The Great One Steps Away From One Great Big Hockey Mess

He holds or shares 61 NHL records; he’s won four Stanley Cups, an Olympic gold medal (as GM in 2002); he’s a 10-time Art Ross Trophy winner, a nine-time Hart Trophy winner, and an 18-time NHL All Star. He is the greatest player to ever lace up the skates or strap on a helmet, period. But after four years behind the Coyotes bench as head coach, finishing with an overall record of 141-163-24 and months of rumors about Gretzky leaving the Coyotes, today Wayne stepped down. The reason behind his resignation is simple: The fact is no matter how this Phoenix bankruptcy matter works itself out, neither side had Gretzky as the future head coach. Wayne saw stepping down as the best way to move forward. But how did he fare as a head coach in the NHL? Some would say he failed just by looking at his losing record as head coach of the Coyotes. But, look back to the middle of January last year. The Coyotes sat in fifth place in the Western Conference and Gretzky’s name was being...