ROOTING INTEREST : Gretzky’s Former Edmonton Teammates Are Hoping He Gets Record Soon

Defenseman Kevin Lowe of the Edmonton Oilers was talking to Wayne Gretzky a few years ago when the conversation turned to Gretzky’s quest to surpass Gordie Howe as the National Hockey League’s all-time leading scorer.

“Wayne was saying that if he continued at his present pace he’d break the record on such and such a date midway through the season,” Lowe recalled Saturday night at the Forum before Gretzky’s Kings met his old teammates. “I thought it was amazing that he had charted out his future that explicitly. It’s a testimony to his belief in his ability.”

Lowe and the Oilers are rooting for Gretzky to break Howe’s record. Gretzky, who spent nine NHL seasons in Edmonton, helped the Oilers win four Stanley Cups before joining the Kings last season.

“I think it’s justice because Wayne will go down as the greatest player who played the game,” Lowe said. “I think the fact that he’s doing it at such an early stage is a testimony to him.

“It’s kind of surprising that a few short years ago that he was 1,000 points away from Howe and all of a sudden he’s going to break it. I’m glad to have played with him and glad to have seen most of those points.”

After scoring two points on two goals against the Oilers Saturday night, Gretzky needs 11 points to break Howe’s record of 1,850 points.

“I hope Wayne does it as quickly as possible to eliminate the opportunity of anyone coming along and trying to better it in terms of fewer games played,” Lowe said. “I don’t know if (Pittsburgh Penguin center Mario) Lemieux has a legitimate shot at (it) but Wayne deserves to have his name in the record book for a long time.”

Edmonton center Mark Messier, who played with Gretzky for nine seasons, said the Oilers are happy to have played a part in Gretzky’s success.

“I think the guys that have been around here from the start of it, especially the guys who played with him, are feeling really good about it,” Messier said. “I think everybody here helped him in some small way to achieve what he’s about to achieve in breaking Gordie Howe’s record.”

There is a possibility that Gretzky could surpass Howe in Edmonton, where the Kings play the Oilers next Sunday.

“I don’t want him to (break it) against us,” Oiler center Craig MacTavish said. “But he’s tough to defend against. You always go into a game against him hoping you can keep him off the board. And 99 times out of 100 you can’t do it.”

Gretzky is still admired in Edmonton, where a seven-foot bronze statue of him was recently unveiled outside the Northlands Coliseum.

“He put Edmonton on the map and brought that city to be recognized all over the world because of him and because of our Stanley Cups,” Messier said. “It’s almost fitting if he does it in Edmonton. I’m sure if he can’t do it in L.A., then he’d rather do it in Edmonton.”

Oilers Coach John Muckler said he would prefer Gretzky reached the milestone elsewhere.

“He’s not going to do it in Edmonton,” Muckler said. “With all the media hype I guess the (media) would like to see him do it in Edmonton. But we’ll try to make sure that it doesn’t happen in Edmonton.”

Oiler Co-Coach Ted Green, however, wouldn’t mind seeing Gretzky get the record in Edmonton.

“I think it would be an appropriate place,” Green said. “The fans would love it. They’ve got a great deal of respect and admiration for him and so does the coaching staff and the players on this team.

“But if it’s going to be done in Edmonton, we’ll make it awfully tough for him to. But I’m one guy that will be in his corner cheering for him when he does it.”

But no matter where Gretzky passes Howe, the Oilers think that his place as one of the greatest players in NHL history is secure.

“I don’t think he’s Roger Maris,” Muckler said. “What I’m trying to say is that Roger Maris was the type of guy who had one great year to break (Babe) Ruth’s (single-season home run record.) Possibly the greatest player in the world is going to break Howe’s record.”

Said Green: “Gordie Howe is among the handful of players who are looked upon as the best ever to play the game and Wayne certainly rates in that category. There are going to be arguments whether Wayne’s the best or Gordie Howe’s the best or Bobby Orr is the best or Bobby Hull is the best.”

But Green and the Oilers think Gretzky’s the greatest.