| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| n/a |
Posted - 09/24/2009 : 15:13:46
Today, the greatest ambassador for the game of hockey and one of the greatest players of all time quit his position as coach of the Phoenix Coyotes.
Amid the confusion of a battle between two parties that were not going to honour his contract, Wayne Gretzky decided to quit his job after the Phoenix coaching positions were filled. In typical fashion, he made a statement which said nothing about how one might have felt in his position, and was diplomatic at a time when most would have had some choice words.
What are your thoughts on his leaving, do you think he will rejoin the NHL soon, and do you think he will end up joining the Balsillie camp?
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| 17 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| irvine |
Posted - 10/03/2009 : 21:46:33
I'm not sure Gretzky dropping $6.0-7.5 million dollars a year in Salary would have done anything to stop the Coyotes Bankruptcy. Heh. The teams has not had a single profitable season since moving there from Winnipeg. They are losing around $170 Million per year. So, I don't see how Gretzky dropping salary would have helped any thing, to be honest.
Irvine |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 10/02/2009 : 14:20:21
quote:
Originally posted by Jesse Schuttler
Gretzky may have been on the highest paid coach, but I doubt he asked for that salary, and lets also remember, he was the greatest player to play the game, but was never payed properly as a player. Payed poorly actually when you look at contracts even then compared to his. He was finally getting his due, and why would gretz drop his salary by 7 million to throw the 7 million into a team that isnt worth all that much, there was a primary owner in Moyes. I'm sure Gretz did more than his fair share for that team. Good on him to walk away from the garbage that Bettman helped create while he could.
Not sure what kind of economic people feel is 'underpaid' but I would suggest that $40 million in player salaries between 1989 and and 1999 is pretty nice money.
Comparatively, Lemieux made about $30 million in that time, Jagr made about $34 million, Messier made about $40 million and Yzerman made about $44 million.
So in perspective, Gretzky was getting more than most and definately in the right ball park compared to his peers. He was the first million dollar player in league history as well.
Check out this site.
http://www.hockeyzoneplus.com/salaries/1363 |
| JOSHUACANADA |
Posted - 10/02/2009 : 12:56:58
Any product, league or company would give there eye teeth to have this guy represent them in the public, in business or even just to stand beside the product in a photo op. The Coyotes may have stain the NHL against the great one and I'm certain Moyer's doesn't regret one bit having Wayne "Friggin" Gretzky as the Cheerleader, Coach and managing partner of the Coyotes. If his weakest asset was his coaching abilities, it was a better effort than at least 10 other teams in the NHL. Maybe 15.
What I'm afraid of is Wayne Gretzky may step away, for a good length of time from the NHL, further damaging the fragile relationship that the league has damaged. That was what Walter has suggested and if it happens you may see Wayne promoting the international game or step away from the sport altogether, for a while. |
| Jesse Schuttler |
Posted - 10/02/2009 : 11:37:03
Gretzky may have been on the highest paid coach, but I doubt he asked for that salary, and lets also remember, he was the greatest player to play the game, but was never payed properly as a player. Payed poorly actually when you look at contracts even then compared to his. He was finally getting his due, and why would gretz drop his salary by 7 million to throw the 7 million into a team that isnt worth all that much, there was a primary owner in Moyes. I'm sure Gretz did more than his fair share for that team. Good on him to walk away from the garbage that Bettman helped create while he could. |
| shazariahl |
Posted - 10/02/2009 : 08:50:41
To be honest, this is a very tough situation for Gretzky to be placed in. He's both an employee, and a part owner. I think that he handled it about as well as anyone could have under the circumstances.
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| JOSHUACANADA |
Posted - 09/26/2009 : 13:22:08
This media attention has draw fans to Pheonix and more attention to the NHL brand as a whole in Pheonix. Like it or hate it, it is going to make it or break it in Glendale. I`ll be honest and say I had very little knowledge about the southern USA struggle and the fact the NHL was fighting tooth and nail to keep Canada`s numbers at 6. This topic for me has made me feel patriotic to Canadian teams and there plight.
Yes, the team is not that bad talent wise and could do well if and when this distraction goes away.
Gretzky didn`t resign weeks ago because he did not want to usurp attention from the proceeds, but could not open camp as head coach due to both current parties standpoint on his coaching contract. My thoughts are Gretzky could have been included in either offer for what his actual coaching salary was but would not endorse relocation. When he was no longer clearly on the NHL`s side I believe the NHL threw the Great One under the Bus. |
| Guest2179 |
Posted - 09/26/2009 : 11:36:42
I agree with most of what's been said.
