Wayne Gretzky steps down from front-office role with Edmonton Oilers
Former Edmonton Oilers great Wayne Gretzky poses for a photograph in Toronto on December 10, 2017. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Christopher Katsarov May 25, 2021 - 1:53 PM
EDMONTON - Wayne Gretzky says he is stepping down as vice-chairman of the Edmonton Oilers.
Gretzky said in a statement on Twitter on Tuesday he is making the decision, given the pandemic and other life changes.
The 60-year-old Gretzky says he will not be able to dedicate the time nor effort needed to support this world-class organization.
The move comes one day after the Oilers were eliminated from the playoffs when the Winnipeg Jets completed a sweep of Edmonton in the first round. The Oilers featured the league s top two regular-season scorers in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl.
The 60-year-old Gretzky says he will not be able to dedicate the time nor effort needed to support this world-class organization.
The move comes one day after the Oilers were eliminated from the playoffs when the Winnipeg Jets completed a sweep of Edmonton in the first round. The Oilers featured the league s top two regular-season scorers in Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl. The Oilers, their fans and the city of Edmonton have meant the world to me for four decades and that will never end, Gretzky said.
The NHL s all-time leading scorer and a four-time Stanley Cup winner as a player with Edmonton, Gretzky returned to a front-office role with the Oilers in 2016.
Wayne Gretzky steps down as Edmonton Oilers vice chairman; TNT analyst role next, sources say
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Kyle Connor s triple-overtime goal propels Jets to sweep of Oilers (0:38)
Kyle Connor breaks in and scores the series-clinching goal in triple overtime to lift Winnipeg past Edmonton. (0:38)
Wayne Gretzky has stepped down from his role with the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday, effective immediately.
According to sources, Gretzky will join TNT as a hockey analyst next season. He had been heavily courted by the network and his good friend Charles Barkley, sources said.
The Hall of Famer and former Edmonton captain returned to the Oilers organization in 2016 as vice chairman. He worked as a close adviser to owner Daryl Katz and also has had a hand on the commercial side of the business with the team s parent company, Oilers Entertainment Group.
Author of the article: Cam Tait
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Author of the article: Cam Tait
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