Nick Kypreos, Damien Cox and Bob McCown discussed on the Prime Time Sports the idea of Wayne Gretzky going the Maple Leafs, maybe in the presidency role. Click here for the audio.
“I’ve often thought Wayne Gretzky was coming back to Toronto,” Cox said on Prime Time Sports Wednesday. If you’re Bell and Rogers, who would be better than Wayne Gretzky as president of the Toronto Maple Leafs.”
“Only chance we see Wayne back in NHL in that type of capacity,” Kypreos told Cox and McCown. “If not, ownership again and I don’t know if he would be interested (in that) with everything he’s gone through with Phoenix.”
Bobcat throws it out on twitter with Kypreos responding.
Can definitively say preliminary discussions within MLSE have taken place. “@fadoobobcat: Gretzky next Prez. of the Leafs? There is a buzz”
— Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) January 22, 2013
Kypreos followed up with:
While the name Gretzky has come up within MLSE walls, I have no internal info that suggests formal talks have even taken place. #easytwitter — Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) January 22, 2013
Not everyone is hearing that the Leafs are looking at Gretzky.
Gretzky will always have clout and it makes sense the Leafs would be interested, however, via text 99 says there have been no discussions. — Darren Dreger (@DarrenDreger) January 23, 2013
Two sources close to MLSE board say there is nothing to the notion of the company looking at Wayne Gretzky as CEO or president or whatever.
— David Shoalts (@dshoalts) January 23, 2013
Responding to the talk of Gretzky joining the Maple Leafs, Bob McKenzie gives his thoughts.
There is, no doubt, going to be considerable talk about whether Wayne Gretzky could become president of Toronto Maple Leafs. Here’s my take:
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 22, 2013
TML presidency one of few jobs in hockey 99 would seriously consider but no direct contact between MLSE and Gretzky camp has been made. — Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 22, 2013
There likely was informal 3rd party inquiries – after Bell/Rogers took over Aug but none in last 2 months – and perhaps internal MLSE talks. — Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 22, 2013
Bottom line for me: Gretzky would be all ears if MLSE wants to go down that road but nothing tangible with MLSE seems to have taken place.
— Bob McKenzie (@TSNBobMcKenzie) January 22, 2013
David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail had one source tell him: “I never heard this in my life. I do not believe there is anything to this story.” Another source added that though Gretzky has experience running the hockey operations, MLSE chose Dave Nonis.
Gretzky left the Phoenix Coyotes in 2009, and hasn’t returned to the game.
