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Good Coach Gretzky
by Paul on 09/24/09 at 01:53 PM ET
Comments (8)
from Scott Morrison of CBC Sports,
For the past couple of seasons, the Coyotes have been building with youth and were improving with that youth. No, they didn’t make the playoffs over the four years, but remember back to the middle of last season when Gretzky had his team sitting fifth in the Western Conference and was being touted as a coach of the year candidate, and a Team Canada Olympic coaching candidate.
Now, that’s not to say he was among the very best coaches in the league, but Gretzky learned and adjusted over those four years and he got better. Indeed, he was a smarter and better coach the last game he worked than he was the first.
added 3:03pm, from Craig Custance of the Sporting News,
Will Gretzky’s failure as a head coach tarnish his legacy as hockey’s greatest player or does the Phoenix disaster just become a footnote.
That was the topic of conversation last year with somebody who spent as much time on the ice with Gretzky as anybody. Longtime referee Don Koharski shot down any thoughts that Gretzky’s failure as a coach might erode his image as a player.
“You’ll never forget him for his greatness on the ice,” Koharski said at the time. “Not a hockey fan or sports fan in the world will ever forget what he did for the game on the ice. All the naysayers out there are probably ready to pounce on him for his coaching career. But his coaching career isn’t going to be what he’s famous for.”
The failure in the desert made sure of that.
added 3:06pm,
NEW YORK (Sept. 24, 2009) – National Hockey League Commissioner Gary Bettman today released this statement following the resignation of Wayne Gretzky as the Phoenix Coyotes’ Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations:
“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.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Wayne+Gretzky,
Comments
“As always, Wayne placed the welfare of the team ahead of his own in making this extremely difficult decision.”
If this was true, why did he ever agree to coach them then? He certainly has done them no favors during his tenure…
Posted by Primis on 09/24/09 at 03:04 PM ET
If this was true, why did he ever agree to coach them then? He certainly has done them no favors during his tenure…
Yeah, I mean, he must have taken the job knowing he was going to fail…
Posted by Garth on 09/24/09 at 03:27 PM ET
Garth, thankyou for responding to comments the way you do, it saves me the effort.
Posted by Nathan from BC on 09/24/09 at 03:32 PM ET
Not surprised by the spin on the CBC article. Gretzky could pull an OJ and the Canadian media would spin it.
Posted by cs6687 on 09/24/09 at 03:46 PM ET
Any time, Nathan.
Posted by Garth on 09/24/09 at 05:13 PM ET
Canadian Media can’t respond as their mouth is full with Wayne right Now
Posted by Evilpens on 09/24/09 at 05:18 PM ET
I don’t blame Gretzky entirely for the Coyotes’ dismal results. He was working with one of the smaller payrolls in the NHL. But his decision to surround himself with sycophants and yes men stripped the organization of a vital resource — someone to stand up to Gretzky or question his decisions.
This quote from the East Valley Tribune article sums up Wayne’s tenure in Phoenix!
Posted by Tero from Tacoma on 09/24/09 at 08:40 PM ET
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He coached for four years, of course he should be a better coach now than he was when he started. Gretzky was an amazing player, but a lousy coach. His greatness as a player should not shield him from criticism as a coach or director of hockey operations. Until recently, he was involved in every major decision the organization made, and played a major role in running the franchise into the ground.
Posted by wastedyears from Lansing on 09/24/09 at 02:39 PM ET