Article on coach Gretzky

[hammerbillsfan]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/columns/story?columnist=burnside_scott&id=2257982

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- The first time Wayne Gretzky stepped onto the ice and called his troops to attention as an NHL head coach, the whistle emitted a sad-sounding "blapht."

There was a brief pause on the ice.

A harbinger of things to come? Foreshadowing of a monumental career error?

Hardly.

"Barely a peep came out of it," said Phoenix Coyotes' analyst and former NHL netminder Darren Pang with a smile. "The guys on the coaching staff jabbed him right away."
While skeptics quietly shook their heads when the greatest player in the history of the game decided to be a coach, Gretzky merely wonders why he didn't do it years ago.

Most people though he would be a flop this season, but is making strides with what limited talent he has on his team.

[Ebenezer]

Re: Article on coach Gretzky

Believe it or not I never really liked him as a player. He was an offensive machine but didn't play defense, didn't check and couldn't take a hit. Jagr doesn't play much different and isn't as tough as Gretz but Wayne gets a pass on those other things...not a complete hockey player...and that was proven when he was traded and Messier still led the Oilers to another cup.

Also amazing how he and Mario helped settle the strike...now he is a coach (and the team is turning around) and Mario ends up with Crosby...that's the kind of stuff that gave the NHL the gargage league reputation.