Ever since Ken Hitchcock was fired by Philadelphia on Oct. 22, there have been rumors the 54-year-old coach could wind up in Phoenix, perhaps as Wayne Gretzky?s successor or in some other capacity within the coaching staff or front office. That won?t happen, Gretzky said Monday. ?Absolutely not,? said the Coyotes? boss, who despite his team?s poor start has repeated he plans to stay behind the bench. ?I can tell you the morning he left the Flyers I called him and had a nice 45-minute conversation with him, but more on a friendship basis. ?Unequivocally no, as far as coming on board with us.?