Gretzky coming to Leafs front office?

[Kin]

I appreciate that the whole "Gretzky was never a Leaf" thing is still a burr under some saddles but as I asked the last time this topic came up...what position could he take in the front office that wasn't either A) a waste of his time or B) a position of far greater responsibility than he's proven capable of?

Since it wouldn't cost me one penny, I can say that he may be instrumental in attracting some free agents...even just for that it would be pretty cool.

But I'm not asking what benefit it could be to the Leafs, I'm asking what he would actually do, in a day to day sense. Attracting free agents, regardless of how good he'd be at it, really only happens for a few weeks a year at most.

 

[losveratos]

I appreciate that the whole "Gretzky was never a Leaf" thing is still a burr under some saddles but as I asked the last time this topic came up...what position could he take in the front office that wasn't either A) a waste of his time or B) a position of far greater responsibility than he's proven capable of?

Since it wouldn't cost me one penny, I can say that he may be instrumental in attracting some free agents...even just for that it would be pretty cool.

But I'm not asking what benefit it could be to the Leafs, I'm asking what he would actually do, in a day to day sense. Attracting free agents, regardless of how good he'd be at it, really only happens for a few weeks a year at most.

It also gave us our first line center. So pretty important.
Also Drafting only happens just a few days a year but we employ a dozen or more people just for that one short event. I feel that length of an event does not denote the importance. I think the results do.

 

[moon111]

based on stories I hear from fans in Phoenix I would not be giving any praise to Gretzky's coaching.

66% of Coyote fans were not impressed by Gretzky's coaching.
The other 33% thought he was pretty cute.

 

[brothert]

Hmmm...

Just what Leaf fans need...

A washed up ex-player with Ontario roots looking to use his previous star status to ?somehow? help the Leafs and yet be able to access the pigs trough of money that is MLSE.

No thanks.  Seen this movie before.  Don't need to watch the remake.

 

[Bates]

They would have been watching a practise and as such could not have seen Wayne as in year 1 he did not attend practises and lived in LA.  He only joined team for games.  At least in year 2 he actually moved to AZ.

based on stories I hear from fans in Phoenix I would not be giving any praise to Gretzky's coaching.

66% of Coyote fans were not impressed by Gretzky's coaching.
The other 33% thought he was pretty cute.

 

[Kin]

It also gave us our first line center. So pretty important.
Also Drafting only happens just a few days a year but we employ a dozen or more people just for that one short event. I feel that length of an event does not denote the importance. I think the results do.

No, the team employs dozens of people for scouting, not for drafting. Scouting players, and the resulting information it generates, is something that informs player-personnel decisions whenever they're made, not just at the draft.

Regardless, I didn't say anything about its importance. I asked, in pretty simple terms, what Gretzky would actually do all year. Scouting is something you can and should do year-round. The terms of the CBA prohibit "attracting free agents" except in certain designated time frames so, again, what would Gretzky actually do year round that he'd A) want to do and B) he's qualified for?

 

[hockeyfan1]

Just the tonic we need to distract us from the Leafs woes. 

On the other hand, why not?  A Gretzky in T. 0. can't be that bad.

 

[Jalili]

Seems like mostly a PR move. Having Gretzky's name attached to the organization makes it a big draw.

Otherwise I don't think he'd really have all that much to contribute.

He may have been the most brilliant player to ever lace them up, but that doesn't necessarily translate to being a brilliant mind in terms of coaching, managing an organization, or whatever.

 

[moon111]

His best attribute might actually be taking on a role in development, much like his dad did for his career.  But of course he wouldn't be stooping to that level.  You want someone who's going to be dedicated, not someone who isn't going to attend practices.

 

[OldTimeHockey]

What indicates that if he was to take a role like that, he wouldn't be dedicated.