"Listen, it's a hard game," Gretzky said. "You know, emotions run high sometimes. It's good to see he's got that emotional fight in him. It's good to see that he's combative and he wants to excel and he wants to win, and that's what makes him a great player, that he's got that competitive spirit.
"You know, it's just an emotional time for him. He probably felt like he had some liberties taken at him by the young man, and he spoke out against it. But you know, that's part of being a professional athlete."
It was part of life for Gretzky. It was part of life for Mario Lemieux. It has been part of life for Sidney Crosby, Jonathan Toews and Steven Stamkos.
It will be part of life for McDavid, but he can handle it.
"He's going to see this every night," Gretzky said. "I've said this many times: The one sort of mystery to me was people said that I never got hit, but that's just not true. I know the coaches in the other room were not saying, 'Don't hit No. 99.' That didn't happen. You play hard every night, and you're going to get tested every night. And I did. And Mario did. And Crosby did. Toews does. 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 always done his part."
It's great that The Great One is back with the Oilers as partner and vice chairman of Oilers Entertainment Group. No. 99 can help mentor No. 97.
Gretzky isn't around McDavid on a day-to-day basis. He's not the GM; Peter Chiarelli is. He's not the coach; Todd McLellan is. He's not a teammate either.
He's sensitive to that.
"Connor was Connor before I came around," Gretzky said. "He's a great player, and he's going to be a superstar in this game. He does everything positive and in a good way, and I'm not going to interfere."
But how many people on the planet can relate to McDavid like Gretzky can? How many know what he's going through like Gretzky does? How many see the game the way they do?
"If Connor asks me a question when I'm around or if there's something I can give him advice on, absolutely," Gretzky said. "When I was sitting around Gordie Howe when I was 19, 20, 21, I couldn't ask him enough questions. And Gordie Howe used to tell me, 'I learn something new about the game every day.' So you can never learn enough about the game both on the ice and off the ice from guys who have been through it."
Earlier this season, McDavid was asked how much of a relationship he had with Gretzky.
"As much as you would expect, I guess," McDavid said. "I've definitely talked to him a few times and got to know him a little bit. Definitely really appreciate that."
The more they talk, the better.
