EDMONTON – “I don’t think anybody’s ever played the game the way Wayne has.”

It’s no secret that Wayne Gretzky is considered the greatest player to ever hit the ice in the NHL.

The Edmonton Oilers legend left a huge imprint on the game of hockey over his long career. Mark Messier spoke to The Hockey News in an exclusive interview about Gretzky’s impact, both on him as a player and on the game.

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This interview was conducted for the Budweiser “City of Champions” campaign that launched on April 14th.

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“Wayne changed everything in so many ways,” Messier told The Hockey News when speaking about “The Great One” and his impact on the team during his rookie season. “He was such a leader, and, you know, we learned so much from him. His preparation, how he practiced.”

“He made me a better player,” Messier revealed. “Just watching him and the way he was able to use his skill set.”

“And here we are, how many years later, and they're still celebrating an incredible franchise that had the greatest player to ever play the game in front of us.”

The two superstars played together for several years, until Gretzky’s infamous trade to the Los Angeles Kings. Messier would win another Cup with the Oilers after he left.

Reflecting on his time with Gretzky, this phrase succinctly summarizes his feelings.

“(We were) watching pure genius for years.”

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