President Trump and Bobby Orr have also come to the public defense of Gretzky, whose support for Trump and appearance at a Canada-U.S. game upset some of his countrymen.

After previously referring to Wayne Gretzky as the “governor of Canada,” President Donald Trump has declared the NHL legend a “free agent.”

Team Canada's Mike Bossy, left, Wayne Gretzky and Larry Robinson carry the Canada Cup trophy after beating Sweden 6-5 in Edmonton on Sept. 18, 1984. Gretzky used to stand for only one thing – Canada. He hasn’t for a long time. The Canadian Press