While retirement appears "imminent," Rangers C WAYNE
GRETZKY is "soliciting a lot of opinions" before announcing
his decision on his future, according to Laura Price of
NEWSDAY. Gretzky had lunch with teammate Petr Nedved
yesterday and dinner with Brett Hull on Friday, and today
Gretzky will fly to Ottawa with Rangers President/GM Neil
Smith and coach John Muckler. Gretzky: "I listen to
everybody. It's going to be a lifetime decision for me, and
I'm willing to listen to everybody but, you know ... I just
kind of got to do what's best for me at this time" (NEWSDAY,
4/14). Smith said he would exercise the $5M option "the
team holds on Gretzky's services for next year, perhaps even
today" (N.Y. POST, 4/14). In N.Y., Joe Lapointe notes that
Gretzky "has been saving sticks and pucks from most of his
games this season and giving them as mementos to people
close to him" (N.Y. TIMES, 4/14). The Rangers PR staff "has
been left to scramble to fill a sudden onslaught of requests
for media credentials" for Sunday's game, "while
simultaneously trying to map out plans for a possible on-ice
ceremony" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 4/14). In L.A., Helene Elliott
notes that NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman plans to attend
Sunday's game at MSG, but NHL VP/PR Frank Brown said, "He
goes to a lot of games" (L.A. TIMES, 4/14).
TV TIME: In Toronto, Chris Zelkovich reports that CTV
SportsNet has changed its schedule to carry tomorrow night's
Rangers-Senators game instead of the Bruins-Penguins at
7:30pm ET. During the game, SportsNet will "devote" one of
its cameras to isolating Gretzky throughout the game. The
CBC is also "prepared" for a possible special edition of
"HNIC" on Sunday if Gretzky does announce his retirement.
They will show the Blue Jays game at 1:00pm ET and then join
the Rangers game in progress (TORONTO STAR, 4/14).
THE LEGACY: NEWSDAY's Rich O'Malley writes that after
speaking with fans on the street in N.Y., "most agreed that
the NHL was close to losing its senior spokesman and biggest
star" (NEWSDAY, 4/14). Capitals coach Ron Wilson: "I don't
know if there would have been expansion into Anaheim if
Wayne Gretzky had not played for the Kings and turned Los
Angeles and [Disney CEO] Michael Eisner on to the NHL.
Wayne Gretzky is the one that opened the Sun Belt cities up
to the league" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/14). In L.A., Randy
Harvey writes that Gretzky "had more positive impact on ice
hockey in Southern California than anyone other than the
late Jack Kent Cooke." Kings President Tim Leiweke said
that "he is open to Gretzky becoming more involved" with the
Kings (L.A. TIMES, 4/14). In Philadelphia, Sam Donnellon
writes that Gretzky made "hockey possible everywhere, in
places like Nashville ... and Dallas. ... He got the sport a
long-term TV contract and a more polished image" (DAILY
NEWS, 4/14). Sabres GM Darcy Regier, on a replacement for
Gretzky at the league level: "I don't see that person in the
game right now. I don't know if there's anyone who conducts
himself in such an honorable manner." Stars President Jim
Lites, "I'm a little surprised and disappointed he didn't
give every team a chance to honor him" (NEWSDAY, 4/14).
STILL THE GREAT ONE TO MARKETERS: In Toronto, MacDonald
& Waldie look at Gretzky's marketing future if he retires.
Gretzky earns approximately $5M per year in corporate
sponsorships and endorsements and has backed such companies
as McDonald's, Hudson's Bay, Post cereals, Canadian Imperial
Bank of Commerce, Zurich Financial Services and Campbell's
Soup. Hudson's Bay is currently preparing the fall launch
of the Gretzky line of casual clothes. But Burns Sports
Celebrity President Bob Williams says that hockey has fallen
from fourth to ninth in the U.S. in terms of the number of
players who have national endorsement deals, and with
Gretzky's possible retirement, "The game loses its one truly
viable spokesperson. He's the banner carrier for hockey and
hockey is not going through a great time right now in terms
of popularity" (GLOBE & MAIL, 4/14). In N.Y., Neal Travis
reports that Gretzky and teammate Brian Leetch have "for
some time now been looking at sites" to open a restaurant,
likely on the Upper East Side (N.Y. POST, 4/14).
