Gretzky defends McDavid's outburst after star angered

As the primary target of opponents over his Hall of Fame career, Wayne Gretzky can certainly empathize with the frustration of Oilers star Connor McDavid.

PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) As the primary target of opponents over his Hall of Fame career, Wayne Gretzky can certainly empathize with the frustration of Oilers star Connor McDavid.

McDavid and Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Brandon Manning jostled all evening long in a 6-5 Edmonton loss. McDavid denounced the tactics of his opponent after the game, claiming Manning intentionally injured him last season; McDavid missed 37 games with a broken collarbone.

''I guess we can put the whole `if he did it' thing to rest because what he said out there kind of confirmed that,'' said McDavid, who taunted Manning after scoring the second goal in the Oilers' loss.

The full quote by McDavid regarding Manning ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/RjNnAOKjMN

— Kyle P (@Kyle_Phillippi) December 9, 2016

''I think anybody who knows me or who has played with or against me along the road here, knows that I am not that kind of player,'' Manning said, according to a statement released by the Flyers. ''I am not out there intentionally trying to hurt people. I'm a guy who plays the game hard and I take pride in that.''

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Gretzky didn't mind seeing that fire in McDavid, saying competitiveness is part of what makes the great ones great. And he said the targeting comes with the territory of being a superstar. It was something he and Mario Lemieux dealt with, too.

''And Connor, he's going to get tested every night, but this is not new for him,'' Gretzky said Friday at the NHL board of governors meetings. ''He's been tested since he was a kid and then playing junior hockey and now in the NHL and he's always responded and done his part.''