It looks like the Great One won't be coaching Team Canada and the Spengler Cup this year. According to TSN's Pierre LeBrun, Gretzky has declined the invitation extended to him by GM Sean Burke.
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Gretzky has represented Canada as a player at the international level several times, but he's never served as a coach. He did build the Canadian squad that won Olympic gold in 2002, as well as the Canadian team that won the World Cup of Hockey in 2004. Gretzky served as head coach of the Arizona Coyotes from 2005 to 2009, going 143-161-24 before stepping down ahead of the 2009-10 season.
"It was a nice surprise when Sean called," Gretzky told LeBrun yesterday when the invitation was first revealed. "I thanked him. I was excited about it. Team Canada is pretty special. I think the Spengler Cup is the oldest tournament that we know of. It's a pretty nice honor. I told him I needed some time (to sort things out). The only problem for me is that it's over Christmastime. It's a tough decision to make."
Burke's plan B for a head coach has not yet been revealed.
