A day after the Edmonton Oilers were swept in the first round by Winnipeg, Wayne Gretzky has left his post as the team’s vice chairman effective immediately.
In a statement posted to social media, Gretzky cited an inability to give the role the attention it requires.Â
“The Oilers, their fans, and the city of Edmonton have meant the world to me and my family for over four decades — and that will never end,” Gretzky wrote. “Given the pandemic and other life changes, I realize I will not be able to dedicate the time nor effort needed to support this world-class organization.”
The news comes as Andrew Marchand of the New York Post reported that Gretzky would join TNT as a lead analyst on the network’s studio show after agreeing to a deal that will pay him around $3 million per season. This will be Gretzky’s first foray into the TV analyst world after previously appearing on many television shows, including The Young and the Restless, Saturday Night Live and the Simpsons.
Gretzky, 60, rejoined the Oilers in 2016 after previously spending 10 seasons with the team from 1978-1988.
