NHL: Gretzky's Pal Won't Be GM

By Sergey Kocharov Sports Central Columnist

Mike Barnett, a long time pal of incoming Coyotes owner Wayne Gretzky, has turned down the offer to be the new G.M. of the Phoenix Coyotes. "Mike has decided it is best to stay with IMG and continue as a player agent," Gretzky said to ESPN.

"We've been together a long time and I'm hoping he will be able to continue to handle my personal affairs but we'll have to wait for the input of the league and P.A. to decide on that."

Reports acknowledge that Barnett was under a severe pressure from NHLPA executive Bob Goodenow. There were talks that within the NHLPA of pushing for a decertification of Barnett because he was representing players on the one hand while being aligned with another team at the same time.

It should have been a no-brainer for "The Great One": Ellman buys the team; Gretzky whacks current G.M. Bobby Smith hires Mike Barnett; signs Claude Lemieux and Nikolai Khabibulin; Coyotes win one round in the playoffs and the fans are happy.

Why did Mike Barnett part away from Gretzky? Does that mean Steve Ellman still has ways to go before completing his $87 million purchase?

Gretzky said he wasn't sure when the deal for the Coyotes would complete other than to say it was "incredibly complicated".

With Barnett's departure sources have conceded that John Muckler will be at the top of the list. However, Muckler still has one year remaining on his coaching contract with the New York Rangers.

In the long-term, Steve Ellman was optimistic that Barnett will join the Phoenix Coyotes.

Mike is a man of extreme integrity who has lived up to the commitment that he made to his players," Ellman told The Arizona Republic. "He was under external pressure from the players union to make a decision, and it was an extremely difficult one for him to make."

"We think he would have done a great job for us, and we're disappointed that he won't be joining us. The purchase of the team will be completed, and we expect to own it for the long term. I expect we will talk to Mike again, sometime in the future."

Article courtesy of Sports Central