The Kings traded Wayne Gretzky to the Blues yesterday,
ending two months of speculation. Gretzky, a free agent after
this season, did not sign a deal with the Blues, but said that
one was "possible over the next four or five days." USA TODAY's
Kevin Allen reports the team isn't sure "how much he wants or if
he will give up some marketing rights to help pay his salary."
Allen notes, "That's their plan" (USA TODAY, 2/28). ESPN's Al
Morganti reports a Tuesday meeting with the Kings led to no
agreement because Gretzky said he was "not on the same
wavelength" as the Kings, but that it never came down to money.
Morganti expects Gretzky will receive a deal worth around $7M a
year from the Blues, with perhaps "some hedging on marketing
rights, maybe for a farewell tour and maybe they've gone as far
to see who gets the rights to that." Morganti said Gretzky wants
to secure a deal "within three or four days" ("SportsCenter,"
2/27). In Chicago, Dan Bickley notes the Blues will benefit
financially, as the team has sold about 2,200 tickets in the last
two days and was "fielding calls from heavy hitters looking to
lease luxury suites that go for as much as $140,000" (CHICAGO
SUN-TIMES, 2/28). In Toronto, Al Strachan notes the Kiel Center
has had between 4,000-5,000 empty seats on average this season.
A Gretzky-induced full building would represent an additional
$200,000 in income a night -- "an increase of $8 million
annually." The playoffs add an additional $1M a night, and
Strachan notes the Blues suggested in the past they may build new
suites for next season with Gretzky (TORONTO SUN, 2/28).
