Gretzky steps away from the Oilers

[Pengwin7]

^From an experienced hockey fan point... yes, you are right.
But... as you noted, TNT has not ever taken on any sport besides basketball (and Braves baseball, with TBS).

[It's actually interesting, because the "Turner" networks are based in Atlanta. And Turner family was part of the group that owned, and FAILED, the Atlanta Thrashers. But obviously - they still see some sort of upside in the sport of hockey.]

TNT does have that "base" of basketball coverage, they have the platform and system set up to run a similar 2.5hr sporting event.
And... IF a newer network is gonna try to market to "newer" hockey fans... what is a NAME that the NOOB fan-base might recognize?
I can give you one: Wayne Gretzky.
The new/casual American hockey fan can likely only name one (maybe two) retired iconic hockey players.
Point.Set.Match.
(That's the reason. And if the Noobs don't know what is good hockey banter and what's bad... they'll take "the best". American's LOOOOVVVEEEE "the best"... so it's a good decision by TNT.)

[2014olympicgold]

Gretzky also has a ton of stories about almost everyone I'm sure. So TNT gets to have someone who noob fans know, tell funny stories that noob fans can find funny and think they are learning hockey.

Plus the generation who is watching intermission hockey is 50+ or people who aren't hockey/sport fans and only fans of their cities team, so they stick around instead of switching off to go watch the final 5min of a period of another game. Lines up to fans who would enjoy hearing Gretzky stick around.

[Feenom]

Gretzky doesn’t come across as a very exciting and interesting guy on tv unless he’s got a hockey stick and 99 on his back. Good luck to him tho.

[YzermansLegacy]

I will admit that when I had a chance meeting with Gretzky in the press box many moons ago at a Leafs game, I could barely muster a "hi" without immediately feeling like I was a blushing, idol-obsessed 6-year-old again (and that's despite the fact that he wasn't even a favourite player of mine).

Gretz can transcend it all as far as I'm concerned. He might not be a great coach, he might not be a great broadcaster... but he's the "Great One". I would definitely tune in to an intermission to see if I could glean any small nugget about how playing the game 'felt' to someone at that level.

I mean, would anybody really have the stones to question a take from Gretzky where he says "this is the pass he should have made here"...