The Washington Capitals are set for their home opener on Wednesday night against the Pittsburgh Penguins. It will be the last home opener for Alex Ovechkin. Earlier this week, Ovechkin announced that this season will be his last.

Now, Wayne Gretzky, who is now the second all-time leading goal scorer in NHL history, is speaking about the retirement of the man who passed him on the all-time list. He is comparing it to his retirement and how Gretzky tried to keep it quiet, per Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic.

“Everybody’s different. I didn’t want to talk about it. I knew if I told my dad, he would tell the world, so I didn’t tell my dad,” Gretzky said. “I told (my wife) Janet first, then I told my mom. I knew she could keep it quiet. Because I didn’t want to go on a (farewell) tour, and I didn’t want to offset the games for the guys. But you know for Alex, every city is an event, you know? Because you only go there once or twice. So it’s a big event for him coming to town. So him announcing it isn’t going to change all that. Except now people will realize if they have a ticket for a Capitals game in January, they could sell it for 10 times the money (laughs).”

The first game of the season for Ovechkin will be against Sidney Crosby. Ovi was the first pick of the 2004 NHL Draft while Crosby went first overall the next year. Due to the lockout in 2004-05, the two made their NHL debuts in the same season. They have faced each other 101 times, including matchups in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. This year, Ovi is on his farewell tour, and the Crosby farewell could come in the years to come.

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“I kind of thought that it would be his last year,” Gretzky said. “It’s hard when you get over the age of 38. That’s why Gordie Howe was so unique. Chris Chelios, playing as long as he did. And listen, what Sidney (Crosby) is doing now is incredible. I can’t imagine those two guys would retire the same year, so that’s why I think Sid has at least another year in him. They both deserve their own (farewell) tour.”

Crosby, as well as many of the other members of the Penguins, will likely have plenty to say about facing Ovechkin one last time. Multiple NHL Stars, including Kirill Kaprizov of the Minnesota Wild, have already expressed their thoughts about Ovechkin's retirement. The first goodbye game at home for Ovi is set for 7:30 pm. ET puck drop on Wednesday