Here's what you had to say about the Coyotes' sale and the Gretzky Era in Phoenix:

Score one for the NHL
I think that it bodes well for the future of hockey. To have Gretzky involved in the game as an owner and someone who knows the game intimately can only be a positive thing for hockey. Phoenix will benefit from increased revenues as people turn out to see the Great One. His ability to lead and motivate will be tested, but it is a known factor – look at the three clubs that he played with and the heights that they reached with Gretzky on the ice.

Roger Gaffery
Apo Ap, Calif.

O Canada, eh?
Look for Gretzky to pursue supposedly "immovable" centers Joe Thornton and Vincent Lecavalier. He is very big on them, and it's not as unlikely as one would think. However, considering the difficulty, he will settle for acquiring Jason Spezza somehow. Key point: I think Gretzky will look to a big young Canadian center with the potential to be a superstar to build the Coyotes around. That's a valid strategy: The only Conn Smythe trophy won by a non-Canadian was Brian Leetch in 1994 (and it was debatable – could've gone to Messier).

Sean Sarkar
Ithaca, N.Y.

Beware of the Coyotes
Being from California and a lifelong L.A. Kings fan, I saw what kind of impact Wayne Gretzky had not only for his team but for the entire Southern California area. He leads by example, and when one does that, people will follow. The Phoenix Coyotes will make a big run for the Stanley Cup, and it will be because of the legend of Mr.Wayne Gretzky. He is a true gentleman of the sport, and his presence will always bring out the best of the people around him.

David R, Rolfes
Florence, Ky.

Name that nominal owner
Being a "great" player doesn't put Wayne in a "great" business position. I think he's just a figurehead who can communicate well with the media and will make the Coyotes' drastic moves easier to endure for the fans and players.

Jeff
Mcafee, N.J.

Mo' better news
Gretzky will bring class and tons of hockey knowledge to Phoenix. The organization and the city, as well as the NHL, will feel his presence as it did when he was a player. His ability to make hockey better and more well known can be accomplished more so because of his ownership role. This is a great time for hockey.

Jefffrey Kropp
West Chester, Pa.

In good hands with Gretzky
Gretzky knows exactly what the team needs and how to go about getting it. I think he will keep the team basically the same for this year's playoff run, so that he can fine-tune the team in the offseason. Burke should start most of the remainder of the games, with Khabibulin getting the occasional backup start. It might be expensive, but I would really try to hold on to both goalies, maybe freeing up some salary by trading Tkachuk. If Gretzky trades Tkachuk though, he has to get one or two players of significant value in exchange. One final word for Gretzky … Keep Roenick – he is a complete player.

Keith Grueneich
Winnipeg, Manitoba

Hold the applause
Why do people assume that because he was skilled on the ice that he will have any skill behind the desk? Can we briefly take a look at the Washington Wizards under Jordan and bring a little perspective to this deal? I love Wayne (the player), and I'm glad he's still involved with the game. But let's be honest, this is not going to do much for the Coyotes – a little extra exposure, some more tickets sold, but no knight in shining armor. Sorry, Wayne.

Michael Christopher
Detroit, Mich.

Three steps to glory
Gretz will be great. He's such an easy-going guy that players will be motivated and not intimidated by his royal presence. Sign Khabibulin, trade Roenick, build a new arena, and watch the Coyotes flouish like an Arizona sunrise.

Chad
Roseville, Calif.

First things first
Gretzky should rectify the situation with Keith Tkachuk and Jeremy Roenick. Trade rumors have been swirling around these two guys' heads all season, and it would be in everyone's best interest to know what the future holds. We know there are teams out there that want these players, so the decision to trade them or keep them needs to be made right away and put to rest – whatever it may be.

Bob Chebat
Fountain Hills, Ariz.

Ice dream: The Great One vs. Super Mario
Another chapter in the Gretzky legacy has begun. No other professional athlete in the history of sports has conducted themselves with the consistency as Wayne Gretzky has. His attitude and approach to the game will soon be evident in the way the Phoenix Coyotes will be playing. Like Claude Lemieux stated, who wouldn't want to play for Wayne? Wayne and the coaching staff will find a way to bring out the best in the players, both on and off the ice. Now, the die-hard fans can look forward to the dream Cup of Gretzky against Lemieux, with it going to a 7th game and Wayne and Mario both dressed for battle. At least we can dream about it.

