Wayne Gretzky’s coaching career seems to be nearing its end.
Not that the legendaryplayer- turned-subpar-coach will be fired by the Phoenix Coyotes. Despite the team’s woeful, 3-9 start this season, NHL sources tell Metro that Gretzky will move upstairs soon for an ownership/management position while his friend, Ken Hitchcock, will take over as Phoenix’s coach. The vertical bump will permit Gretzky to save face.
Hitchcock was fired as Philadelphia’s coach recently and was retained by the Flyers as a scout, but he is free to bolt for a new coaching position at any time.
. The explanation for the Ottawa Senators’ sluggish start (5-6) is this simple: Captain Daniel Alfredsson has one goal in 11 games — and that was into an empty net in the Sens’ opener.
In addition, star defenceman Wade Redden has all of one assist (and no goals) in nine games.
The Sens will rebound just as soon as Alfredsson and Redden do. Trust me.
• Gary Roberts, one of only five 40- or-older players left in the NHL, attributes his longevity partly to his snacks. They’re not all that exciting.
“I always have organic trail mix or some canned wild salmon or wild tuna,” the Florida Panthers’ forward told NHL.com recently. “I have that in my bag with all my vitamins and amino acids … I take extra time, for sure, preparing for that, but I know it helps me so I don’t mind doing it.”
• The New York Yankees have until Sunday to pick up Gary Sheffield’s option for 2007 ($13-million US), although trade offers for the moody slugger have come in from Houston, Cleveland and San Francisco. The Toronto Blue Jays like him, too, but they’ve decided to pursue free agent slugger Frank Thomas for half the price … Skeletons are coming out of Bill Belichick’s closet.
• The New England Patriots’ head coach has been named The Other Man in a nasty New Jersey divorce case, and his 19-year-old son was busted the other day for pot … The Pats have a huge match this week with Indianapolis and, believe it or not, have asked the NFL for “protection” from Colts bossman Bill Polian, who was charged a few weeks ago with roughing up an official with the New York Jets. Polian has a reputation for being, well, combustible. It started many years ago, when he was in the front office of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers … And speaking of the Bombers, I think they’ll upset the Argonauts at the CFL’s East semifinal in Toronto on Sunday. Check out my latest
