Fans left baffled as FBI boss Kash Patel sits with Wayne Gretzky as Alexander Ovechkin breaks NHL scoring mark

Already facing disapproval implicit his ties to President Donald Trump, Wayne Gretzky was erstwhile again seen alongside FBI manager Kash Patel arsenic Washington Capitals prima Alex Ovechkin scored different historical extremity connected Sunday connected Long Island.

This clip it was Ovechkin's 895 vocation score, which broke Gretzky's all-time people connected Sunday day against the New York Islanders astatine UBS Arena.

And arsenic was the lawsuit when the Russian icon tied Gretzky astatine 894 connected Thursday successful Washington, Gretzky was taking successful the enactment with his wife, Janet, and 1 of Trump's cardinal insiders successful Patel.

'Was that Kash Patel adjacent to Gretzky?' 1 instrumentality asked connected X, echoing a question asked by countless others connected some sides of the US-Canadian border.

Another joked: 'Did Kash Patel get adopted by the Gretzky's (sic)?'

'Gretzky having Kash Patel beryllium his impermanent for the past 2 games is the lowest of notches,' a Philadelphia-area sports instrumentality added.

The fashionable @WuTangKids relationship was likewise displeased to spot Patel successful the VIP box: 'So Kash Patel conscionable hangs retired with Gretzky present going to ticker Ovechkin bushed the extremity grounds connected Long Island smh.'

But cipher is angrier implicit Gretzky's ties to Trump's interior ellipse than autochthonal Canadians.

'Pretty definite Gretzky archetypal shook the manus of his bully buddy Kash Patel,' 1 professional wrote connected X. 'Gretz' is simply a traitor to Canada.'

'Gretzky with his bully buddy Kash Patel--who wants to marque Canada the 51st state,' they added. 'Canada should revoke Gretzky's citizenship.'

Trump has stated connected aggregate occasions his tendency to marque Canada America's 51st, and has since doubled down connected the animosity betwixt the 2 countries by adding tariffs to Canadian goods. 

Last month, a famed Gretzky statue successful Edmonton was smeared with feces aft the Oilers fable attended post-election parties astatine the President's nine successful Palm Beach, Florida arsenic good arsenic the inauguration successful Washington. 

But, amid the 2 countries' unfolding commercialized war, it was Gretzky's beingness arsenic Team Canada's honorary skipper astatine the NHL's caller 4 Nations title that truly infuriated immoderate of his countrymen.

Many person criticized Gretzky for failing to deterioration squad colors astatine Canada's overtime triumph implicit Team USA successful Boston. Others, meanwhile, focused connected Gretzky's ties to Trump.

'Just going to authorities this matter-of-factly,' Canadian-based TSN newsman Dave Naylor wrote connected X, 'the honorary skipper for Canada successful this crippled publically supports a governmental person whose presumption is that Canada should not beryllium arsenic a nation.'

But helium did get enactment from a chap Hockey Hall of Famer successful Boston Bruins large Bobby Orr.

In an op-ed portion for the Toronto Sun, the Ontario autochthonal defended Gretzky, who famously won respective large planetary competitions arsenic skipper of Team Canada during his playing days.

'For the beingness of me, I cannot recognize wherefore the 'haters' person decided to spell aft Wayne due to the fact that helium 'didn't deterioration a Canadian jersey' during his instauration astatine the last match,' Orr wrote. 'I, for one, thought that helium looked precise dignified portion representing Canada with people and professionalism.

'Remember, this is simply a antheral who wore the Maple Leaf connected aggregate occasions with pride,' Orr continued. 'As some a subordinate and administrator, helium has brought thing but glory to his homeland twelvemonth aft year, decennary aft decade.'

Curiously, Orr's file makes nary nonstop notation of Trump.

It does, however, enactment to punctual Canadians that Gretzky is 1 of them.

'Wayne is simply a feline from Brantford, Ont., who made bully and has done thing passim his beingness but springiness assistance and assistance to innumerable Canadians on the way,' Orr concluded.

'Please, let's instrumentality a clip out. Extend a small grace, and a small respect for a bully antheral and a large Canadian.'

This isn't the archetypal clip Canada has been astatine warfare with itself implicit Gretzky. The commercialized that sent him from Edmonton to Los Angeles continues to haunt the country, adjacent aft the Oilers won the 1990 Stanley Cup without him.

Then determination was Gretzky's enactment for then-President George W. Bush's arguable 'War connected Terror' successful 2003. With the state divided America's penetration of Iraq, critics hung a motion speechmaking 'U$ Lackey'' astir a Gretzky statue successful Edmonton.

Gretzky did be Trump's predetermination triumph enactment astatine Mar-a-Lago, wherever the 2 play aficionados and their families were seen celebrating together.

Janet Jones, Gretzky's long-time wife, shared a representation of her hubby with Trump connected societal media, which appeared to choler wide hockey fans past month.

'You person to truly question someone's morals and logic supporting idiosyncratic similar Trump,' 1 idiosyncratic posted.

'Apparently determination is an inverse narration betwixt hockey skills and intelligence,' different added.

One said: 'Few things connected world much embarrassing than Canadian maga weirdos'.

But portion Gretzky was getting criticized by Canadian hockey fans, helium was embraced by Trump, who suggested the NHL's all-time starring scorer should tally for Prime Minister.

'I person immoderate galore large friends,' the 78-year-old Trump said to a assemblage astatine Mar-a-Lago successful January. 'One of them is the ''Great One .'' I said, ''Run for Prime Minister, you'll win… It volition instrumentality 2 seconds.''

'He said, ''Well, americium I gonna tally for Prime Minister oregon Governor? You archer me,''' Trump continued.

'I said: ''I dunno, let's marque it Governor. I similar that better.''

Famously preoccupied by America's commercialized shortage with Canada, Trump antecedently suggested the country's 10 provinces and 3 territories should go the 51st state. He adjacent tweeted astir the thought connected Christmas Day, offering Gretzky arsenic a imaginable 'Governor of Canada.'

'You would triumph easily, you wouldn't person to campaign,' Trump wrote successful his Truth Social post.

Alas, Gretzky did not look anxious to go the Prime Minister oregon Governor of Canada, according to Trump.

'He had nary interest, but I deliberation the radical of Canada should commencement a DRAFT WAYNE GRETZKY Movement,' Trump added. 'It would beryllium truthful overmuch amusive to watch!'