ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, July 21, 1996 TAG: 9607220152
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: C-12 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: Associated Press
The New York Rangers have won the Wayne Gretzky sweepstakes, and will announce today that they have signed the NHL's career scoring leader.
Although the Rangers refused specific comment Saturday on their pursuit of Gretzky, The Associated Press learned an announcement was imminent. The Rangers scheduled a news conference at noon today at Madison Square Garden, presumably to announce the signing of the illustrious free agent to a two-year deal.
Earlier Saturday, the New York Post reported that Gretzky was on the verge of signing a two-year contract with the Rangers. Gretzky, who became an unrestricted free agent July 1, rejected three offers from other teams of three-year deals for between $15 million and $18 million to accept the Rangers' two-year offer, the Post reported.
The most recent came Friday when negotiations with the Vancouver Canucks broke down. There reportedly had been as many as eight teams on Gretzky's wish list, but apparently his most ardent wish was to rejoin former Edmonton teammate and friend Mark Messier on the Rangers. The two were a potent combination while leading the Oilers to four Stanley Cups in the 1980s.
Gretzky probably will be taking a salary cut. Last year, he was paid a league-high base salary of $6.54 million in the third year of a $25 million contract.
It's apparent that Gretzky will finish his epic career in New York. At 35, he is no longer the player who scored a record 92 goals or 215 points in a season, as he did in the 1980s. But he is still one of the NHL's premier playmakers, as proven by his 79 assists last season while dividing his time between the Los Angeles Kings and St. Louis Blues.
Gretzky, traded to the Blues late last season, finished with 102 points, 12th in the league. The figure would have led the Rangers, who were topped by Messier's 99.
Gretzky would be a perfect fit for the Rangers, filling a much-needed hole at center where he is expected to spark the play of the team's flagging forwards on the No.2 line behind Messier.
It's probable that Gretzky, who owns more than 60 NHL records, including most goals and assists, will play for two more years to reach two personal goals: his fifth Stanley Cup and his first Olympic gold medal. The NHL will send its players to the Olympics for the first time for the 1998 Games in Japan.
LENGTH: Medium: 56 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: Gretzky (headshot)by CNB
KEYWORDS: HOCKEY