2007-10-04 15:53:40 · 17 answers · asked by redwingsrthebest19 5 in Sports ➔ Hockey
No.
He was showing severe signs of slowing down in his final season, and that was 9 yrs ago. He spent several years off the ice before becoming coach, so I'm sure his conditioning is off as well.
You can have all the hockey brains in the world, but if you are slightly out of condition in today's NHL, you are of no help.
2007-10-05 00:58:13 · answer #1 · answered by Like I'm Telling You Who I A 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
i would bare in mind how much more stringent the league has become on such things as hooking/mauling players ect.. this was one of the biggest downfalls for gretzky and lemieux ... even at his age i believe if he were to get into good shape he could make a very sizable contribution to any team.
for those that only consider age... look into another sport such as MMA randy the natural couture is 44 years old and the reigning heavy weight champion of the world... this is a FULL contact sport... he works hard and earned his spotlight, i believe "the great one" would easily be able to do the same
btw... im calgary flames fan through and through so my opinions are far from bias'd towards oilers/kings/gretzky followers
2007-10-05 00:00:30 · answer #2 · answered by Billy James 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
IMO, Gretzky has been out too long to be a lot of help. He knew it was time to hang them up when he did. Besides, he has stated numerous times, he has no desire to even try. Too bad though, I'd love to see Gretzky play in today's game, maybe him and Mario (in their prime) in a game vs Crosby and Ovetchkin. Wouldn't want to be a goalie.
2007-10-05 00:43:40 · answer #3 · answered by cme 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He could probably still be a solid contributor, but he would not dominate the game the way he once did. Could he still play in the NHL, I would say yes. Would he make his team a playoff contender, no.
2007-10-05 00:07:17 · answer #4 · answered by Lubers25 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Gretzky was washed up well before he retired. His back was hurt about fifteen years ago. Messier, that is another story.
2007-10-05 13:23:17 · answer #5 · answered by Tim O 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO! Didn't you know that Phoenix is the place all players go before they retire??? Old timer team so he'd be in good company but not in shape enough to play even with the old guys.
2007-10-05 00:19:20 · answer #6 · answered by lahockeyg 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Bring back Gordie Howe and Bobby Orr too. How about Gump Worsely to tend the net?
2007-10-04 23:38:34 · answer #7 · answered by megalomaniac 7 · 2⤊ 0⤋
If it didn't help the pens when Mario did it wont help phoenix if Gretzky did it.
2007-10-05 00:35:47 · answer #8 · answered by mnm7715 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
no, he's been out of the game for too long, he hasn't practices for too long and he's too old to pick it up fast enough. in other words: he wouldn't do much good, great though he once was. we need new players of his (former) caliber, watch crosby and other young players for being what people call "the new gretzky". they'll be much for usefull.
2007-10-05 00:06:12 · answer #9 · answered by Becky 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
maybe when he was in his prime, but now let's face it he's old and probably out of shape. I'd be skating circles around most of the guys on the ice which at his age is a HUGE win.
2007-10-04 23:17:08 · answer #10 · answered by DC FURY 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