So far, The Great One has them playing above expectations (the Coyotes have been a lousy team since moving from Winnipeg -- a move that I never condoned). But if the season were to end today, the Coyotes would be out of the playoffs. Gretzky will join a long list of great players who become so-so coaches. As I always contend, the great players innately know how to play the game but may be at a loss to explain these finer points to others or lack the patience to coach people with less ability than themselves. That's why Bill Belichek (a Division III college football player), Tony LaRussa (a career .199 hitter in the Bigs); Phil Jackson (a bench warmer), and many other marginal players become great coaches.

Slightly interesting, but thats about it. Getting a lot of play in hockey markets because the NHL is desperate for any story that's remotely close to good news. For the hockey fan, or the thoughtful observer of sport, there is another element to consider. That is whether Gretzky's indisputable brilliance as a player or his clear skill in the front office will translate behind the bench. In many cases, brilliant players have faltered or failed as coaches. I believe that is because they cannot truly comprehend how players cannot accomplish the things that came so naturally and easily to them. Hopefully, this will not be the case for Gretzky. Only time will tell whether he joins the ranks of the Wills, the Williams, the Jordans, et al, or whether, as he has always done, forges a new reality.

Along with the debut of Sidney Crosby, this is probably the biggest story coming out of the return of the NHL. Gretzky is an owner and realizes that this is a PR and recruiting move, much like Michael Jordan returning to play for the Wizards was for that franchise. Lets see if Gretzky's move out of the front office will be a better success than Jordan's short tenure in DC.