NHL PUSHING HARD FOR LEMIEUX BID AFTER TALK OF SUSPENSION

          The NHL plans to file a brief "supporting" Mario
     Lemieux's bid to "recapitalize the team and pull it out of
     bankruptcy," as the league is "worried that the team will
     have to fold" if its financial situation and its lease at
     Civic Arena "are not resolved in the next six weeks,"
     according to Ann Belser of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE.  The
     NHL brief will also include a request for the league to
     exercise Article Three of the NHL Constitution, "which would
     revoke the franchise if the team languishes in bankruptcy." 
     If the Penguins were to fold next season, its players would
     be drafted away to other teams and their contracts would not
     be guaranteed by the NHL (POST-GAZETTE, 4/21). NHL Senior VP
     /Legal Affairs Bill Daly: "The Lemieux plan is a good plan.
     But it relies on several key contingencies, most notably the
     redo of the lease.  Unless they get that, even Lemieux will
     tell you, the plan doesn't work" (USA TODAY, 4/21).