NHL player poll: Injury transparency? Want Ovechkin to break Gretzky's record? Expand to 34 teams?

Wayne Gretzky is about as revered as professional athletes get.

Nobodys posted more goals, assists or points than him in a career or a single season.

He owns the NHL s longest point streak, has the most 100-point seasons, claimed the most scoring titles, scored the most shorthanded goals, was the quickest to 50 goals, won the Hart Trophy the most times.

Advertisement On top of all that, it seems like nobodys ever said a bad word about the guy.

But dont mistake respect for concern.

Nobodys going to feel too bad for The Great One when The Great 8 inevitably breaks his once seemingly unbreakable career mark of 894 goals.

Heck, the way Alex Ovechkin is going, it might even happen this season.

Listen, Waynes got plenty of records that nobody will touch, so I think hell be OK giving that one up, one NHL player told The Athletic .

Even though I never thought that one would be touched.

In a sport in which fist fights are essentially legal, in a league built on rivalries and hatred, there are precious few topics that can approach near unanimity.

After polling 161 NHL players, granting them anonymity so they could speak honestly, its clear that Ovechkins goal chase is one of them.

But what about expansion? What about gambling? What about the rulebook? There was plenty of disagreement to be found there.

Here are the results of our first player poll of the season, with a representative sampling of the best comments for each question.

Ninety-eight percent.

Short of would you like to have Leon Draisaitl s contract? there might not be another question that garners that many yeses.

Ovechkin is 39 years old, and the average NHL player is 28 years old.

Macklin Celebrini was born two months after Ovechkin completed his spectacular 52-goal rookie season.

So much of the league grew up watching and idolizing Ovechkin.

No shock that the word cool appeared 40 times in the players responses.

I think hes proven how hes probably the best goal scorer in history given the times.

I think it would be cool to see.

Nobody is ever going to get the other records, right? So if he breaks this one, I think that would be cool.

Yes, because I could say that I played against the greatest goal scorer to ever play.

My first goal was in Washington and he scored in that game, too.

It would be cool to have our names on the same game sheet.

Advertisement Its going to be cool playing in the era where you can say you played against Sidney Crosby , Connor McDavid , Nathan MacKinnon and the best goal scorer of all time.

I wouldnt even mind being on the ice for the goal against as long as he doesnt put it through my legs, go around me and go top corner.

I think its great for hockey, because it shows its attainable.

Gretzky has made it clear hes pulling for Ovechkin.

The Capitals star even told NHL.com last month that Gretzky texts him little pep talks when hes slumping.

If Wayne is rooting him on, we should all be rooting him on, too.

Do I think it takes away from Wayne Gretzkys greatness? No.

Not in any way.

But his record stood for so long and hes still so far above the pack, its not even close.

Its like Tom Brady and whether hes the greatest football player or quarterback.

Its kind of undisputed.

If (Patrick) Mahomes keeps his pace up for another 10 years, then he might catch him.

Right now, if Ovi catches him, it doesnt take anything away from Wayne.

I think he already would have broken it if it wasnt for COVID and lockouts.

I think Gretzky has enough records.

Played against him so many times and scored a lot of goals on me; Ill be a part of history because of that ...

the wrong way, said Marc-Andre Fleury , agreeing to put his comment on the record after likely giving away his identity anyway.

But I think hes been around for so long, hes been such a good shooter for so many years one-timer, on the power play but hes also got such a great release on his wrister coming down the wing or through the defensemans legs and stuff, so it would be cool.

So just about everyone is rooting for Ovechkin to break the record.

Mostly with one caveat: Just not against us.

We all roll our eyes when a player skates off the ice with his left arm dangling and a stone-faced coach lies right to reporters faces and says, lower-body injury in the postgame presser.

Heres the thing: The players roll their eyes, too.

But they insist its for a reason: Its not about leaving other people guessing.

Its about protecting us.

Advertisement It might not be the wild west of the 1970s anymore, but hockey players can still be utterly ruthless.

Particularly in the playoffs.

This anonymous? I mean, during the regular season, youre not going to target a guys injury.

But in the playoffs, youre going to.

If you know a guys got a banged-up knee, its not hard for the other team to take a couple extra slashes or whack at that knee and actually hurt it even more.

I know guys would get targeted.

Id target people and hit his foot from the crease.

But in the season, I think they could be more transparent.

Sometimes its so stupid when theyre vague.

You see them hit in the head and they say upper body.' As a player, I want less transparency.

You dont want people to know whats wrong with you.

I think its the same thing with the way it works in the playoffs.

If someone knows that you have a bad wrist, were going to slash your wrist.

Same thing you see in football.

Last weekend or the week before, we all know Justin Herbert has a bad ankle, guys are rolling on it.

Were competitive.

Its violent out there.

Everyone says they dont try and hurt or injure people, but we all know you do.

Maybe they can do something where during the regular season its transparent, but in the playoffs its hush-hush.

The NFL has a daily injury report that includes specific injuries and a classification from probable to questionable to doubtful to out.

