During the previous two decades, no two players have symbolized greatness in the NHL more than Mario Lemieux and Wayne Gretzky. Sure, Mark Messier might be remembered as the game's greatest leader, but it is Lemieux and Gretzky who will forever be linked for their incredible offensive and winning achievements.

Lemieux, Jagr on Ice

A few years back, ESPN had a bunch of commercials where athletes dreamed up what their greatest SportsCenter highlight would be. It would be something like a lineman scoring a touchdown or something, but whoever it was, they always ended with "Yeah, that's my SportsCenter highlight." Well, if a Penguins fan was at the team's Southpointe practice facility last Tuesday, he or she would be repeating that line like a mantra at the site of Mario Lemieux and Jaromir Jagr skating together. Yup, that's right. But no, Lemieux -- now owner of the Penguins -- isn't planning a comeback. He was on the ice to help ESPN film a feature for its NHL Rules! broadcast of the Penguins-Rangers game Friday night (8 p.m. ET). The scene certainly made the few lucky observers pine for the days when Lemieux and Jagr -- who have scored more than 1,000 NHL goals combined -- skated together in a Penguins uniform. And although Lemieux isn't in top shape, just watching him take two strides and a shot convinced everyone that he could certainly get it done in the NHL. If a pushing-40 Mark Messier can still get paid millions to play in the NHL, what would Mario Lemieux be worth in his mid-30s? The irony here is that the NHL is finally attempting to enforce some of the rules infractions that helped drive Lemieux out of the game a few years back. Does Lemieux support the new-found vigilance of NHL referees? "Yeah, absolutely," he said after reliving some glory days with a few goals at the expense of former NHL goalie -- and current ESPN announcer -- Darren Pang. "That's what I've been saying for the last six or seven years. I think it's great for the game. It really allows the top players to go on the ice and display their talents to the fullest. And that's what we should be doing." Of course, that begs the question of what might be if the NHL did this the first time Lemieux clamored for change. "Maybe I'd still be playing," he said -- with a surprisingly sincere expression. "Yes, I do miss it. It's a game I've been playing since I was 3 years old, so to all of a sudden wake up and not be there, you miss it a little bit. But I have other things in my life that I'm doing." Lemieux has no illusions of a comeback. It's not like his gear has been getting a ton of use. "My closet," admitted Lemieux when asked where he got the skates for Tuesday's film shoot. -- Brian A. Shactman

Want perspective? Including the playoffs, the two combined for 1,699 goals, 3,189 points and a houseful of hardware -- including a bunch of Stanley Cups and Hart Trophies. And those numbers would have been far greater had Lemieux not retired after battling cancer, back woes and the frustrations of being mauled every night by lesser-talented players.

Now, the two are about to be linked, once again in a singular manner -- this time off the ice. As soon as Steve Ellman and his partners get things together, Gretzky will be a part owner and head of hockey operations for the Phoenix Coyotes, joining Lemieux in the elite club -- slightly less elite than the 600-goal club -- of team owners in the NHL.

The two greatest players of the last 20 years are making history, and showing the incredible shift of power in professional sports. The biggest and best paid stars of this generation now have the earning power, respect and recognition to make the once-unthinkable move from employee to employer.

Was this always in the plans?

"Not at all," admitted Lemieux, who actually involved himself in ownership partly to ensure his final NHL contract would be honored by the then-faltering Pittsburgh Penguins. "When we (he and Gtetzky) started playing, I made $100,000 my first year. So, the game has come a long way the last 15 years.

"To be in a position to buy the team you played for is amazing."

Perhaps, it wasn't planned, but NHL commissioner Gary Bettman isn't the least bit surprised that Gretzky and Lemieux are NHL owners.

"The careers of Lemieux and Gretzky were distinguished by excellence," Bettman said. "They are astute, intelligent, sophisticated and creative people -- destined to do interesting and great things after their playing days. The fact that they have good business acumen and are gravitating to this sport is not surprising at all."

They're also great symbolic leaders for Bettman's league. They are former superstars, so they'll get instant respect. And corporate partners love the star-owner fusion because it makes teams more marketable and valuable. But Bettman and top-flight NHL management, like Blues GM Larry Pleau, insist that viewing these guys as mere figureheads is a mistake.

"I really believe that people getting involved, like Michael Jordan (with the NBA's Washington Wizards), are there for that (corporate relations and marketing) at the beginning," Pleau said. "But mainly, they're valuable for their instincts as players -- that's what's being looked for in management. Their skills fit into the corporate structure. If there are major decisions to make, if Gretzky sits in the corner and doesn't say anything, that won't work.

"It's like a Harvard degree: It gets you in the door. But long term, these guys are accountable."

Lemieux discovered that his reputation alone -- with all his relationships and business contacts -- could not quickly rally the right people in Pittsburgh to help him bail the Penguins out of bankruptcy.

But like he would when facing a menacing 6-foot-2 defenseman, Lemieux adapted, avoided the crushing blows and eventually scored -- and saved the franchise.

"The complexity of the deal that Lemieux had to put together and the complexity of what Wayne's working on means that these guys are real players -- in the business sense," said Bettman, reacting to whether Gretzky and Lemieux were more symbolic than proactive owners. "When you have people extremely knowledgeable about the game who use that and their work ethic, it's a win-win situation."

Bettman's point about Gretzky is worth noting because Gretzky's journey to ownership remains in the present tense: He isn't quite there yet. Likely, he thought he'd be directly working with the Coyotes by now, putting the finishing touches on the rumored deals to sign free agents Claude Lemieux and Nikolai Khabibulin. But similar to Lemieux, The Great One can't just swoop in and make everything right. Not when millions of dollars and politics are involved.

"I talked to him maybe a month ago," said Lemieux of Gretzky. "He's still trying to go through with the deal. Hopefully, it's going to work pretty soon. He's been a great ambassador for the game on the ice and off the ice. And he'll be a great addition to ownership.

"I think it's a different situation, though. Our team was in bankruptcy, so there were a lot of league issues. ... I'd say he has to stay patient. It takes a long time. It took us almost a year. It's a long process."

	Mario Lemieux retired after the 1996-97 season in which he won the scoring title.

But, when talking with Bettman and Lemieux, there's never doubt that Gretzky will get it done and become the second modern-day NHL legend to own an NHL team. And yes, it's great PR and a great retirement job for these guys, but their presence could also be crucial when the Collective Bargaining Agreement expires in 2004.

With the knowledge of financial issues from both the player and owner perspectives -- and with the respect of all involved -- they will be called upon to mediate -- not officially -- the potentially contentious negotiations.

Bettman didn't comment on that, but he certainly ackowledged the incredible financial learning curve going on in the mindsets of Lemieux and Gretzky.

"They have a greater appreciation for league economics," said Bettman with classic, albeit expected, understatement. "When you are running a franchise, you have a whole new perspective."

Their perspective is wholly new, as is the entire sporting world because their presence as owners has changed the dynamic of professional hockey.

Brian A. Shactman is the NHL editor at ESPN.com.