John Roth
Hesston, Kan.

Can't please everybody all of the time
I think that Wayne Gretzky is a disgrace to hockey. How could he buy a team that left a Canadian city? Has he no sense of pride for his country? This is pathetic. I had a lot of respect for him before this. Now I think he is a bum.

Dan
Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio

Watch and learn, your Airness
The NHL should get down on its knees and thank God for this event. This is a fuel mixture that will give energy to the league as it seeks balance to the challenges. In a rare instance, MJ should take notes.

Ron Cantees
Melbourne, Fla.

Easier said than done
I'm not sure if Wayne alone can make a difference. It takes a commitment from everyone to win a Stanley Cup, and I just don't know if Gretzky can get the guys to play like he did.

John
Albany, N.Y.

In it to win it … or to get paid?
Khabibulin chose the back burner so let him simmer. As for the marquee players, the one-on-one with Wayne should determine whether their hearts are with Phoenix or with the paycheck.

Blain
Manitouwadge, Ontario

No roadrunner in sight
The thing about Wayne that sticks with me the most is the fact that he was regarded as the hardest worker in the locker room. That is saying quite a bit when you are sharing a locker room with players named Messier, Coffey, Lowe, Robitaille, Leetch, and Richter. That also says volumes when you consider the advantage in talent that he had over the rest of the league (sorry Mario, but there is no shame in being No. 2). I believe Wayne will take the same work ethic when tending to his duties with the Coyotes. That will be contagious to the rest of the organization. The rest of the league shoud beware.

Richard Brindisi
Tampa, Fla.

Great expectations – not so fast, my friends
Although one would expect there to be a difference since Gretzky has taken over, I do not feel that will be the case. The players might actually take Gretzky's presence as a burden and play too tight. Look at the Wizards since Jordan has taken over. They are still one of the cellar-dwellers in the NBA.

Brad Corvelle
Lancaster, Pa.

Enough already!
We should all rejoice that this fiasco is over. Never has a sale been more overrated. Can we please get back to hockey now?

Jason Kass
Amherst, Mass.

Welcome to the desert
I am totally and without limit excited. To see the days of Richard Burke end (thanks for bringing the Jets to town) and the days of Ellman/Gretzky start are a dream come true. This has been a long year as a fan, but the change will bring the Cup to the Valley of the Sun.

EJ Wernet
Chandler, Ariz.

The Coyotes won't be rebuilt in a day
I'm concerned about the new owners cash problems. The Coyotes need to trim the payroll for a few years until the new arena can be built. Gretzky should sign Khabibulin – but not until next season. Burke is just too good this season to trade him away. Trade Roenick (and this hurts), because JR is a free agent at the end of this year, and business is business. We need to get something for him. The Coyotes cannot afford to keep Nikki, JR, Burke, and Keith. Keep Tkachuck and build around him. He is still one of the premier forwards in the league. And keep Bob Francis; he's a good coach, and this team has seen too many coaches come and go since they arrived in Phoenix. After the new arena is built, Gretzky will have the resources to compete for the Stanley Cup. It takes money to compete in today's sports world, and I don't see how they can do it any sooner.

Dan Muth
Mesa, Ariz.

Prepare to be disappointed
Unfortunately, it will have the same effect that Michael Jordon has had with Washington: It takes more than the world's best former player to make a team a champion.

Carl V. Wurster
San Diego, Calif.

A roll of the dice
I have never understood the jubilation over the purchase of the Coyotes by the Ellman group. The saga of its ongoing search for financing (brother, can you spare 20 million dollars?) has been an embarassing joke, and it would appear that the only outcome of its assumption of ownership of the team will be a fire sale in which the best players on the team will be shipped to other cities (we destroyed the team in order to save it). If it was so difficult procuring the capital to purchase the team, one can only imagine where operating funds might be coming from.

Bob MacIntosh
Phoenix, Ariz.

State of bewilderment
The Coyotes Junior Hockey affiliate in Connecticut has earned more brand awareness and lasting fan appeal than the parent NHL club. Why? Because the Connecticut team is well run and wins consistently. Why do you raise so much money to purchase a franchise to only to keep it in the same money-losing market? Bring 'em East.

