AHL READY TO POUNCE SHOULD THE NHL DISTANCE ITSELF FROM IHL

     "The NHL is moving toward having little or nothing to do
with the IHL," writes Bob McKenzie in this morning's TORONTO
STAR.  The party line, according to NHL Senior VP Brian Burke:
"At this point in time, we do not view the IHL as a competitor."
But with IHL expanding into NHL markets and using veteran players
to attract larger crowds, McKenzaie reports many NHL GMs are
concerned about the league's value in developing young talent.
Nine of the 26 NHL clubs presently supply the IHL with talent, a
"good many" of which are considering a move to the AHL.  Fifteen
of the 16 AHL clubs are currently affiliated with NHL teams, but
AHL President Dave Andrews is pursuing expansion and "openly
wooing" teams with IHL ties.  Andrews:  "Our major problem is we
don't have a great inventory of cities that would be ready to
play next season.  We're prepared to go outside our geography, to
the midwest or the south, to accomodate the NHL teams who are
interested in moving over."  McKenzie reports the NHL "will be
working much more closely with the AHL on marketing and
sponsorship projects.  NHL contact with the IHL will be kept to
the bare minimum" (TORONTO STAR, 3/3).  For more, see Insider
Interview, #21.