Having watched Gretzky coach a couple games, I am now passing the crown for leagues' biggest whiner to Whine Gretzky. Now c'mon Pat Quinn, you gave it a valient effort and have really held the crown since Pat Burns stepped down. But it is time to let go and hand it over to "The Great One". Because when it comes to screaming at officials, throwing tantrums, and allowing his team to become completely focussed on officiating, rather than the task at hand, Gretz is in a class of his own.

I read Bruce Hood's book (for your youngsters Hoody was an official for many years in the NHL and a damn good one). He devoted a chapter to the players he respected the least and who gave him the most grief after every call. Guess who was number one? Gretzky. I think maybe Wayne feels that because of his greatness and reputation that perhaps his team should be afforded special treatment. If you watched closely last night you would see the Coyotes lose focus when they needed it most. Whine questioned every call to the point that he had his team believing they had no hope to come back because the officials were out to get them. I have said it before. I will take Juliens calm and cool approach to ref'ing any day. He keeps the guys focused on the task at hand.

Remember the story about the boy who cried wolf? Gretzky and Quinn fall into that category. When you dispute and holler about every call against you, it would seem to call your credibility into question. A coach like Julien who only gets upset when it is really warranted, woudl seem to have a better chance of getting a sympathetic ear from the refs IMHO.