Ex-NHL star dismisses critics of Wayne Gretzky's relationship with Trump

Former NHL prima P.K. Subban dismissed disapproval aimed astatine hockey fable Wayne Gretzky for his relation with President Donald Trump earlier this month.

Gretzky was spotted astatine Trump’s inauguration successful January 2025 arsenic the U.S. president took bureau for his 2nd term. In 2024, Trump teased Canada with the anticipation of naming "The Great One" the politician of the "51st state."

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Wayne Gretzky arrives for the inauguration ceremonial earlier Donald Trump is sworn successful arsenic the 47th U.S. president successful the U.S. Capitol Rotunda successful Washington, D.C., connected Jan. 20, 2025. (Saul Loeb/Pool via Imagn Images)

Trump’s poking of Canada caused heightened tensions betwixt the 2 countries earlier the president aboriginal backed disconnected and called Gretzky a "free agent."

The heightened tensions fueled aggravated contention betwixt the U.S. and Canada hockey teams astatine the 4 Nations Face-Off successful 2025 and galore expect it to transportation implicit into the Winter Olympics should the 2 teams conscionable this month.

Subban defended Gretzky’s narration with Trump against critics successful an interrogation with the Toronto Sun.

"I’d similar to cognize what they’ve contributed to the state and what they’ve contributed to the crippled of hockey," helium told the outlet. "We’re successful an opinion-based world; everyone has an sentiment and that’s great. But my occupation isn’t to perceive to everyone’s sentiment … Wayne’s paid his dues.

FBI Director Kash Patel, left, talks with erstwhile NHL subordinate Wayne Gretzky, right, during the archetypal play of an NHL hockey crippled betwixt the Washington Capitals and Chicago Blackhawks, Friday, April 4, 2025, successful Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

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"He’s been successful the trenches. He went to Nagano. He’s enactment unneurotic Hockey Canada. He’s played for Hockey Canada. He’s represented the country. He’s represented the league. He’s done it all. I’m atrocious for radical who consciousness (he betrayed Canada). So I would accidental this, ‘You person zero credibility to remark connected Wayne Gretzky and the decisions helium makes.’"

Subban suggested the backmost and distant betwixt Trump and Canadian leaders was wherefore the 4 Nations Face-Off became a rousing success.

"Just him talking astir it … led to a full clump of radical asking, ‘Why is Trump talking astir this hockey game?’" helium told the Toronto Sun. "That’s however delicate of a clip it was, and that’s however influential the president and the premier curate are … I didn’t ideate however large the crippled could get oregon having satellite leaders progressive successful a tourney similar that … But it changed the trajectory of the crippled … It would beryllium chill to ticker (the documentary) with Don Cherry and get his 2 cents connected it."

P.K. Subban #76 of the New Jersey Devils handles the puck against the Dallas Stars astatine the American Airlines Center connected April 9, 2022, successful Dallas, Texas. (Glenn James/NHLI via Getty Images)

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Subban is an enforcement shaper connected the caller documentary series, "Rivals: The 4 Nations Face-Off."

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