Panic, Uncertainy Gone As Kings, Gretzky Excell

The frustration of losing that could be seen in every movement he made on and off the ice last season has been replaced by the swagger of confidence that had become synonymous with Wayne Gretzky. On the ice, every step is calculated again. Every turn of his head means something good is about to happen.

The Great One never left the ice, but his confidence did. The colossal mess in the Los Angeles Kings’ front office with Bruce McNall’s empire folding in front of the team had an effect on all the players. So did the quality of linemates Gretzky had.

But there is a new line of communications in Los Angeles. Denver billionaire Philip F. Anschutz and Southern California developer Edward P. Roski Jr. are the team’s new owners; Larry Robinson, who won six Stanley Cups as a player, is the coach; and Gretzky has Dimitri Khristich and Vitali Yachmenev on his wings. And, if Gretzky’s body language is an indication, all the Kings men are about to put together this Humpty Dumpty team again.

“We’re younger, more talented and faster,” Gretzky says. “It’s the first time in a lot of years that I’m playing with guys who are really quick, really strong and who love to go to the net.”

Those trademark Gretzky passes that were sent in front of the net so neatly but went unfinished last season can be found in the back of the net this season.

“I don’t have to say too much to Dimitri and Vitali,” Gretzky says. “I hear them yapping away in Russian all the time and pointing over at me. I don’t know what they’re saying, but I guess it’s OK.”

While Gretzky, Khristich and Yachmenev scored at a nearly two-goals-per-game clip in the Kings’ 4-0-3 start, Robinson is the key to this fast beginning.

“There was panic, uncertainty in this locker room the last couple of years,” Gretzky says. ” But there’s no panic in here now. Larry’s focus has been the same since Day One: He’s kept everything simple.”