However, I can't help but ask why didn't Gretzky resign two weeks ago? Nothing has changed in the time, but why not let the team open camp with a head coach there? Let them try to get off to a good start this year.
It's unfortunate that throughout this entire process most people seem to have forgotten there's a team of players in Phoenix too. Actually a decent young team with potential, but unless the outside drama is resolved I can't see this being anything but an abysmal season to play hockey in the desert. |
| n/a |
Posted - 09/26/2009 : 09:45:13
Gretzky signed first with Coyotes management, which was under the stewardship of the NHL after bankruptcy, and will probably be under the control of the NHL once the judge makes his decision. Thus, ultimately, I do think that the NHL will be on the hook for the money owed to Gretzky.
Good points and links, JoshuaCanada.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| JOSHUACANADA |
Posted - 09/25/2009 : 14:37:56
Okay I have a few links for reading I have summarized the points most people are unaware of. Gretzky is and employee like the remainder of the staff and management. He is an unpaid employee and owed outstanding currently $9.25 million. So as it stands he is an unpaid employee, and for good reasons, had a right to formally resign.
Per his ownership portion he is owed between $7-22 million per current rate of offer's by either NHL or Basillie, which is why he has stepped away from endorsing either offer for fear of reprisal by either party, once either offer approved by Baum. Funny how Basillies offer actually pays Gretzky the higher amount.
http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/28080-Gretzky-quits-as-Coyotes-coach-director-of-hockey-operations.html
His US$8-million annual deal - for coaching and personal services - was made public in court documents and became a much-discussed topic because it is four times more lucrative than any other NHL coach's contract. It was also revealed in the courtroom that Gretzky was part of the Ice Edge Holdings group which had hoped to purchase the team, agreeing to have his salary reduced to $2 million per year.
"It's devastating for him," Maloney said earlier this month. "He's the nicest man in the world, he'll do anything for anybody. He's almost been painted as a bad guy in this scenario. A portion of his compensation is coaching, it's not the entire compensation - he's the managing partner."
As an unsecured creditor, Gretzky has a claim to $22.5 million. Under current proposals, if Balsillie wins, Gretzky will receive that money. If the NHL wins, Moyes and Gretzky would split $14 million and Moyes would likely get the majority of the money
http://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/story/2009/09/24/spf-morrison-column-gretzky.html
As for what he was being paid, roughly $8 million US a season, that number has to be explained as well. Gretzky wasn't just coach of the Coyotes, he was a part owner, managing partner and alternate governor. As coach, he was paid $1.6 million, which is a big number, but Gretzky is also a big name. The rest of the money was part of his equity in the club.
Now a common misinterpreted number being thrown out there is Gretzky is being paid $8 million a year for only being a coach. The article suggest his coaching duties provided him only $1.6 million a year and the remainder was due to him for affiliation and managing partner income. Ice Edge Holdings felt his coaching duties garnered $2 Million a year which would not have him act as managing partner and had not provided for affiliation income.
The last incorrect point is that Gretzky had been silent throughout this process, point of fact is he did not endorse Basillie and said he would not be the coach in Hamilton at the onset of the bankruptcy submittal. Furthermore initially he endorsed the NHL standpoint regarding Basillies initial offer requiring relocation, saying he did not agree with relocation. He may have changed his opinion and has certainly changed his opinion of Moyer's and the NHL as they said in open court the hadn't the intention of having Gretzky coach the team post there offer's approval. |
| Beans15 |
Posted - 09/25/2009 : 09:34:45
Did the NHL sign the contract or was it signed with the Coyotes??? I never realized that coaches worked for the NHL???? I don't see how Gretzky could sue anyone out of this. I think his resigning takes away that ability. No one removed his contract, only indicated that it would be discussed (if the NHL wins). I'm not sure if Balsillie said anything about Gretzky though all of this. |
| n/a |
Posted - 09/25/2009 : 09:30:51
But Beans, from Gretzky's point of view, he could argue that he signed a contract in good faith, and that was what was agreed upon.
We all know Gretzky was signed as a half PR move as opposed to his experience as a coach, which was nil. And, he was a creditor, which sort of explains the odd 8 mil salary . . . sort of. Still, as bad a deal as that seemed in a small southern American market, that was the deal that was signed by the NHL. Is a contract that worthless these days?
And, the NHL is on the hook for it, and may just get sued by Gretzky in the future, looking into my crystal ball.
