Wayne Gretzky for president? Leaf fans go crazy over the rumour

Puck fans in Toronto had Twitter buzzing last night with gossip that Wayne Gretzky would finally return to hockey in some capacity, perhaps in an executive role with the Toronto Maple Leafs. Team owners, however, have done their best to put out the fire the rumours started .

With Brian Burke out as president of the Leafs, there’s an opening in the front office and reports began circulating that The Great One was involved in discussions to become the team’s next president. Gretzky hasn’t had an official job with the NHL since his time in Phoenix as part-owner and coach of the Coyotes, an altogether forgettable experience for which he’s still owed money.

1) Nick Kypreos (@RealKyper) a hockey commentator for Sportsnet who’s got good insider credentials, gets the ball rolling yesterday when he tweets: “Can definitively say preliminary discussions within MLSE have taken place.”

2) Kypreos appears on the FAN590 and discusses the possibility of Gretzky coming to Toronto

3) Damien Cox feeds the rumour mill, writing in the Toronto Star that: “It seems logical to imagine Gretzky will ultimately return in some capacity with some team. He almost signed with the Leafs in 1996 to realize a childhood dream, and was willing to play for Toronto for a lesser salary just to try to make it happen.”

4) All hell breaks loose on Twitter (#gretzky)

5) Maple Leaf boss Tom Anselmi publicly denies the rumours