D. Fernandez
Bloomfield, Conn.

Swimming with sharks now
Gretzky is gonna get eaten alive! I can't wait til Craig Patrick or another top-notch GM works him over and walks away with Burke or Roenick for a handful of prospects. What a joke. If I were you Wayne, I would stay at home with Janet. She's a lot better looking than Claude Lemieux.

Mark Segedy
San Diego, Calif.

The Great Sham?
After seeing the day-in and day-out drama of Steve Ellman's attempt at purchasing the Coyotes, I'm starting to think back to a few years ago when the Sabres had ownership problems, and the individual who cooked his books is now serving time. I have a strange feeling that Ellman may be heading down the same direction – everything else he has touched in the past has failed. I feel that Gretzky was only brought in as window dressing for potential investors, and that he will have little to do with this team.

Sean McNally
Mesa, Ariz.

Ode to a legend
Wayne Gretzky wasn't just the greatest hockey player of all time. He was the greatest athlete in the history of sports. He is the reason I started watching hockey. I think that, no matter what he does, he will give 100 percent of himself, and that is good for anyone that is affiliated with him in this venture. I think that his true greatness will help out the Coyotes more than any other owner in hockey. Just to be around someone like him will inspire them to try to emulate him in the way he played and conducted himself. I wish him all the best and am happy to see him back in the NHL.

Kevin Skinner
Hemet, Calif.

Don't believe the hype
Both the Gretzky and Jordan ownerships seem more like publicity stunts and ego builders when you compare those situations to the one Mario went through. They are way overblown. There is something to be said for loyalty in sports today, and when I see other former players go out and just buy any team that comes along, there is far less meaning in the situation. Mario deserves his team for more reasons than what he has in his pocketbook. The others seem to want to merely keep their names in the spotlight.

Greg
Pittsburgh, Pa.

Believe the hype
Wayne Gretzky's impact on this team will be huge, even though he is not on the ice. Gretzky and Cliff Fletcher are two of the brightest hockey minds around and will make the changes necessary to bring the Cup to the desert. It may take a couple of years but it will happen.

BC Stidham
Peoria, Ariz.

Like peanut butter and jelly
The Coyotes will only improve as a team with a proven winner and champion – Wayne Gretzky is that man. I feel that his work ethic will eventually rub off on his team and make the entire organization better. I don't believe that this will make Phoenix an instant contender, but I know that Phoenix and the Great One will be a winning combination in the future.

Jim
Kent, Ohio

Got Rogaine?
It takes courage for the greatest hockey player of all time to step into an arena much different than that of player. It will be frustrating for him, and I hope he and Jordan can respectively lose their hair from the stress with dignity. Jordan has the head start.

James C. Hanson
Sioux Falls, S.D.

The pieces of the puzzle don't fit
I don't really see Gretzky's motive for purchasing this team. If he was interested in ownership, why did he not choose to purchase a portion of one of the six Canadian-based teams? Buying the team that relocated from Winnipeg only five years ago sends mixed messages to our friends up north.

James Larian
Los Angeles, Calif.

One of a kind greatness
Wayne Gretzky is the greatest hockey player of all-time with the greatest hockey sense of all-time. He has been on both good and bad teams, and he knows how certain types of players will work together. He also knows exactly what players need to succeed. He will now become the greatest owner in hockey history.

James Kirkland
Pensacola, Fla.

A class act
I was blessed with the opportunity of meeting Wayne Gretzky last year during the NHL All Star weekend in Toronto. I was as impressed with his demeanor off the ice as I was impressed with his skill on it. I honestly believe that Wayne is the best player to ever lace up his skates for the NHL, and that his integrity – as a player and as a person – will carry over to his ownership of the Phoenix Coyotes. Bottom line: I feel Wayne's acquisition of Phoenix is good for his new team and the NHL. Wayne has been successful everywhere he has gone, and I expect his success to continue in Phoenix.

Donnie Lingo
Blacksburg, Va.

Just a matter of time
The man is a WINNER. The Stanley Cup is just around the next tumbleweed.

Paul Yoder
Port Chester, N.Y.