No matter what, the whole thing was mishandled, and it was not the job of Gretzky to find a replacement, fire himself, or find a way to pay his salary. That was the GM's job, and the job of the NHL eventually as they took over. And to cap it off now, headlines in Canada read how the Great One may leave all NHL activities for a while, as Gretzky's father intimated in the Toronto Sun.
I cannot for the life of me imagine another professional sports leagu running things so badly, and creating so much unnecessary bad PR for themselves.
"Take off, eh?" - Bob and Doug |
| fat_elvis_rocked |
Posted - 09/25/2009 : 09:24:21
quote:
Originally posted by Beans15
Well, I think that my Hero definately had a part in this. For such a great Hockey embassador and apparently one who wanted the team in Phoenix to succeed, he sure didn't go to the ownership group and offer some of his $8.5 million annual salary to help prop up the team. He was the highest paid coach in the league by $6 million!!
Good God Man!!!!
Do the world a favor and stay inside for a couple days, talk like that could cause danger to others from an errant bolt of lightning!!!
Blasphemous!!!!!
I'm glad that Gretzky had the ability to 'step down' rather than be party to any more of what will be a long drawn out situation...still is and always will be a class act.
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| Beans15 |
Posted - 09/25/2009 : 08:48:33
My point is that Gretzky could have done something before the Bankrupcy. Why didn't he go do Moyes last year and say drop my salary to a million a year and increase my ownership by a few %. That way, no one loses, but Moyes has some more cash in his pocket. That's what I am talking about.
Sounds like there are a lot of Hockey Canada rumors flying around. Not sure if there is any substance behind it. |
| fanoleaf |
Posted - 09/25/2009 : 08:34:17
Gretzky is one of the classiest pro's around.
I would like to see him in the future run a team as a G.M. I think he would excel in that role.
I would be floored to see him move with the Balsilie camp... it's just not going to happen. |
| Guest9604 |
Posted - 09/24/2009 : 21:25:16
quote:
Originally posted by Beans15
Well, I think that my Hero definately had a part in this. For such a great Hockey embassador and apparently one who wanted the team in Phoenix to succeed, he sure didn't go to the ownership group and offer some of his $8.5 million annual salary to help prop up the team. He was the highest paid coach in the league by $6 million!!
Also, he is still listed at a 10% owner of the team in Phoenix. I think his lawyers told him to stay away and be a quite creditor. I think he did the classy thing in telling the GM to find a new coach as he wasn't part of either potential owners plan.
That being said, I think he will not go to Hamilton. He doesn't want to move his family anywhere away from the west coast. He and his family have been happy there for nearly 2 decades. I don't think that his family moved with him when he was playing in New York either.
Personally, I see Gretz spending some time working with Stevie Y and helping Canada get through the Olypmics. After that, I can see him staying with a team on the West Coast. Maybe LA??
I agree with most things you say on this site. This however is just wrong. There was an article from ESPN about Gretz not showing up during the pre-season in the middle of this Phoenix fiasco too.
Let's put it in perspective. Basically, the current owner is no longer paying his salary. He should now approach the owner to reduce his salary from $0 to what? He is still supposed to do his work and give money to the owner? No, once he was no longer paid, he was allowed not to work. Remember Phoenix asked him to coach, he didn't apply.
Gretz quietly didn't show up to work during the preseason. Then as the fiasco around the club look to be unresolved, he resigned. That's pretty classy to me instead of kicking and screaming that Phoenix isn't honouring their end of the contract. |
| Alex116 |
Posted - 09/24/2009 : 18:08:18
Would love to see Gretzky get involved in LA. Being a former player and one who put the Kings on the map sotospeak, he'd be a perfect fit. Surely there's a spot for him there be it in a coaching position or in the "front office"? An up and coming young team could use a guy like him around don't you think?
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| Beans15 |
Posted - 09/24/2009 : 16:47:11
Well, I think that my Hero definately had a part in this. For such a great Hockey embassador and apparently one who wanted the team in Phoenix to succeed, he sure didn't go to the ownership group and offer some of his $8.5 million annual salary to help prop up the team. He was the highest paid coach in the league by $6 million!!
Also, he is still listed at a 10% owner of the team in Phoenix. I think his lawyers told him to stay away and be a quite creditor. I think he did the classy thing in telling the GM to find a new coach as he wasn't part of either potential owners plan.
That being said, I think he will not go to Hamilton. He doesn't want to move his family anywhere away from the west coast. He and his family have been happy there for nearly 2 decades. I don't think that his family moved with him when he was playing in New York either.
Personally, I see Gretz spending some time working with Stevie Y and helping Canada get through the Olypmics. After that, I can see him staying with a team on the West Coast. Maybe LA?? |
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