NHL: Great One returns to Oilers in front-office role
EDMONTON— Wayne Gretzky has returned to the Edmonton Oilers.
The Great One has been named partner and vice-chairman of Oilers Entertainment Group. The Oilers made the announcement Wednesday at an unveiling of the refurbished iconic Gretzky statue at the team’s new arena, Rogers Place.
“I’m privileged and proud to be back as an Oiler,” Gretzky told reporters.
He said the decision followed discussions with his family and with Oilers owner Daryl Katz.
“We felt that this was a really great opportunity for me to get back into the game and to have the chance to do what we all want to do — win a Stanley Cup.”
Gretzky spent much of his Hall of Fame career in Edmonton, leading the Oilers to four Stanley Cup titles in the 1980s.
The NHL’s all-time leading scorer hasn’t held an official job in a league front office since he was part-owner, coach and head of hockey operations with the Phoenix Coyotes. He left the team in 2009.
He said he made a decision at that time to step back from the league but is now ready to get involved again.
“I love the game. I want to be part of the National Hockey League. Everything I have in my life is because of the NHL and I’m thrilled to be back,” he said.
The details of Gretzky’s role have not been finalized.
“This is all sort of happened pretty quickly,” he said.
“We’ll figure that out as we go along.”
Katz said he’ll work with Gretzky and CEO Bob Nicholson overseeing the business of the Oilers Entertainment Group, but stressed day-to-day management of the team won’t change.
“This is (general manager) Peter Chiarelli’s team and he calls the shots,” said Katz. Ankle injury sidelines Eichel: Sabres centre Jack Eichel is out indefinitely after injuring his left ankle during practice Wednesday.
Coach Dan Bylsma said the team does not yet know the extent of Eichel’s injury. Eichel was in front of the net when he got tangled up with a defenceman and his leg buckled beneath him. Price to miss opener: Goaltender Carey Price will miss the Montreal Canadiens NHL season opener with a flu, the team announced Wednesday. Al Montoya is expected to be in goal when the Canadiens face the Sabres in Buffalo on Thursday night.