This short hockey season certainly has been a long one. The Kentucky Derby will be over before the Blackhawks even begin the Stanley Cup tournament.
And they’re off . . .
Wayne Gretzky: Speaking of thoroughbreds, the game’s greatest player and his Los Angeles Kings were eliminated from the playoffs with Wednesday night’s 5-1 loss to the Hawks, who clinched home ice advantage vs. Toronto in their first round.
But, despite his coldest winter ever, Gretzky assured that this would not be his last appearance in Chicago.
“I’m not going to retire,” said Gretzky, 34, who closed the season with just 11 goals. “I love the game too much. I also love to win, though, and it’s been frustrating.”
To be polite, the Kings have endured unsettling times lately. They were decimated by injuries. They won seven of 24 home games. They just changed coaches again. And their onetime owner–Bruce McNall, a friend of Gretzky’s–has grave legal difficulties.
McNall will be sentenced in July and could wind up in the real penalty box. Yet, the Great One keeps the faith.
“There have been rumors about me being traded to a contending team,” Gretzky said. “But, if I’m on another Cup winner, I want it to be in Los Angeles. The fans there are very underrated. They support us, they support sports, no matter what.”
When Gretzky can’t do it anymore, he’ll decide. When that happens, hockey will suffer dearly. As a talent and ambassador, he’s the best the NHL ever had.
Jeremy Roenick: Not long ago, Hawks owner Dollar Bill Wirtz volunteered that Roenick soon would receive a “lifetime” contract. What Roenick didn’t understand was that he might have to wait a lifetime to receive it.
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“We have substantial differences,” Hawks general manager Bob Pulford admitted. That means about $4 million apart over four years. The Hawks are offering $3.7 per season and not budging.
Roenick is moving, but only gingerly, and that’s also a cause for anxiety. He skated again Wednesday morning on his wounded knee, as he did Monday. The Hawks would like to think that their star center is almost ready to return, albeit in some discomfort. Neil Abbott, Roenick’s Boston-based agent, says not so fast.
Here’s the problem. Hawk management suspects that Roenick could become suddenly healthy were he to sign a new deal now. Abbott denies using any such leverage, but suggests it’s time for such a profitable franchise to lock up a young franchise player who is vastly underpaid at $1.1 million.
Might Roenick’s injury, once thought to be career-threatening, now be merely contract-inhibiting?
“We are not opposed to signing Jeremy tomorrow,” Pulford said, “if the numbers are right.”
And what is Pulford’s position on Roenick not risking his career without a new deal?
“I don’t have to answer that question,” Pulford said. “It’s not a risk at all.”
Roenick rejects any notion that his healing powers are related to negotiations.
“I’m not playing because I’m not ready and won’t be for 2 1/2 or 3 weeks,” he said. “The contract thing is frustrating, but it has nothing to do with me not playing now. If it doesn’t get done over the summer, though, there’s a possibility I won’t show up at training camp.”
This could get slippery.
Hawks vs. Bettman: The Hawks are not thrilled at NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman’s decision to delay Bob Probert’s re-entry until September. But, if Bettman was out to “get” the Hawks, consider this.
Early in the lockout, Chris Chelios leveled some heavy remarks about Bettman, who easily could have suspended the Hawks’ All-Star defenseman. But Chelios’ apology sufficed. Case closed on imaginary vendettas from the league office.