Brett Hull says Wayne Gretzky's emergence as a head coach may be good for the NHL, it is having a negative effect on some Phoenix Coyotes players.
"I think everyone has underestimated how intimidated players are reacting to Wayne being there (behind the bench)," Hull tells the Arizona Republic.
"Their expectations of themselves have risen, and I think they're having trouble grasping that within themselves. They're nervous and they're playing tight. I think that's going to take some time to wear off."
Hull says he's spoken to several players, telling them to just go out there and be yourself on the ice.
"I try to tell them before every game: 'You're not here by accident. You're here because (GM) Mike Barnett and Wayne Gretzky and the coaching staff and (Executive VP) Cliff Fletcher think you have the ability and have the skill and have the mental fortitude to play at this level. So don't be intimidated."
Phoenix enters the regular season having lost six of eight pre-season games.
:roll: :roll:
They aren't intimidated by Gretz, the honest truth is that the Coyotes SUCK! Cujo is going to have flashbacks of his days with the Blues when he was getting 35-40 shots a night.
Cross Traffic wrote:They aren't intimidated by Gretz, the honest truth is that the Coyotes SUCK! Cujo is going to have flashbacks of his days with the Blues when he was getting 35-40 shots a night.
Well, I don't know about that... Cujo got shelled in Toronto and Edmonton too. He's always been a goalie that plays better with more shots.
As far as the Coyotes sucking, that was a dysfuntional team to begin with. Lots of talent, but some very strange chemistries going on there. I think they'll finish the year strong, but maybe not strong enough.
He dropped alot of F bombs as a player too, of course since Gretz was the NHL's darling he rarely was penalized for it. Although in Nov 1995 he got a 10 minute misconduct for mouthing off to a ref.
