Gretzky Would Like Howe's No. 9 Retired

Wayne Gretzky doesn't have much say in these matters, but the man known as The Great One said Tuesday he would like to see Gordie Howe's No. 9 retired by the NHL in honor of his idol, Howe, who died Friday at age 88.

Gretzky's number, No. 99, is retired throughout the league. Gretzky wore No. 99 in honor of Howe.

"I'm pretty biased," Gretzky said during the public visitation for Howe at Joe Louis Arena. "If I had my way, I would do it. But that's for the league. I'm not involved with the league right now. But listen, whatever they choose to do is going to be very special because Gordie deserves something really special and unique.

"I don't think anybody helped promote, support the game, the sport or our country better than Gordie Howe. He was proud to be a Canadian, proud to be from Saskatchewan. And I don't think the NHL is going to overlook the fact of how important he was to the game, so I'm sure they are going to do something real special for him."

Hundreds of mourners showed up in the early hours of the public visitation for Howe at Joe Louis Arena in downtown Detroit. The Red Wings set up the inner bowl of the arena almost like a church, with Howe's retired jersey hanging at the center, where Howe's children spent time greeting mourners who came to pay their respects.

The public visitation, which Gretzky, Al Kaline, Scotty Bowman and other Detroit dignitaries attended, was scheduled to last 12 hours -- from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. -- before Wednesday's funeral, also in Detroit.

NHL Chooses Las Vegas as Choice For Expansion

The NHL has settled on Las Vegas as its choice for expansion, provided organizers can come up with a $500 million fee, sources told ESPN's Scott Burnside.

The league's board of governors is scheduled to hold a formal vote during its meeting on June 22. Two-thirds of the board must approve the recommendation.

Quebec City was also considered for expansion, but a person who had been briefed on the decision told The Associated Press, which previously reported the decision, that Las Vegas was a "done deal" after the recommendation of the NHL's executive committee.