NHL LOCKOUT WATCH: OCTOBER 1 DEADLINE IS LOOMING

     Many NHL beat writers focused on the labor situation, in
particular at the players' anger that their training camp
expenses are not being covered by the teams.
     LOS ANGELES:  King defenseman Marty McSorley said that the
NHL "created the specter of a training-camp lockout to mask its
real intention -- to stage a lockout before the season begins and
players draw their first paychecks."  Helene Elliott notes that
no formal talks are scheduled, although NHL Commissioner Gary
Bettman and NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow "talk often, as do the
groups' respective lawyers" (L.A. TIMES, 9/11).
     DALLAS: Dan Noxon, noting that there are no collective
bargaining sessions scheduled:  "This is ridiculous, particularly
in light of the league's pending agreement with Fox" (DALLAS
MORNING NEWS, 9/11).
     PHILADELPHIA:  Gary Miles notes that veterans "are extending
helping hands to teammates who need a little financial boost"
(PHILADELPHIA INQUIRER, 9/11).
     NEW YORK:  Rangers' Mike Hudson on Bettman's "approach" to
the situation: "We're not happy about it.  It's almost like a
dictatorship now.  He's not going to force us into a settlement"
Joe LaPointe notes that "there has been little talk among the
hockey players of selective wildcat strikes."  Hockey players, as
a group, "are far less confrontational than their baseball
brethren" (N.Y. TIMES, 9/11).
     BUFFALO:  Sabres owner Seymour Knox said he expects the two
sides to "avert a lockout" before the October 1 deadline and
"resume normal and friendly relations."  Knox said hockey is
nothing like baseball (PHILA. INQUIRER, 9/11).
     BOSTON: Kevin Paul DuPont notes, "Believe it when the
players say they're prepared for a lockout.  Their union has
issued all 26 player representatives a credit card with a $50,000
limit -- enough to buy one-way tickets home for everyone on or
about Oct. 1" (BOSTON GLOBE, 9/11).