LOS ANGELES—Wayne Gretzky, captain of the only other Kings team to make the Stanley Cup final, says he’s happy as a fan of the game, wants the Conn Smythe Trophy renamed after Jean Beliveau and is truly impressed with the current series.

The Kings have a chance to tie the 1988 Oilers (16-2) for the best record in a post-season with four rounds of best-of-seven series. The Kings were 14-2 heading into Game 3.

“Thinking about the 1970s teams with Guy Lafleur and Larry Robinson, the ’80s teams with (Bryan) Trottier and (Mike) Bossy, our (Oilers) teams in the ’80s and Mario (Lemieux’s) team in Pittsburgh, those teams you kind of expected them to roll through, but even the Islanders at some point had a seven-game series,” Gretzky told NHL Network outside the Staples Center.

“This team I’ve never seen anything like it — an eighth-place team, to get on a roll that they’re on. They’re definitely the best team in the playoffs. They have everything going. I honestly have not seen anything like this.”

Gretzky, on hand to drop the puck at Game 3, was also interviewed by TSN, which asked if he wanted to be involved again as a coach or at some other level.

“This is the fun part of it, getting to the Cup final and having a chance to put your name on the Cup,” Gretzky said. “There’s a lot of blood, sweat and tears that’s goes into it. Right now, I’m loving being the fan, loving the game.”

As for renaming trophies — an idea the league has tinkered with — Gretzky says any new names should honour history.

“I know Conn Smythe (the original owner of the Maple Leafs) is important to the history of our game, but I think if you’re going to make this change it should be a change to someone extraordinary,” said Gretzky. “There’s no question Jean Beliveau epitomizes everything about our sport: Getting your name on the Stanley Cup, playing well all season long and being a pressure, impact player in the playoffs.”

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