NHL BOARD TO DISCUSS EXPANSION; SCHEDULE REDUCED TO 82 GAMES

     The NHL Board of Governors will discuss details for
expansion at a board meeting June 21, according to this morning's
TORONTO STAR.  The 26 governors are expected to vote to add at
least two teams, and possibly four, beginning with the '96-97
season.  Atlanta, Portland, Seattle, and Phoenix are "considered
to be the frontrunners, depending on the fate" of the Jets and
the Nordiques.  The STAR reports that "unlike the last expansion
when Anaheim and Florida were simply added, the next expansion
will probably involve a bidding process" (Cox & Hunter, TORONTO
STAR, 5/25).  In addition, the NHL's 84-game schedule has been
reduced to 82 games for next season, reports Bob McKenzie in
Toronto.  The majority of governors went with the pre-vote
recommendation of NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to eliminate
games 83 and 84, now played as neutral site games.  "In lieu of
the revenue previously generated by the games, a lump sum
payments will be made to the NHLPA" (TORONTO STAR, 5/25).