Of all things, good sense is the most fairly distributed: everyone thinks he is so well supplied with it that even those who are the hardest to satisfy in every other respect never desire more of it than they already have.

Gretzky came into the league in 1980 as a skinny little kid that no one thought would make it in the NHL. Sure, he had talent. He just didn’t have the size to compete in the league. We all know what happened next.

Wayne Gretzky did more than set 61 (yes, 61!) NHL records. He transformed hockey into a game played by “goons” into an exciting sport to watch. I believe that Gretzky is personally responsible for getting the game’s popularity in the United States at the level of which it achieved. Before he was traded to the LA Kings in 1988, there were no franchises in southern states. Now there are teams in Florida (2), two more in California, Texas, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina, and his very own team in Arizona. He changed the face of hockey.

Will all this lead to a successful career behind the bench as head coach? Only time will tell. But if his presence doesn’t energize the players on the Coyotes, nothing will. These guys are going to want to play for him. They are going to go out and give the proverbial 110% because they know what this man has done. Most of the team is probably young enough to have grown up idolizing this man based on what they saw on TV, and now they have the opportunity to play for him. What better way to start a season which fans would probably have balked at based on last year’s cancellation?

The NHL probably loves this. Having Gretzky back in the game in a more visible role is going to do wonders for the league. Just like when he was playing, people are going to go to the arena or turn on the TV just to see him coach.

I was fortunate to see Gretzky play when his career was winding down. I got to see him make an assist with the New York Rangers. I still remember it vividly. I’m sure he is going to create some more memories for the people of Arizona, and to anyone else who tunes in to their games. They didn’t name him “The Great One” for nothing.