that direction. I think a lot of parents live their lives through the kids. Because they didn't make it, they want their kids to make it. It puts a lot of undue pressure on the kids.

When I broke into professional hockey at 17 I was told that I was too small and too slow and I wouldn't make the NHL. Now it's kind of flip-flopped and the sense is I can't be a good coach because I was a great athlete.

I wasn't naturally gifted in terms of size and speed; everything I did in hockey I worked for, and that's the way I'll be as a coach.

When I played in a 21-team league, there were six or seven goalies who were just average, and the equipment and pads were smaller. I came in the right era. I played for the right team. It was all speed, and creativity and imagination.

He brings something special. I don't know what it is, but if you ask him, you couldn't understand his answer.

If I had to pick three players to start a franchise, I'd choose Hasek, Peter Forsberg and Eric Lindros.

Good players skate to the puck. Great players skate to where the puck is going to be.

One of the key qualities that you need to be a great hockey player is fantastic anticipation and feel for the game - if you know where the puck is going before it is hit, that is half the battle.

We played in an era where you were taught to hate your opponent. But life changes. I raise my kids differently than my mom and dad raised their kids.

I heard people say, 'Why would he want to do this?' My answer is 'Why not?' It is what I love. It's what I know.

Your friends, family, and kids have to understand that's your priority. It's the only way you can be successful.

My kids are no different than anyone else's - they tend to disagree with everything I say!