Gretzky Says, ‘I Need To See Action Now’

Wayne Gretzky, on the eve of the summit meeting that will largely decide his future, reasserted in the firmest terms yet what it will take for him to stay with the Kings.

“I need to see action now,” he said Monday.

Gretzky watched as Joe Nieuwendyk and Esa Tikkanen went elsewhere, and silently suffered as the Kings continued to lose one-goal games. Finally, he spoke out and made it clear that management needs to act.

“Sometimes you’ve got to step forward,” he said. “Listen, I try to get along with as many people as possible. I’ve never caused waves. I don’t like controversy. I’m not a confrontational person. It’s time, man. We need to win.

“Not winning [did this]. I know we’re in a transitional period, but I felt a couple guys passed us by, guys who would have made a difference. That’s when I got to this point. I have too much respect for my teammates.”

Today at the Forum, Gretzky’s agent, Michael Barnett, will meet with King owner Edward P. Roski Jr. and Robert Sanderman, a top associate of the other owner, Denver billionaire Philip F. Anschutz. King management huddled with Roski and Sanderman on Monday afternoon.

Gretzky gave no firm timetable but indicated that he wanted this resolved quickly, saying it was not going to “fester.” Still, he realizes that the Kings’ recent slide won’t help their bargaining power.

“The problem now is we’ve gotten ourselves in a pickle by losing, and everybody knows we’re getting a little bit desperate now,” he said. “We’re dealing from weakness now. It’s a tough situation, and that’s why I’m saying it might not be able to be rectified.”

What brought forth a new-look Gretzky was the realization that he has three months left on his contract, after which he becomes an unrestricted free agent. His new forthrightness has been stunning.

“I like to win,” he said, in explanation. “For years now, people in my private life have been pressuring me to step forward and go in and make waves, and I’ve really been quiet and I don’t say a lot.

“This is the first time where I have stepped forward. And people who know me are saying they’ve never seen this side of me.

“I’d like to see us win, and I don’t have a whole lot of time here. . . . I don’t want to disappoint the people of L.A. They deserve a winning team. This can be a winning team.”