The Great One weighed owner-coach role for Coyotes

PHOENIX — Wayne Gretzky weighed the idea of adding another title before his name — Coach.

Already the Phoenix Coyotes managing partner, The Great One was asked by general manager Mike Barnett if he’d be interested in running the team from behind the bench, too.

Barnett said the conversation took place nearly four months ago, before the NHL draft.

“We left it that he would continue the conversation if he had any interest,” Barnett said Thursday. “Since then, Wayne hasn’t brought it up, nor have I.”

Gretzky, who declined further interviews, told the East Valley Tribune that his personal and business commitments left him little time for coaching.

“It’s the closest thing to playing, and I do miss being around the team atmosphere,” Gretzky said. “But I certainly have a lot of other things to occupy my time that are also exciting. Coaching is something you have to throw yourself into. The daily preparation is a tough job.”

There is no reason for Gretzky to decide immediately — Thursday was the 29th day of the NHL lockout, and no talks are scheduled on a new collective bargaining agreement.

Rick Bowness, still listed as the team’s interim coach, was 2-12-3-3 after taking over in late February for the fired Bob Francis. Phoenix finished the season with 22 wins and was 23 points out of playoff contention.

But the Coyotes should be attractive for a first-time coach after a busy off-season that included the addition of forwards Mike Ricci, Brett Hull, Boyd Devereaux and Petr Nedved, and defenseman Sean O’Donnell.

Gretzky wants to stay on with the franchise that he joined with then-would-be owner Steve Ellman in June 2002. Gretzky, who owns 17 percent of the team, is in the final year of a five-year partnership with Ellman and co-owner Jerry Moyes.