While two Houston groups, one led by Rockets Owner Les
Alexander and the other by Aeros Owner Chuck Watson, "are in
the process of putting together proposals" for the NHL
Oilers, "in both cases, the team would be bought outright --
but with a promise to keep the team in Edmonton as long as
it maintains a positive cash-flow situation," according to
Al Strachan of the TORONTO SUN. Strachan writes that
"reliable sources" say that the NHL "is heavily involved in
the negotiations and is working to make sure the Oilers stay
in Edmonton." Strachan adds that the NHL "is willing to
modify its long-range plan and allow a further expansion in
the early part of the next century if doing so guarantees
the stability of the Oilers." For that to happen, the
"successful purchaser" would have to "guarantee the league"
that the Oilers will stay in Edmonton for "a certain period,
probably three years." If the team continues to have a
positive cash-flow, then the owner would be allowed to sell
the Oilers, and "in return," be "sold the rights to an NHL
expansion team in Houston" (TORONTO SUN, 10/23).
