Just throwing this out there: Have you ever heard a comment or an interview from a former NHL player stating that he left Gretzky alone because he was scared of Semenko? It really makes no sense to me that NHL players would let Gretzky score 5 or 6 points a night because they were afraid that Semenko would hurt them. I don't buy that explanation for why Gretzky wasn't hit hard very often.
I believe it was his great peripheral vision and natural ability that kept him from being hit hard. Semenko might have protected Gretzky from cheap shots but not clean hits. In fact, the few times that Gretzky was cranked, I don't remember Semenko attacking anyone.
I would love to hear an NHL player say he didn't touch Gretzky because he was scared of Semenko. I don't think a player like that exists.
I don't buy it sorry- he was never slashed or hooked etc the periperhal vision thing is another myth. From my list:
1. Mario - slash by D Shaw who gets 12 game suspension; Sternum injury.
Slash by Adam Graves - broken wrist.
etc
3. Bobby Orr - numerous knee injuries from checks lncluding by Phil Roberto.
4. Jagr - numerous injuries from hits and slashes.
5. Lafleur - broken jaw from hit by Kyte 1990; slash by Sittler - broken thumb 1975, knee injury from Boutette 1980, Eye injury- stick from Simmer 1981.
I coudl go on: Morenz broken leg fatal, Richard numerous concussions etc, Howe concussion, Kharlamov ankle slashed, Esposito broken leg playoffs 75, etc etc etc
None would have flopped after a love tap from Billy Smith. Thats my point - it was a huge deal to hit 99; career threatening (that Leafs dman - i saw the hit live, that guy's legs were shaking when he went to the bench after he accidently knocked out 99, he never played another shift in the NHL). Conversely Mario was punished more than any player I ever saw. I saw a game at the Forum when little Mats Naslund submarined Mario and sent him flying. Mario threw him a hip check a few shifts later.
BTW which one is it:
alanschu wrote " the old school instructional video that Gretzky made in 1986 (Wayne Gretzky: Hockey My Way) had an entire segment dedicated to him getting creamed with body checks"... or what you wrote...??
Thanks for avoiding insults. See you on the other side.