Wayne Gretzky compared Cale Makar to Bobby Orr on TNT postgame

There’s great praise, then there’s praise from “The Great One.”

Avalanche defenseman Cale Makar received some amazing kudos from Wayne Gretzky last night, the undisputed best hockey player of all-time. Speaking during the TNT postgame show after the Avs swept the Oilers in the Western Conference Final, Gretzky compared Makar to one of the legends of the game.

.@WayneGretzky compared @Cmakar8's game to Bobby Orr's 👀

It's a good day to be an @Avalanche fan pic.twitter.com/BxNI0cxoWw

— B/R Open Ice (@BR_OpenIce) June 7, 2022

It’s unbelievably high praise from Gretzky, considering Bobby Orr is almost universally agreed upon as the best defenseman in NHL history. He also revolutionized the “offensive” game by defenseman, leading the league in scoring twice during his Hall of Fame career.

Makar was brilliant against the Oilers on Monday night, recording five points, including an assist on the OT winner by Artturi Lehkonen. Some of the stats about what Makar accomplished not only last night, but in this postseason as well, are mind boggling.

Cale Makar became the first skater in 34 years to post five points in a game that sent his club to the #StanleyCup Final.#NHLStats: https://t.co/QRIRdhbUnm pic.twitter.com/yV8IWQe77Y

— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) June 7, 2022

There are 4 instances of a defenseman recording at least 9 points in a 4-game sweep in Stanley Cup Playoff history.

Cale Makar has 2 of them…this year. pic.twitter.com/aBLbsXWxDf

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 7, 2022

Makar also joined the TNT crew postgame and gave a great interview, even if he was his normal even-keeled self. He clearly is a humble but hungry guy, who knows his team still needs fours more wins to accomplish their ultimate goal.

"At the end of the day, we're writing our own story here."

Cale Makar spoke to the panel following his Avalanche's WCF win ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/M7VmrsaGiF

— NHLonTNT (@NHL_On_TNT) June 7, 2022

The best part, without a doubt, is Makar respectfully calling Gretzky “The Great One” near the end of the interview. He still has a long way to go, but Gretzky himself thinks Makar has a chance to be a great one himself.