Wayne Gretzky, who was never so much as looked at crooked let alone hit, of course defended Connor McDavid for being a giant ‘gine:

“He probably felt like he had some liberties taken at him by the young man and he spoke out against it,” Gretzky said today at the NHL’s board of governors meeting.

…

Gretzky said players have always and will continue to target McDavid. It was the reality of life as a superstar.

“You play hard every night and you’re going to get tested every night,” said Gretzky, a member now of the Oilers management team.

“I did. And Mario (Lemieux) did. And (Sidney) Crosby did. (Jonathan) Toews does. (Steven) Stamkos. And Connor, he’s going to get tested every night, but this is not new for him. He’s been tested since he was a kid and then playing junior hockey and now in the NHL and he’s always responded and done his part.”

Good to see one tough guy defending another. I assume Sidney Crosby will approve, though be slightly disappointed that McDavid didn’t dive three times and then shit his pants when things heated up.