While the NHL and the fans in Phoenix (and perhaps Hamilton) are awaiting any sort of final resolution on the future of the Coyotes, a major piece of the puzzle leveled a major announcement on Thursday. Wayne Gretzky, the legendary player who took a prominent role in the franchise as head coach and minority owner, has stepped down as coach and director of hockey operations.
Gretzky had been missing from the Coyotes' training camp amidst all the uncertainty surrounding the franchise, with assistant Ulf Samuelsson serving as acting head coach. A team spokesman said Gretzky wouldn't return to the team until his contract situation was resolved.
In speaking about the reasoning for his departure, Gretzky said on his website that, "This was a difficult decision that I've thought long and hard about. We all hoped there would be a resolution earlier this month to the Coyotes ownership situation, but the decision is taking longer than expected.
"Since both remaining bidders have made it clear that I don't fit into their future plans, I approached general manager Don Maloney and suggested he begin looking for someone to replace me as coach. Don has worked hard and explored many options. I think he has made an excellent choice, and so now it's time for me to step aside." (UPDATE: That "excellent choice" was Dave Tippett, who was announced as the new coach later Thursday.)
Gary Bettman had this to say in a statement: "As always, Wayne placed the welfare of the team ahead of his own in making this extremely difficult decision. While the Coyotes have not had the degree of on-ice success that always has been Wayne's objective, there can be no question he has played a vital role in the youth movement that has positioned the Coyotes for success in the future.
"We have nothing but admiration for all that Wayne has done for the game, and are extremely hopeful there will be a prominent role for Wayne with the Coyotes if the league's bid for the club is successful. We look forward to his continued involvement."
Despite a number of twists and turns involving other potential bidders and scenarios, it's still down to the league and Balsillie fighting over the team. Not knowing who their coach would be or what the future holds for their team, the players have been trying to prepare for a season. Moving the team so close to the season (or in the middle of it), still hasn't been completely dismissed, although regardless of when the team would potentially move, there are a number of logistical hurdles that would need to be solved.
Gretzky joined the Coyotes as managing partner in 2000. He took the post as head coach in 2005, and the following year signed a five-year deal to serve as coach, part owner, managing partner and alternate governor.
His tenure in Phoenix came after a legendary playing career that saw him conquer pretty much every offensive record in league history, major or not. He was expected to bring that excellence to his new job in the desert as part of the league's attempt to build viable, successful, competitive teams in markets that weren't in the past deemed traditional hockey locales.
Instead, the Coyotes accumulated a 143-161-24 record in his four seasons as coach, with no playoff appearances and just one season above .500 (2007-08, when the Coyotes barely topped the mark at 38-37-7). Gretzky was due to make $8.5 million this season.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
9-24-2009 @ 1:45PM
Tommy said...
Great players motivate themselves. It's much harder to motivate others. It's a special gift that few have.
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9-24-2009 @ 2:57PM
amcled1 said...
While great players have the gift of motivating themselves and sometimes others do not, I think there is probably another explanation to Wayne Gretzky's lack of success with the Coyotes not being a winning team.
There are a lot ov variables of course and when a person like Gretzky starts to have too much on his plate besides just coaching, many problems can come in to play with the major problem being a losing team.
I am not a Hockey fan but like th egame as I do most sports. One example I will give is Coach Joe Gibbs and how he was faltering in his last days of coaching with the Washington Reskins and it really didn't have a lot to do with his players having lack of motivation. It had to do with Gibbs finding a new love which was NASCAR Racing and Gibbs clearly could not devote himself to the Skins entirely as he had the previous years. He realized this and Jack Kent Cooke realized it as well. They parted amiably.
After years of absence and world championships under his belt with NASCAR the football bug got back into Joe Gibbs. Washington had a series of failing coaches in his absence and the old master and hall of famer was called back to coach the Redskins and he accepted. Although it was a different game to a degree when he returned the great Joe Gibbs started to bring back the team from the bottom of the pits where it was.
Before you know it the Skins were making the playoffs again and to his credit he jumped started his beloved team to a Playoff Team once again. I am sure his crowning moment was beating Dallas at Dallas stadium before he decided that he had done what he could do for the Skins and then get back to his still beloved NASCAR.
Perhaps Gretzky needs to get out of the politics and the titles and responsibilities attached with being not only a coach, but a managing partner, a part owner and then and alernate governor and just be a coach like Gibbs was concentrating on that and only that.
I realize something like that would be difficult for even Wayne Gretzky to do as there is big money at stake when you have more responsibility. But, there is a price that is paid when one is cooking too many eggs at the same time and I believe Gretsky has paid this price.
Maybe he is stepping back with his resignation and taking a deep breath and reflecting on all of this. I hope that is the case.
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9-24-2009 @ 3:28PM
David S. said...
Gretzky was an amazing hockey player, but that doesn't necessarily translate to being a good coach. Fear not -- I don't think Wayne will be standing in the unemployment line anytime soon.
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9-24-2009 @ 3:51PM
map8258 said...
See Otto "Toot" Graham. Six years QB in NFL. Played in six final championship games. Won 3 of them. Lost three by a total of 17 points. Failed as coach of Redskins.
RIP Toot. Best QB I ever saw.
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9-24-2009 @ 4:47PM
mrmeatsrcarne said...
Wayne was the coach of team Canada who won gold remember?
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9-24-2009 @ 5:21PM
Marie said...
Oh the great one. Wayne sucks. So glad he is leaving. He really has a bad temper on the floor and also a very bad sport.
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9-24-2009 @ 8:22PM
Debby Hanoka said...
What a shame Gretzky's resigning. Now who is going to support his five kids and his trophy wife's high-stakes gambling habit?
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9-24-2009 @ 8:47PM
Spoonercat said...
Bettman said it best, Gretz has class beyond reproach and he is the greatest player to ever play the game bar none. He is a class act and true "professional" in every sense of the word. Good luck Wayne in everything.
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9-24-2009 @ 9:52PM
Cutie said...
I remember seeing a little boy years ago at a toronto airport holding a hockey stick. I asked him if he was going to be a great hockey player someday and he said yes, just like my dad. It was Gretzky's son so I know we should be in for some more great hockey some day.
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9-24-2009 @ 10:28PM
edwestrfld said...
Gretzky may be a great hockey player, but he was one of the worst coaches of all time. That is a lot of ground to cover. Indifferent to the fans, unreachable to the players, he left his team in shambles, and used the coaching staff as an honoria for the friends and family of Wayne. Wayne was nothing less than Bernie Madoff on ice.
Wayne, don't let the door hit you in the ass on the way out.
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9-26-2009 @ 11:36PM
Terry said...
Don't you people ever say anything nice about anyone. Wayne is the best hockey player in history, his records may never be broken. He may not be the best coach in hockey, that's because he was a hockey player, not a coach give him a break!
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