Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player of all time. But what if his coaching career was a total disaster? In 2005, he took over the Phoenix Coyotes, and what followed shocked everyone. No systems. No success. No farewell. What really went wrong behind the bench? Discover the untold story of Gretzky’s failed NHL coaching run.
@Arizona Coyotes
15 Comments
The Ted Williams of hockey. Very strange how the best of the best struggle with coaching.
Gretzky was good at one thing, hockey. That’s it.
The three best coaches of this generation never played in the NHL. Out of Cooper, Maurice, and Trotz, only Maurice was drafted as a player (12th round).
Coaching is a skill-set very different to playing. I think Gretzky's greatest asset was his on-ice vision, which really can't be coached/taught. Not really a skill, more of a gift/talent.
Kucherov probably has the best vision since Gretzky. He'd also (very likely) make a poor coach.
Lemieux > Gretzky
Adjusted Career points per game:
Lemieux = 1.68
Gretzky = 1.66
Highest Goals per game (Min 200 goals)
1. Bossy
2. Lemieux
3. Cy Denneny
4. Babe Dye
5. Austin Matthew’s (gretz is # 8)
Lastly, Lemieux led Gretzky in PPG average throughout his career until he unretired.
Gretzky was great no doubt , but he wasn’t the greatest, stats prove it.
Just a name after stepping off ice…
Most of the best players ever were terrible coach coaches
There’s always been this brilliant chemistry between being a good player but a bad coach, or most of the great coaches who were mediocre or lousy players. That’s how I’ve felt about it playing baseball at least
he was good when everyone was terrible at hockey. the average hockey player of today would roll tf out of gretzky and im talking OHL player
This happens in every sport it seems, we’re a great athletes try and coach and are terrible at it, and vice versa, it’s interesting
Players generally suck as coaches. It’s why all my high school baseball and soccer coach that all played college level were god awful. “almost went pro but I had to have shoulder surgery”🙄
Anybody in Edmonton could’ve told you that really really really talented players of any sport make lousy coaches because they can’t grasp the concept that other players do not have their skills and ability. It’s the middle of the road players the guy who grind out every day for 10 to 15 years that make the greatest coaches because they can make it a mediocre player play better and they can make a great player stand out, but appreciate the rest of his team.
Right. Because other coaches did so well in Phoenix.
Not everyone can be a leader
Playing doesnt always translate to coaching. Just look at what Scott frost did to my cornhuskers
I think those who are the goats of a sport find it hard to explain what they see to others. I think their skill is so one of one and the way they can see the game is unfathomable to anyone else.