Comments on: Wayne Gretzky turned down job offers from the Oilers and Kings

By: mianfr

mianfr — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 19:05:02 +0000

You really think it’s unreasonable to believe the Kings and Oilers offered him any job in some capacity?

By: garys79

garys79 — Sat, 22 Oct 2011 02:41:02 +0000

Who really believes this? Gretzky says in an interview that teams want him and he turned them down? Really? get serious.
Gretzky loves the spotlight. He likes nothing better then to be the center of attention.
Now all the Canadian networks are running this like it is a “story”.
Nothing but one man’s self serving nonsense.

By: namriverrat69

namriverrat69 — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 23:05:52 +0000

I agree with you. I had the great fun watching the Great Gretzky play here in LA for 8 years. Quite often coaches come from the ranks of student athlete/pro bench warmer.6th man, etc. who is not a starter but sits on the bench, listens and learns the coaching aspect of the game. Pat Riley, Tommy Lasorda come to mind, also Rudy T who spent some time there in his latter years after he had his face rearranged by the cheap shot by Kermit Washington. Like Tommy or not, he got results except in 77 & 78. Those Yankee teams still give me indigestion. Sleep well Yankee fans. This is the year of the King.

By: ajinnashville

ajinnashville — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:51:02 +0000

And that’s really my point. I think of Larry Bird, although he was successful for a time, Bart Starr, Magic Johnson; lots of other examples of superior athletes who just couldn’t translate their greatness into coaching acumen.

And while Gretzky did do a great job in ’02 for Team Canada, that was a much more limited position from the standpoint of commitment than that of a similar post with an NHL team. And beyond his record as a coach and GM, the gambling scandal that happened on his watch, involving Rick Tocchet and his wife, Janet really can’t be minimized.

I hope he’s able to offer his services somewhere at some point, but I really think he’s still smarting personally from the debacle in Phoenix.

But then, what do I know, right?

By: davebabychreturns

davebabychreturns — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:30:45 +0000

His work as a GM for the 2002 Canadian men’s olympic team will always be appreciated (in this country, at least). Not the most challenging job but still.

As a coach I would tend to agree. It’s probably tough for the smartest player ever to try getting teams like the ones he had in Phoenix buy into a system that will get them into the players.

By: ajinnashville

ajinnashville — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 21:04:52 +0000

I know this is sacrilege to hockey fans, but hello? Have you looked at Gretzky’s track record as a coach and exec in the NHL? He’s doing those two franchises a favor by staying away. Gretz was a phenomenal player, but phenomenal players don’t always make phenomenal coaches or GMs; I think Wayne has come far enough to realize that about himself, and for that he should be applauded.