Even if Wayne Gretzky is unwanted in Phoenix and on the outs with the NHL, the Los Angeles Kings would welcome him back to their family, according to general manager Dean Lombardi.
And while Lombardi stressed that no official overture has been made to Gretzky, he envisions a role for him in the organization’s rebuilding process, through the team’s alumni association.
“Maybe it’s for selfish reasons, but with all he’s been through, wouldn’t he enjoy just being in the dressing room, talking hockey again?” said Lombardi, in an interview. “I can just envision him, with our kids, in a development camp, walking through the room and grabbing a stick and going back to the basics. When I’ve met him, I know this guy loves to talk hockey.”
In what may arguably be the most significant deal in the history of hockey, Gretzky joined the Kings as a player for the start of the 1988-89 season and led them to their one and only appearance in a Stanley Cup final. That came in 1993, in a memorable series against the Montreal Canadiens, in which the Kings won the first game on the road, but were subsequently swept by a Habs’ team led by Patrick Roy.
Lombardi revealed that when he first took the job as Kings general manager, replacing Dave Taylor in April, 2006, Gretzky telephoned to congratulate him and offer two thoughts.
“He said, one, if you win in that town, it’s the best hockey town in the league,” said Lombardi. “I said, ‘What?’ He said, ‘Listen, if you win, it’s special.’ And the second thing he said, it was always one of his big regrets that he wasn’t able to finish the job here. I’ve used that statement, talking to some of our kids in the past.
“Here is one of the premier players in the history of the game and he almost got the Kings to the Promised Land. I always thought to myself, ‘Geez, if we’re really going to mark our history, how can we not have him around?’ He is, in my mind, one of our most treasured alumni.”
Ever since that first contact, Lombardi has had it in mind to repatriate Gretzky to the organization, something that will likely be possible now that he is no longer coaching the Kings’ divisional rivals, the Phoenix Coyotes, and is back living in Southern California.
“The other thing I like about him is,” continued Lombardi, “we’re trying to build a young team through the draft – and this guy went through the same thing (with the Edmonton Oilers). Now that was one of the greatest collections of young talent ever, but you gotta believe that some of the emotions and struggles they went through, even with great players, still apply in the salary-cap world.
“He has been part of the process, where a bunch of kids who were immature, learn to grow together and win. It’s very similar to what we’re trying to do here – and you pull your hair out sometimes. But he’s part of this family, and like any family member, you’d like to try and reach out to him.
“But again, it’s probably all premature – and I hope he doesn’t get mad at me for throwing that out there today.”
Not necessarily.
At this stage of the game, with the way his reputation has been battered on so many fronts, Gretzky could use all the love he can get – and an invitation to come around and visit his ex-team every once in a while might be well received.
“When I said it, I threw it out tongue-in-cheek, but I should have known better,” concluded Lombardi, with a laugh. “Because now my phone’s been going off the hook all day.
“Somebody asked, ‘Are you going to sign him?’ Sign him? I’m just trying to bring him back in the family. Boy, some things you say take on a life of their own.”
