Canucks Have Big Plans for Gretzky

The Vancouver Canucks are on the verge of offering Wayne Gretzky a lucrative, long-term deal that would take him through the end of his career--probably two more years--and into a front-office job, several sources said Monday.

Gretzky played host to Canuck majority owner John McCaw Jr., and other members of the club’s ownership group at his home at the Sherwood Golf Club last weekend. He also got an informal sales pitch from Canuck forwards Alexander Mogilny and Russ Courtnall while playing golf with them last week.

The Canucks tried to acquire Gretzky from the Kings last season by offering cash, but the Kings took the St. Louis Blues’ offer of three players and two draft picks.

The Toronto Maple Leafs are also interested in the NHL’s all-time leading scorer. However, the Canucks’ financial resources and ability to recoup their investment through suites and other revenues generated by their arena, GM Place, put them atop the small heap of Gretzky’s suitors.

McCaw is proceeding despite the misgivings of his top executives, General Manager Pat Quinn and assistant GM George McPhee. It’s unclear whether their objections could kill a deal. Quinn was on vacation Monday and unavailable for comment, and a club spokesman said McPhee had no comment.

Gretzky’s agent, Mike Barnett, told The Times last week his client would be interested in playing for the Mighty Ducks, but club executives didn’t contact him. Barnett called them and was told a deal wouldn’t materialize.

“We think he’s going to get a big offer from somewhere else, and we think it makes sense for him to take it,” said Tony Tavares, president of the Ducks.

“If we were knocking on the door of the Stanley Cup and he was the one player who could put us over the top, fine. But we’re not there yet. We think we’re going to be a competitive team and make the playoffs, but one player is not going to make us a top Stanley Cup contender, tremendous a player as he is.”

Gretzky has also said he would like to join his old Edmonton teammate, Mark Messier, on the New York Rangers. However, the Rangers haven’t spoken to Barnett or had an in-house meeting to discuss whether to pursue Gretzky. Barnett has also talked to Dean Lombardi, general manager of the San Jose Sharks, but it’s believed those talks have not been extensive.

Vancouver didn’t rate high with Gretzky last season because of the tax burden of playing in Canada and because he favored a contending team that had an easy travel schedule. He found the travel easier in St. Louis, but little else. He hated the goading of General Manager/Coach Mike Keenan and was upset the Blues wouldn’t promise not to trade Brett Hull, his friend and linemate. In June, Gretzky turned down a two-year, $12-million offer from the Blues.

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The Kings re-signed center Yanic Perreault, who was a restricted free agent. Terms of the one-year deal were not disclosed. Perreault had 25 goals and 49 points in 78 games last season.

NHL Notes

The Ducks are awaiting Bernie Nicholls’ response to an offer from the Blues reportedly worth more than $2 million a year. They probably will have serious talks with Nicholls this week. . . . Free agent defenseman Phil Housley is expected to sign today with a Western team other than the Ducks or Kings, according to his agent, Larry Kelly. It’s believed he will join the Phoenix Coyotes. . . . The King exhibition schedule was announced Monday, with the first home game against Vancouver on Sept. 21.