Kukla's Korner Hockey
It’s About Time
by Paul on 09/24/09 at 07:38 PM ET
Comments (0)
from Scott Bordow of the East Valley Tribune,
Gretzky’s resignation Thursday was long overdue. Frankly, he should have been fired years ago, but no one in the Coyotes’ organization had the courage or conviction to stand up to him. They were still in awe of his legacy, the greatest player ever, the untouchable icon.
Well, look at where that idolatry got them….
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.
Who did Gretzky hire as general manager in 2001? His agent, Mike Barnett. Never mind that Barnett had no experience in an NHL front office. He was Wayne’s buddy.
That kind of cronyism ran rampant. Gretzky hired friends and relatives. Younger brother Keith was named director of amateur scouting. Marty McSorley, Gretzky’s former enforcer in Edmonton and Los Angeles, was hired as coach of the Coyotes’ American Hockey League affiliate even though he had no coaching experience.
Now, it’s not uncommon for coaches or GMs to hire people they’re familiar with. The difference with Gretzky is that he seemed to be handing out favors.
Filed in: NHL Teams, Phoenix Coyotes | KK Hockey | Permalink
Tags: Wayne+Gretzky,
Comments
Be the first to comment.
Add a Comment
Please limit embedded image or media size to 575 pixels wide.
Add your own avatar by joining Kukla's Korner, or logging in and uploading one in your member control panel.
Captchas bug you? Join KK or log in and you won't have to bother.
Commenting is not available in this weblog entry.
Most Recent Blog Posts
NHL Network And NHL.com Stanley Cup Final Coverage
Rick Dudley Named Assistant GM In Montreal
A Slap On The Wrist For The Coyotes?
John Davidson Wants To Stay In St. Louis, But Will He?
About KK Hockey
Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.
From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.
Email Paul anytime at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
Make extra cash while playing online poker. Rakeback is free and comes with rake races.
Kukla’s Korner is always a free service for readers, but it costs some money to maintain. If you’re ever in a position to donate a few dollars to help out, we’d be very appreciative.