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Gretzky Announcement Coming
by Paul on 09/24/09 at 10:24 AM ET
Comments (9)
from TSN,
A major announcement addressing Wayne Gretzky’s future in Phoenix is expected within the hour.
The announcement will be posted on Gretzky.com.
I will update this post when the annoucement is made.
added 11:28am, Of course, Gretzky.com crashes!
added 11:52, Follow the original TSN link which has or will shortly state Gretzky has resigned as Phoenix coach.
added 11:55am, See released statement from Gretzky below…
added 12:03pm via Bob McKenzie’s Twitter,
just rumors at this point but dave tippett’s name is mentioned prominently as the next Phx coach
added 1:11pm, via Elliotte Friedman’s Twitter,
Tippett played with Samuelsson in Hartford, played under King with Olympic team, knows division. Looks like a done deal.
added 1:22pm, Eric Duhatschek of the Globe and Mail with his views and also states Tippett looks like the coach.
(Phoenix, Ariz.)–Wayne Gretzky announced today that he is stepping down as Head Coach and Director of Hockey Operations of the Phoenix Coyotes Hockey Club, effective immediately. “This was a difficult decision that I’ve thought long and hard about,” said Gretzky. “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 Manger 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.
“The Coyotes scouting staff has put together a great group of young and talented players who are going to improve tremendously over the next few years,” continued Gretzky. “I’m proud of the team we’ve assembled, the organization with which I’ve been associated and the thousands of dedicated fans who have never wavered in their support of this young team. I’m confident that the best is yet to come for hockey in Phoenix.
“I want to thank every staff member of the Phoenix Coyotes, past and present. It was a real pleasure to work with each and every one of you. I’ve always said that Phoenix is a great sports city and deserves nothing but the best. I still believe that. As a young boy, I learned to play hockey in Southern Ontario, and I know what great fans they have there. It’s my hope they too will have an NHL franchise in the not too distant future.
“I often said it was the greatest honor and privilege I could imagine to be able to play in the National Hockey League. I feel the same way about being an NHL coach. I’ve loved the four years I spent coaching the Coyotes. Not a day went by when I took it for granted, and I will miss the competition of the NHL dearly. It was an honor to hold the position, and I will always consider myself especially fortunate to have had this opportunity.”
Filed in: NHL Teams, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Wayne+Gretzky,
Comments
Darren Pang, good friend of Wayne’s, on Leafs Lunch and stated Wayne was disappointed with lack of communication between himself and the NHL. He was left dangling in the wind.
Posted by Paul from Motown Area on 09/24/09 at 11:17 AM ET
He was left dangling in the wind.
Like Pavel Datsyuk’s goal in the Winter Classic, according to Pierre McGuire?
Seriously, the NHL really screwed the pooch in this whole situation.
Posted by J.J. from Kansas on 09/24/09 at 11:21 AM ET
Some blame needs to fall on Gretzky’s shoulders (yes both parties agreed to 8 million as compensation, but Gretz had to know the financial distress of the Yotes when he signed the deal), but the way Bettman and his cronies have handled this whole affair and treated an icon of this sport is despicable.
Posted by dash_pinched from Rumour Mill Bay on 09/24/09 at 11:26 AM ET
but the way Bettman and his cronies have handled this whole affair and treated an icon of this sport is despicable.
Oh get over it.
Gretzky has been a terrible, TERRIBLE head coach. No one head coach during Wayne’s tenure has done LESS for his team than Wayne did. Any “icon” status Wayne had is lost now after his miserable coaching tenure.
What Wayne did as a coach is despicable, in making a mockery of the sport and coaches everywhere. Wayne, quite frankly, is PRIMARILY responsible for the Coyotes on-ice failures. That makes him one of the primary parties responsible for the “failure” of the NHL in Phoenix up until now.
Wayne should wake up every day and thank his lucky stars that: a) Somehow he got out of the sportsbetting scandal scott-free when everyone knows there’s no way he COULDN’T have been involved (since everyone aroudn him was)... and b) that the NHL tolerated his abysmal “coaching” as long as it did.
Posted by Primis on 09/24/09 at 11:50 AM ET
Well, well, well, well….Mr ‘G’
“What took you so long”
I somehow think it won’t be nearly that long
before the lawsuits begin about the money he is owed.
Posted by HockeyTownTodd on 09/24/09 at 11:58 AM ET
Any “icon” status Wayne had is lost now after his miserable coaching tenure.
Yeah, of course it is. Not being a good coach has ruined what he is, was and has done for hockey.
I hear they’re planning on removing him from the hall of fame because he’s not a good coach.
Posted by Garth on 09/24/09 at 12:09 PM ET
This guy is really tarnished in my mind. I mean he played on about 10 teams when it was all said and done didn’t he? With his dopey wife..and his gambling buddy Tochett…then his horrible coaching..plus the fact that he makes $8m to coach or something..no wonder Phoenix is bankrupt. Then I read how his son doesn’t even like hockey..plays fooball or something. Just leave the game and get some credibility back…..
Posted by kevin from boston on 09/24/09 at 01:14 PM ET
This guy is really tarnished in my mind. I mean he played on about 10 teams when it was all said and done didn’t he? With his dopey wife..and his gambling buddy Tochett…then his horrible coaching..plus the fact that he makes $8m to coach or something..no wonder Phoenix is bankrupt. Then I read how his son doesn’t even like hockey..plays fooball or something. Just leave the game and get some credibility back…..
Well, how is he supposed to control the fact that people think he’s lost credibility in hockey because of his wife, the things his friends get into and the fact that his son doesn’t like hockey. Wow, he doesn’t like hockey? Well, that must be the first time in recorded history that a son didn’t like something his father did.
Is my father’s reputation as a teacher tarnished by the fact that my brother and I aren’t interested in teaching?
Posted by Garth on 09/24/09 at 02:54 PM ET
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Good Now they can get a real Coach
Posted by Evilpens on 09/24/09 at 11:14 AM ET