Given how much money is spent on fantasy football and football betting, the league has no choice.

Some players feel its only a matter of time before the NHL reaches that point, too.

I understand why they do it in the NFL, with fantasy and all of the money that goes into betting, but I dont want other teams knowing my business.

If the betting market gets bigger in hockey, theyre going to have to do that.

Ours is so vague which is nice for players, but if gambling gets bigger in hockey, theyll have to do that because it wouldnt be fair.

Advertisement I dont think it should be quite to the level of the NFL, but I think we could be a little more transparent.

And, at a minimum, consistent among all the teams.

Fans deserve to know when their favorite player is going to be back playing.

Some players just want a little privacy.

I dont think you have to specify what the injury is.

Who cares? If its upper body, its upper body.

If its lower body, its lower.

I hate it.

I dont think anyone should know unless you want them to know.

On the other hand ...

I could see how on the flip side, if youre playing like s, well, then people could understand that maybe theres something thats holding you back.

There are more than 1.6 million registered hockey players in the world.

Only 736 of them can be in the NHL at once.

So, no, NHL players are not going to say no to another 46 NHL roster spots, thank you very much.

More jobs for players is better.

We can play longer.

From an NHLPA player standpoint, more money in the system.

More teams, more money for players.

Im on board for that, but keep it at 82 games and get rid of preseason.

Why not? That means more jobs.

Yeah, itll keep me in the league longer.

If it brings in more money, Im all for it.

Theyre going to.

Did you see those valuations ? GO DEEPER NHL franchise valuations up 37 percent: How much each is worth, per Sportico, and why they're rising As a fan, I would say no.

As a player, I would say yes.

More money, more jobs.

I think thats good.

That said, plenty of players understand the argument against further expansion.

We grinded to get to 32, and now all of a sudden we just want the buy-in money? I kind of like where its at now.

I think its perfect.

Half the teams get in.

So Im a no.

The way the playoffs are, with half the teams getting in, I think its perfect.

So I wouldnt add just because of that.

But with the sport becoming more and more global, the talent pool just keeps getting deeper.

As one player put it, there are fourth-liners in the NHL right now who would skate circles around almost anyone from the Original Six era.

Advertisement I was worried when they expanded the last few that it would maybe dilute the product.

But I think we are still getting exciting hockey.

We still have exciting players.

Its worked.

Its more jobs.

Im in favor of it.

So the obvious question then becomes where? Arizona was the laughingstock of the sports world for years.

But it was also seemingly every players favorite road trip.

So while you might be tired of commissioner Gary Bettmans endless experiment in the desert, theres still a lot of support for another franchise in the Valley among the rank and file.

Every player will tell you we love going to Arizona.

Its so nice there.

If we could get a better owner in there this time and see what we can do, I think it would thrive there.

With more than 7 million people in the metropolitan area, Houston has long been a potential target for the league.

And players are on board with the idea.

Im gung-ho on Houston.

I dont want to see another Canadian team.

I think Houston could be a really good spot.

Tax-free state.

Tax-free.

Sunshine states.

(Houston.) Its the (fourth) largest city in the U.S.

and they dont have a team yet.

We cant go to another Canadian market right now, not with how the Canadian dollar is.

You cant go to Quebec City.

The Canadian dollar is s.

Youd have to take the team out of Winnipeg.

Ah, Quebec City.

Bringing back the Nordiques is always a hot topic.

Id love to see Quebec City because, being French-Canadian, the fight between Montreal and Quebec is so good.

But from a business standpoint, I dont know if Quebec is the right call because its a smaller market.

But I know they will fill the rink with fans and stuff.

Im not a business guy, but the big sponsors and the people that buy the suites, I dont know if they could support.

But I would love to see them back.

People love hockey there.

Advertisement I understand the exchange rate and all the finances that come with that, but I think itd be cool to have another Canadian team to make it eight.

Get out of Canada, we need (hockey-related revenue).

Houston.

Its five million people.

Quebecs a great city.

I dont think its big enough for an NHL team.

Then, of course, theres always a second Toronto team.

It would do better than Atlanta or Houston or something.

Theyd probably win a Cup before the Leafs.

Some other thoughts: Definitely not Atlanta.

Weve already seen that one fail enough.

If Green Bay could get a team, I would like to see that.

They go crazy for the Packers.

Ive played there in junior and it was pretty fun.

Id like to see another team in that area.

Honestly, Ill give Wisconsin a team.

Whatever makes more sense numbers-wise and financially.

Its a hockey hotbed.

We played (in Austin, Texas) a bunch of times in the American League.

Amazing city.

Great hockey fans.

They pack the barn every night.

Great arena.

Love it there.

San Diego would be pretty cool.

Get another team on the West Coast.

I think the market (in Dubai) is great and itd be cool to go there.

Is Miami too close to Fort Lauderdale? After the Major League Baseball uniform fiasco this past season, there was a lot of skepticism that Fanatics was up to the challenge of taking over the NHLs jersey manufacturing.

