Breaking: Gretzky makes major annoucement about his NHL future.

The L.A. Times had an opportunity to catch up with Wayne Gretzky at the unveiling of Luc Robitaille's statue this week and asked the great one about his future in the NHL. Gretzky gave a very candid answer, and based on what he's saying it appears that we have seen the last of Wayne Gretzky holding an official position within the league. Whether it be as a coach, general manager, or any level of NHL executive, Gretzky made it clear that he's enjoying life and doesn't intend to come back.

"I always say never is a long time, but right now it's just probably not going to happen for me," Gretzky said at Luc Robitaille's statue unveiling outside Staples Center on Saturday.  "I'm a huge fan of the game. I love watching it. I'm a huge L.A. Kings fan. I really admire what the organization has done for not only hockey in this town but for hockey in general," he added. "I think Dean (Lombardi) has done a wonderful job and Darryl (Sutter) is the best coach in hockey, and until somebody beats them, that's the way it is. It's really special. I feel like a fan, like everyone else. I enjoy watching them play."

Gretzky did make a return as an owner/cooach with Arizona, but not only was his coaching tenure largely a failure, there was also a financial dispute between him and the league which clearly left him very angry. While we would love to see the Great One back in the game in any role it's clear that he never intends to return. His happiness and that of his family should now be his primary concern, and as long as he's happy his fans are likely to be happy for him.