Kenta Nilsson was part of the hugely star-studded Edmonton Oilers team.
And the requirements were tough.
Now the icon reveals Wayne Gretzky’s perfectly fine words – seconds after a serious scolding.
The Edmonton Oilers team in the 80s is often referred to as the best team of all time, and the best was perhaps 1986/1987. Sure, having Wayne Gretzky, the greatest player in history, helped, but overall it was a huge star-fall team, with a whole bunch of future Hall of Famers.
The star-studded team
In addition to Wayne Gretzky, there were legends such as Jari Kurri, Esa Tikkanen, Mark Messier, Paul Coffey and Glenn Anderson. That same year, another artist had left the Minnesota North Stars. Kenta Nilsson needed a new club, and there was no lack of interest. And it was perhaps not so strange that the choice fell on the Oilers, given how star-studded it actually was.
Kenta Nilsson was one of the NHL’s most talented players. Wayne Gretzky has called him the most skilled ever. And it was not unexpected that it became a smash hit. When Nilsson had no accommodation at the beginning of the stay, he had to stay with Wayne Gretzky. But it wasn’t just friendly teammates. The requirements were enormously high, and if someone made a mistake, then you were told about it.
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Gretzky’s clever three words
In the final series in 1987, the Oilers stormed towards the Stanley Cup title, when star Glenn Anderson took an ejection.
– We led the sixth final 3-1 when Glenn Anderson took a stupid five-minute ejection, then the Flyers turned around and won in sudden death and forced a seventh decisive game. After that game, Mark Messier scolded Anderson in front of the whole team. Damn how angry Messier was, Nilsson has told Expressen.
When the near-legendary coach Glen Sather then came in to also pour criticism on Sather, he was however stopped – by three completely magical words from Gretzky.
– When then the coach Glen Sather came in and was also going to scold, then only Gretzky said: “it’s done”. In the seventh final game, Glenn Anderson was the best on the field, Kenta has said.
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