IMG's Mike Barnett must be "feeling rather put upon"
after he "was forced to sever" a 21-year relationship as the
agent for prospective Coyotes co-Owner Wayne Gretzky,
according to David Shoalts of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. The
NHLPA "made it clear it could not wait any longer" for
Barnett to decide on a possible front office position with
the Coyotes, and NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow "felt strongly
enough about this one to put an old friend and colleague's
feet to the fire over it." Shoalts writes that Barnett's
"plight deserves much sympathy," as Gretzky's potential
ownership in Phoenix has "turned into a sticky mess," but
the NHLPA "could not afford to wait around while [developer]
Steve Ellman gets his act together." Shoalts: "Barnett is
one of the most important agents in the game when it comes
to planning strategies for dealing with management. The
players won most of the contract fights until the last year
or two because Goodenow kept all of their agents informed on
the latest information and on innovative strategies, many of
them invented by Barnett." The NHLPA "was not keen to see
Barnett and his knowledge go over to the dark side. But if
it were to happen, it had to be sooner rather than later" so
the NHLPA "could move on" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/20).
Barnett said that his decision to part with Gretzky "was
based on personal issues," and Barnett "took umbrage at
media suggestions that his decision has eroded the personal
relationship" between he and Gretzky. Barnett: "Our
discussion quickly came to the point that I have five young
children, and it wasn't the right time or situation to pick
them up in the middle of the school year and move" (AZ
REPUBLIC, 10/20). In Calgary, Jim Taylor, on Gretzky and
Barnett: "For 21 years they've prospered as a matched set.
Now they will prosper separately" (CALGARY SUN, 10/20).
