Jackie Redmond "might have to retire" after Wayne Gretzky's verdict on her live reporting from Oilers' moss pit

NHL reporter Jackie Redmond joked that she "might have to retire" after receiving high praise from hockey legend Wayne Gretzky for her live reporting from the Edmonton Oilers' moss pit during the 2024-25 Stanley Cup Final.

Redmond was reporting live from the Moss Pit outside Edmonton’s Rogers Place on Saturday evening, surrounded by a lively crowd of Oilers fans chanting “We want the Cup.”

She analyzed the Stanley Cup Final matchup between the Oilers and the Panthers, discussing the physicality and intensity of the championship series.

Gretzky, who was on the NHL on TNT panel, was very impressed with Redmond's live reporting, saying:

“If these two teams play half as good as Jackie just did, we’re gonna get the greatest hockey game you’ve ever seen.”

In reaction to Gretzky's high praise, Redmond posted on Instagram, saying,

"Wayne Gretzky with the greatest compliment (and prediction!?) I've ever received at the end. I might have to retire."

She was clearly joking about having to retire after receiving such an amazing compliment from the Great One himself.

The Oilers won Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Final 4-3 in overtime, while the Panthers bounced back to take Game 2 by a score of 5-4 in double overtime. With the series tied 1-1, the action now shifts to Florida for Game 3 on Monday.

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Fans react to Wayne Gretzky's praise of Jackie Redmond

Hockey fans shared their reactions to Wayne Gretzky's high praise of NHL reporter Jackie Redmond. Many fans agreed with The Great One's assessment.

One Twitter user wrote,

"I would drop my mic and go home. If The Great One says something like that it doesn’t get any better."

Another fan echoed,

"Indeed the highest of high praise coming from The Great One. Well deserved too!"

Here are some fan reactions:

"You've been absolutely crushing it! Thanks for clocking all those miles for our entertainment!" one fan wrote.

"Jackie threw down a legendary performance. Very cool that everyone recognized that right away, and that the Great One wasn't shy on the priase. AWESOME!" another fan wrote.

"Jackie…you’re always killing it my friend!! ALWAYS!!!" a user commented.

"GOATs recognize other GOATs." another user wrote.

There's no doubt Wayne Gretzky's praise meant a lot to both Redmond and hockey fans who appreciate her work covering the NHL.