It does not bother him now as the Rangers look to him to lift a rebuilding team to the playoffs after missing a berth last year. I've been in that position for 21 years now. Recent seasons, however, presented Gretzky with the impossible task of competing against himself. Compare Gretzky to the Gretzky of old and, sadly, he often appears merely old. It's tough to compete against the greatest player who ever lived.
Nobody can stay the greatest forever.
There are nights when a relentless schedule and the cruel passage of time combine to turn Gretzky into a skater distinguished only by his number and the name on his sweater. After an ineffective night against Buffalo, the Sabres' Vaclav Varada said it was easy for the Sabres' checking line to contain Gretzky because he just skated around the neutral zone. Even after the Rangers targeted Varada for some hard hits in their rematch, he did not back down from his undiplomatic remarks. The Rangers hold a contract option on Gretzky for next season, and general manager Neil Smith hopes he will return. I could see him playing until he's 40 or into his 40s.