Both ESPN and its Canadian counterpart, TSN, were reporting
last night that a deal had been reached in principle for a trade
of Wayne Gretzky from the Kings to the Blues for three young
players and a '97 first-round pick. But ESPN reported one key
hurdle is Gretzky's marketing rights. Dan Patrick: "Gretzky
currently owns his marketing rights but the Blues want to
incorporate them into the team" (SportsCenter, 2/25). The L.A.
TIMES notes owning Gretzky's marketing rights "could help the
Blues recoup an investment they hinted might reach $21 million
over three seasons." However, another "potential deal-breaker"
is that the Kings have not given Gretzky's agent, Mike Barnett,
permission to negotiate with other clubs. Kings officials denied
there was any deal (Helene Elliott, L.A. TIMES, 2/26). Blues
President Jack Quinn: "Wow! That's quite a story." But the ST.
LOUIS POST DISPATCH's Wheatley & Luecking report, "Despite the
denials, sources confirmed there's some truth to Sunday's round
of rumors. According to the sources, the hockey side is done."
The "stumbling blocks": Gretzky's contract; the deferred signing
bonus owed Gretzky by the Kings; a final decision to trade
Gretzky by Kings owners Philip Anschutz and Edward Roski. The
POST-DISPATCH adds the Blues also would want marketing rights to
Gretzky's expected "farewell tour." While Barnett is barred from
negotiating with the Blues, Brett Hull, a Gretzky friend and
another Barnett client, could "serve as middle man with his
agent" (ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH, 2/26).
