SALE OF ISLANDERS TO SPANO MIGHT BE "PREMATURE"

     The reported sale of John Pickett's 82% share in the
Islanders to Dallas businessman John Spano for $82M may be a
"trifle premature" and "might not go through at all," according
to unnamed NHL sources cited by David Shoalts of the Toronto
GLOBE & MAIL. One reason the deal "may still collapse" is that
Spano's tentative agreement to buy the Stars last year "fell
apart" when he could not produce the necessary financing.  NHL
Commissioner Gary Bettman declined comment on the sale, but a
source who spoke to Bettman about the deal said Bettman does not
think "there's any time bombs here like with the Stars."  Shoalts
notes rumors the Rangers leaked news about Spano's deal in order
to "embarrass" the Islanders, which "caused the Islanders to drop
negotiations with a second party" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 10/18).