The Phoenix Coyotes scheduled a news conference for this afternoon to make a “major” announcement, amid reports Wayne Gretzky, the NHL’s all-time leading scorer, will be named the team’s new coach.
The Arizona Republic first reported Sunday that Gretzky, the team’s managing partner, would be introduced as the coach. ESPN.com confirmed the report.
“We have a major announcement to make Monday,” said team spokesman Rick Braunstein, who declined to elaborate on the reason for the news conference.
There had been speculation for more than a year Gretzky would move from the Coyotes front office to behind the bench. General manager Mike Barnett originally asked Gretzky in June 2004 if he was interested in coaching. But the nine-time MVP wanted to wait until a new collective bargaining agreement was in place before deciding whether to coach.
That happened in mid-July, but the negotiations ran on. Gretzky is in the final year of a five-year contract with the club. Barnett, Gretzky’s former agent and longtime friend, said the decision would rest with the hockey great and his family, who live in Los Angeles.
“One day it’s yes and the next day it’s no. I don’t know what’s going on,” Bobby Hull, the agent-brother of Coyotes forward Brett Hull, said Sunday night.
He said Brett Hull, an 18-year veteran who was Gretzky’s teammate in St. Louis, was traveling for several days and had no plans to be in the Phoenix area today.
The Republic also reported former Detroit Red Wings assistant coach Barry Smith would be one of Gretzky’s assistants.
Former Coyotes player Rick Tocchet or interim head coach Rick Bowness will be Gretzky’s other assistant, according to the newspaper and ESPN.com. Tocchet spent the 2003-04 season as an assistant to Tony Granato with the Avalanche but left with the idea of joining Gretzky – one of his closest friends – in Phoenix.
Gretzky, 44, retired in 1999 after 20 seasons in the NHL. “The Great One” helped the Edmonton Oilers win four Stanley Cups, and is the NHL’s all-time leading goal, assist and point producer in the regular season and playoffs.
Gretzky already has committed to serve as executive director for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics in Turin in February.
The Coyotes have a new $220 million arena, which they have yet to play a full season in. They moved to the Glendale Arena in December 2003, but they didn’t get an opportunity to open a season there before the lockout began.
Hurricanes: Left wing Ray Whitney signed a two-year contract, giving Carolina a two-time all-star who has topped 60 points in five of his past seven seasons.
Whitney, 33, had 14 goals and 29 assists for the Red Wings in 2003-04.
