The issue of "floating franchises" is one of several
"pressing matters" on the agenda for the NHL's Board of Governors
meeting in Palm Beach, FL, next month, according to Tony
Gallagher of the Vancouver PROVINCE. Gallagher notes troubles in
Miami, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Tampa and perhaps Long Island, and
asks, "What of expansion? Are there too many unsettled
situations to go ahead with adding two more teams as originally
envisioned?" Gallagher reviews some of the troubled markets:
Miami "is almost certainly history." The offers Panthers Owner
Wayne Huizenga will get from out-of-town buyers will be
"significantly higher" considering Miami's unsettled arena
situation. Edmonton: With Oilers Owner Peter Pocklington
embroiled in 10 suits and countersuits with the Alberta
government, he could head to Nashville or Phoenix, depending on
the fate of the Jets. Top potential NHL cities are Portland (Paul
Allen) and Atlanta (Ted Turner) (VANCOUVER PROVINCE, 11/17).
MARKET WATCH: Lloyd Pettit, owner of the IHL Milwaukee
Admirals, is "aware" of the Panthers' situation but said he has
not been contacted by Huizenga. Pettit, who is happy in the IHL:
"At the moment, I'm not particularly sure I'd want them to come
to Milwaukee in the first place." Pettit said he would listen to
the NHL if they wanted to talk again about Milwaukee -- if the
"financial situation is reasonable" (MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL,
11/17). In Detroit, Cynthia Lambert notes fan "discontent" in
Edmonton, partly due to uncertainty over whether the team will
stay. Lambert: "Edmonton fans should be ready to be without a
team. Maybe it won't happen next season or the one after, but it
will happen. As one NHL official recently pointed out,
eventually there might be three teams left in Canada --Montreal,
Toronto and Vancouver" (DETROIT NEWS, 11/17).
