Wayne Gretzky, the NHL’s all-time leading scorer, will be the new coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, The Arizona Republic reported on its website Sunday.
Gretzky, the team’s managing partner, is expected to be introduced as coach today, multiple NHL sources told the paper.
ESPN.com confirmed the report later Sunday.
Team spokesman Rich Nairn told The Associated Press he could not confirm the story. He said the team had no events scheduled for today.
There had been speculation for several months Gretzky would move from the Coyotes’ front office to their bench.
But the nine-time MVP had said he would wait until a new collective bargaining agreement was in place before deciding whether to coach.
The newspaper 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 reports.
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, who is the final year of a five-year contract with the club, is a longtime friend of Coyotes general manager Mike Barnett’s.
Barnett said the day after the new NHL collective bargaining agreement was reached last month that Gretzky was interested in the position.
Barnett, Gretzky’s former agent, said the decision would rest with the hockey great and his family, who live in Los Angeles.
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: 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, a left wing, is joining his sixth NHL team. He has scored more than 20 goals in a season five times, setting a career high with 33 in 1997-98 with the Oilers and Florida Panthers. He was chosen for the All-Star Game in 2000 and 2003.
Whitney, 33, had 14 goals and 29 assists for the Red Wings in 2003-04.
