Does the NHL owe Gretzky anything?

[jstewismybastardson]

very interesting read

NHL needs to pay Wayne Gretzky, reestablish prominent relatinship with star - ESPN

 

[Slimpikins]

Good read. I found these two parts interesting:

The sharply worded reasons given when I call and ask league insiders are startling: "Every one of the 29 owners is part-owner of Coyotes now, and they're not looking to spend a penny more, OK? … Who gives any coach or GM $8 million a year anyway? That was a mistake. No wonder that franchise went into bankruptcy. … Wayne's done all right in life. He's just having a little pout. … There was a lot of support to pay him. There was also sentiment the franchise went down and he should suffer like everyone else who got stiffed."

...

Gretzky has repeatedly refused to publicly acknowledge that he's angry or bitter about the NHL's position. His typical public response is he has been enjoying his time away from the game with his family and "Everything I have in my life, I owe to hockey and to the National Hockey League."

That sure doesn't make the league look petty...

 

[dash]

I'm not a big fan of Gretzky, but I greatly respect the man for what he did during his playing days. He tried to make the best of a bad situation in Phoenix (hiring close friends was not a good move, though).

Bottom line: The NHL should find a way to get the man the money he is owed.

 

[IPostedWhat]

Someone needs to pay off Janet's gambling debt.

 

[Winged_Wheel88]

very interesting read

NHL needs to pay Wayne Gretzky, reestablish prominent relatinship with star - ESPN

Relatinship? What's that? Do they mean the NHL has to find their inner Latino?

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

NO!!

 

[pixburgher66]

Owe Gretzky? Pfft. He tried his hand at coaching, failed at it, was rightfully dispatched from his job, and frankly seems to have no other desire to get back into it. Is he involved in anything lately? Does he have a charitable organization? Does he participate in any sort of league events? I feel like I never see him around. I agree with the sentiment that he should suffer like the entire organization did. He was being vastly overpaid as a coach (considering he was being played like a very, very, high end player) on a team that struggled immensely during his tenure. The team went under, so he got hurt. Fact of the matter is, the league is running it, and I don't see why they should "have" to pay him $8million on a contract that was made by an owner who was clearly not thinking straight. Should he be paid his money? Yes. By the league that merely stepped in to save the franchise? No.

 

[jstewismybastardson]

Owe Gretzky? Pfft. He tried his hand at coaching, failed at it, was rightfully dispatched from his job, and frankly seems to have no other desire to get back into it. Is he involved in anything lately? Does he have a charitable organization? Does he participate in any sort of league events? I feel like I never see him around. I agree with the sentiment that he should suffer like the entire organization did. He was being vastly overpaid as a coach (considering he was being played like a very, very, high end player) on a team that struggled immensely during his tenure. The team went under, so he got hurt. Fact of the matter is, the league is running it, and I don't see why they should "have" to pay him $8million on a contract that was made by an owner who was clearly not thinking straight. Should he be paid his money? Yes. By the league that merely stepped in to save the franchise? No.

this is the most important thing i take from the espn commentary

And yet, some of the same owners, who saw their pockets lined and franchise values lifted by the sheer magnetism of Gretzky's game and crossover appeal and tireless promotion of the sport, now don't want to do the right thing by one of the classiest superstars they've ever had? This, though NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has been bragging the NHL is on track for a record $2.9 billion in revenues this year?

Gretzky has always struck me as the guy who all his life has answered the bell when hockey called ... He did everything for the good of the game. He is the reason there are 3 teams in California. He is the reason the NHL got back on US national tv networks. When Gary Bettman and Steve Ellman went to Gretzky and asked him to become a minority owner of the Phoenix Coyotes in 1999, Gretzky came in with money RELUCTANTLY, because people around him told him even at that time that the Phoenix franchise was going to move and that his involvement with the franchise would be good for selling the game ... there is an actual quote from 2005 that Ellman made saying to the effect that he had the expectation that people would go to games to watch Gretzky coach.

This whole business about "how could they pay a coach 8 million per year?" ... court documents show the payment arrangement with Moyes was more about Gretzky getting his ownership investment back than a coaching salary ... When Gretzky bought that 10% interest in 2000, I dont think he could have imagined having to contribute more over the next 5 years to cover the franchise losses

i dont hold anything against Gretzky for stepping away from the game ... He's been involved in it all his life up until 2009

 

[puckhead]

The NHL had already paid $11.6 million to Coyotes creditors.
Yet, still Gretzky waits

that's my only issue... if you have the discretion to pick and choose who you pay off, you'd think someone who has been such a phenomenal ambassador to the league would warrant inclusion to that list.
maybe they are waiting until the sale goes through, which would be fine as well.

until then... wayne wait. wayne disappointed

 

[dare2be]

until then... wayne wait. wayne disappointed

LOL, nice Children of the Corn look he has...

 

[DaBoltsNIsles]

I hope the Phoenxi Coyotes mess is solved soon. I'm tired of hearing about it.

 

[pixburgher66]

this is the most important thing i take from the espn commentary

And yet, some of the same owners, who saw their pockets lined and franchise values lifted by the sheer magnetism of Gretzky's game and crossover appeal and tireless promotion of the sport, now don't want to do the right thing by one of the classiest superstars they've ever had? This, though NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has been bragging the NHL is on track for a record $2.9 billion in revenues this year?

Gretzky has always struck me as the guy who all his life has answered the bell when hockey called ... He did everything for the good of the game. He is the reason there are 3 teams in California. He is the reason the NHL got back on US national tv networks. When Gary Bettman and Steve Ellman went to Gretzky and asked him to become a minority owner of the Phoenix Coyotes in 1999, Gretzky came in with money RELUCTANTLY, because people around him told him even at that time that the Phoenix franchise was going to move and that his involvement with the franchise would be good for selling the game ... there is an actual quote from 2005 that Ellman made saying to the effect that he had the expectation that people would go to games to watch Gretzky coach.

This whole business about "how could they pay a coach 8 million per year?" ... court documents show the payment arrangement with Moyes was more about Gretzky getting his ownership investment back than a coaching salary ... When Gretzky bought that 10% interest in 2000, I dont think he could have imagined having to contribute more over the next 5 years to cover the franchise losses

i dont hold anything against Gretzky for stepping away from the game ... He's been involved in it all his life up until 2009

How many of the owners are the same from then to now? Just curious really. He's done more for the league than anyone really, I understand that. But I just don't think the LEAGUE owes him anything. If they do pay him back, it'd better be in smaller payments. I just don't like seeing the league paying off on all this stuff merely because they're having a few good seasons. It really bothers me that they're paying for two different teams now. They HAVE to do something about that, and it needs to be more like a business and not about pride. What I mean by that is Gary needs to let this go...having one or two "failed" franchises in the South/West isn't a bad thing. Just a numbers game.

 

[Eddie_Shack]

"Who pays a coach $8 million?"

Doesn't matter. Who pays Wade Redden Nick Lidstrom money? Who pays Jeff Finger $4 million a year? It doesn't matter, they signed the damn contract. Bankruptcy shmankruptcy, pay The Great One his money.