The jerseys are made in the same Montreal factory with the same specifications as the old ones, but the shoulder dimples were removed and some extra fabric was used in the forearms, which are prone to board burn.

Some players didnt even notice.

Some did.

Some might have imagined some things.

(A): I think they all look awesome.

Id say A.

They look great.

They did a good job.

(A): I actually like them.

I cant tell the difference.

And I like our practice jerseys.

I think theyre cool.

Advertisement (C): Im not a huge fan.

I dont think theyre that great.

I find them a little uncomfortable and bulky.

(B): I dont think they look as cool because the old ones had dimples on the shoulders.

(B): Theyre a little smaller.

(B): They feel a little longer.

(B): Theyre a little heavier, a little stiffer.

(B): The neck is a little bit different, but other than that they feel the same.

I would still like Nike stuff.

(C): Dont notice a difference but I prefer Adidas.

(B): You notice the difference.

Its not as thick, so its not what it was.

But I was expecting way worse, so thats a positive.

(A): They feel the exact same to me.

Good luck making sense of all that, Fanatics quality-control team.

Some players were just relieved the jerseys didnt change colors when sweat-soaked and didnt have tiny letters on the back.

(C): I thought theyd be worse after seeing the baseball ones.

The baseball ones were see-through.

I was like, These are the worst jerseys ever.

I dont know what the ones the fans are getting.

But the ones weve gotten are good material.

(B): Theyre not as good as they used to be, so Ill give them a B.

Because if the old Adidas (jersey) was an A, then this is a B.

I think, for me, its the fit and the sizing.

And also a little bit of the material on its own.

You know sometimes when you grab a hold of an old tool or an old machine, and you know this is sturdy, its never going to break? You dont get the same thing nowadays.

But also theyre made with different materials.

You can just feel the difference.

And then, of course, there were plenty of players who greeted the question with a quizzical look.

(B): I didnt actually know we were wearing Fanatics jerseys.

If youre sick of seeing people posting every little bet they make on social media, imagine being tagged in those posts.

Or having those bettors demand you pay them back because you only had two shots on goal that night, when the over/under was 2.5.

You get Venmo requests from fans, one player said.

Theyre demands, not requests.

You owe me $200 because you were on the ice when ...

and its insane.

Its really bad when you play against Toronto because it seems like everybody is betting on Leafs games.

But thats Toronto for you.

Advertisement Were going to dive more deeply into this phenomenon later in the week, but heres a quick sampling of responses: Yeah, thats real.

When you ruin a guys parlay or something? One hundred percent, thats real.

I got one last game where some guy bet on my number of shots or something and then hes DMing me: You fed my parlay! Pardon my language, but thats what he said.

Oh, almost every day.

Honestly, Id say 75 percent of them are them being mad about something.

How did you let in that late goal? I had the under.

Thanks a lot.

You fing suck.

Things like that constantly.

I feel like, as a goalie, were a little bit more exposed to it, too.

Oh yeah.

People on social media are way crazier now because they have more skin in the game.

I think thats for all sports.

This is one instance in which it helps to be a fourth-liner or a third-pairing guy.

I dont think Im the betting favorite.

One rule change Well dive deeper into this one later this week too, because when you ask 161 players an open-ended question like this, the answers are all over the hockey map.

But there were some common answers.

Continuous overtime; abolish the shootout.

Instead of shootouts, three-on-three, then two-on-two.

...

It could be kind of fun.

But then it would be tough with the stats because it could change things.

Ten-minute overtimes.

I just think overtimes the best for the fans.

I think for the players, its fun too.

An overtime shot clock wasnt popular, but there was plenty of support for an over-and-back rule, prohibiting players from regrouping beyond the red line in overtime.

Another popular area of discussion was power plays, including two-minute majors and jailbreaks.

Power plays shouldnt end if a goal is scored.

The PWHL jailbreak: A shorthanded goal results in the player leaving the box.

Advertisement If you score shorthanded, the power play ends.

In Europe, if youre on the power play and you get scored on (shorthanded), the power plays over.

I like that.

Some players got really specific with faceoffs and line changes.

One just wanted to be able to sit on top of the boards while waiting to change again.

And some players got a little wacky, with one suggesting getting rid of the blue line entirely and making the red line the offside line.

Lots of discussion about challenges and reviews, with some wanting more and some wanting none.

One player wanted to open up the ways in which a player could score.

Hey, man, its tough to score in this league.

If the puck goes in, it goes in, right? Allow kicking and head-butting the puck in.

Youre going to the gritty area.

If you can get a skate on it, that should be a goal.

I also think you should be able to head the puck in.

The Andrew Shaw rule.

I dont know, if you could head the puck in, thats pretty impressive.

(Top graphic: Meech Robinson / The Athletic , with photos of Alex Ovechkin and Wayne Gretzky from Harry Scull Jr., Bruce Bennett and Scott Taetsch / Getty Images).

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