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Wayne Gretzky was coy about whether he will coach Canada’s Olympic hockey team in 2010, but The Great One closed the door on returning as the team’s executive director.
Speaking to Hockeycentral at Noon on the Fan 590 Monday, Gretzky said he told Hockey Canada CEO Bob Nicholson that he would not be back as executive director, a role he held the past two Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2006. The team won a gold medal in Salt Lake City in 2002, but finished seventh in Torino in 2006 with former Maple Leaf Pat Quinn serving as head coach both times.
Gretzky told co-hosts Daren Millard, Nick Kypreos and Mike Brophy that in a few weeks Nicholson would be making his decision on who would be executive director of the men’s Olympic hockey team and when asked if it would be him, Gretzky was definitive in his answer.
"That will not be me," Gretzky said.
Gretzky said he hadn’t talked with Nicholson about being the coach and that it was a decision that would be made by the new management team.
"I’m not sure exactly where I’m going to fit in," Gretzky said. "Somehow, some way I’ve always had a connection with being involved in Team Canada and part of Team Canada.
"I don’t think I’m going to have the same responsibilities that I had back in ’02 and ’06, but to be involved and just lend a hand is something I’d be happy to be a part of."
Gretzky did say that coaching the Olympic team is a prospect he would relish.
"Coaching the Olympic team is something really unique and very special. It’s one of those situations where you have to put your time in.
"There’s a lot of great coaches out there and just to be sort of considered is a thrill and an honour."
Gretzky has been a head coach in the National Hockey League since assuming the post with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2005-06. He has a 107-122-17 record and has not yet qualified for the playoffs.
Nicholson said Gretzky’s decision was formed over a number of discussions between the two the past few weeks and that it became clear Gretzky was leaning toward not being executive director. Nicholson also dodged the coach question, saying that his organization was focusing on assembling a management team.
Nicholson said while members of the group that assisted Gretzky in 2002 and 2006 – Edmonton’s Kevin Lowe and Steve Tambellini – are qualified candidates, he mentioned both Montreal’s Bob Gainey and Detroit’s Steve Yzerman and Ken Holland as potential replacements.
