In his 1990 autobiography, Gretzky, Wayne Gretzky took it upon himself to outline a 10-point plan for revamping the NHL. Some of it actually came to fruition.
1. Expand. Develop teams in new cities to generate wider interest. Outcome: The NHL has added eight teams since 1992, including the San Jose Sharks, the Ottawa Senators, and the Columbus Blue Jackets.
2. Rename the conferences. The “Prince of Wales Conference” and the “Clarence Campbell Conference” had a poetic ring to them, but geographical-based names were easier for fans to understand. Outcome: In 1994 the NHL renamed them the Eastern Conference and Western Conference, respectively.
3. Realign the conferences. Conferences were “stacked” so that certain teams were virtually guaranteed to win, such as the Chicago Blackhawks and the Toronto Maple Leafs. There were also too many repeat matchups, making it hard for fans to get to know new players. Outcome: In 1998 the Western and Eastern Conferences were split from two to three divisions apiece.
4. Bring on free agency. Many remember the league lockout in 1994–1995, which partially stemmed from Gretzky’s concern. He felt that it would be better for the league if players were allowed to seek the team that suited them best. Outcome: Since the lockout, the league has allowed for greater leeway for free agency.
5. Institute a week-off plan. Gretzky felt players were overworked with exhibition games and playoffs in addition to the regular season. A rotating rest period for teams would help sustain a long-term, quality level of play. Outcome: This one never caught on.
6. Let the players help make the rules. Perhaps a bit controversial, Gretzky believed that the players’ perspective on the game would be useful in updating outmoded regulations. Outcome: Again, this was a tough one to implement.
Quest University in Squamish, B.C., is the smallest Canadian university: 220 students.
7. Pay the refs more. Underpaid referees with limited benefits were not good for league morale. Raising their salaries and ensuring solid pension plans would ensure their dedication to the sport. Outcome: After striking in 1993, referees and NHL officials reached an agreement that included a salary increase as well as additional retirement benefits.
8. Bring back ESPN: The cable giant had an interrupted history of broadcasting NHL games: first from 1980 to 1982, then 1986 to 1989. At the time of Gretzky’s publication in 1990, the station was not broadcasting games, cutting out a wide segment of potential American viewers. Outcome: It resumed again from 1992 to 2004. (Games now air on NBC in the U.S.)
9. Let pros play in the Olympics. Remember the American “Dream Team”? It was a collection of top players from the NBA fielded to play in—and subsequently dominate—the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. Gretzky had similar visions for the NHL, which did not allow its players to participate in the Games because of conflicts in schedule. Outcome: The NHL finally allowed player participation in the 1998 Winter Olympics.
10. End the fighting. Gretzky wanted to curb the brawling that distracted from the purity of the game. Outcome: Yeah, right.
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A BAD JOKE
• Q: How do you get 26 Canadians out of a swimming pool?
• A: Yell, “Everybody out of the pool!”
A “stubble jumper” is a Canadian prairie farmer.