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'The Great One' agrees to coach Phoenix Coyotes

Wayne Gretzky, the National Hockey League's all-time leading scorer, will become the new coach of the Phoenix Coyotes, the Arizona Republic reported on its Web site Sunday.

Gretzky, the team's managing partner, is expected to be introduced as coach Monday, multiple anonymous NHL sources told the paper.

Team spokesman Rich Nairn told The Associated Press he could not confirm the story. He said the team had no events scheduled for Monday.

There had been speculation for several months that Gretzky would move from the Coyotes' executive offices to their bench. But the nine-time most valuable player award winner had said he would wait until a new collective bargaining agreement was in place before deciding whether to coach.

The newspaper also reported that former Detroit assistant coach Barry Smith would be one of Gretzky's assistants.

Former Coyotes player Rick Tocchet or interim head coach Rick Bowness will be Gretzky's other assistant, according to the report.

Gretzky, who is the final year of a five-year contract with the club, is a longtime friend of Coyotes general manager Mike Barnett. Barnett said the day after the new NHL collective bargaining agreement was reached last month that Gretzky was very interested in the position.

Barnett, Gretzky's former agent, said the decision would rest with the hockey great and his family, who live in Los Angeles.

Gretzky retired in 1999 after 20 seasons in the NHL. "The Great One" helped the Edmonton Oilers win four Stanley Cups, and is the NHL's all-time leading goal, assist and point producer in the regular season and playoffs.

Gretzky has already committed to serve as executive director for Team Canada at the Winter Olympics in Turin in February.

The Coyotes have a new US$220 million arena.

Ziggy Palffy left the Los Angeles Kings to become the second marquee free agent in a week to join the previously cash-strapped Pittsburgh Penguins, agreeing Saturday to a US$13.5 million, three-year contract with the NHL's worst team in 2003-2004.

Palffy, long one of the NHL's top scorers, agreed to the deal while in his native Slovakia. He joins a fast-growing stable of Penguins offensive talent that includes Hall of Famer Mario Lemieux, Mark Recchi, free agent defenseman Sergei Gonchar and No. 1 draft pick Sidney Crosby.

In leaving the Kings, Palffy turned down the chance to play with friend Pavol Demitra.
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