Canada's NHL franchises "will not be getting an aid
package" before Christmas, according to sources of Sean
Durkan of the OTTAWA SUN. Federal Industry Minister John
Manley said that there are "no plans to deal with" the
"plight" of the league's teams, and other sources say that
potential NHL aid is "not even on the agenda" for the
"cabinet retreat" today and tomorrow in Ottawa (OTTAWA SUN,
12/18). But Manley's Press Secretary Jennifer Sloan said
the federal government has not ignored the call for aid:
"Absolutely not. ... Plans can change ... you never know
what can happen, it is the government" (OTTAWA SUN, 12/18).
In Ottawa, Wayne Scanlan wrote that the "fate" of the
Senators and other Canadian teams "doesn't seem to have yet
registered on the radar screen" of the federal government.
Senators Chair Rod Bryden has "to be furious not to have
received at least an indication from government that
something is in the offing" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 12/18).
GOODENOW ON THE RECORD: NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow
told "HNIC" that the PA "can't do anything to keep" the
Senators in Canada. Goodenow noted the deflated Canadian
dollar and taxation, "If they [issues] were dealt with, if
we had a 90-cent dollar, if the taxation issue was on par
with other tams in the league, then frankly we wouldn't be
dealing with this issue." Asked about the holdout of
Senators C Alexei Yashin, Goodenow said, "I believe, like
everyone else does, that a contract is a contract, but
behind every issue and every situation there's a story about
what was said by who, what was promised by who, and I'm not
insinuating that anything was done" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 12/19).
SUPERSKILLS SUPER DUD? In Miami, David Neal wrote that
the NHL Superskills competitions are a "good idea ... [but]
are more trouble than they are worth." Noting an injury in
the competition to Panthers G Trevor Kidd, Neal added, "Good
idea. Bad execution" (MIAMI HERALD, 12/19). Panthers coach
Terry Murray said the PA has a "responsibility to set up
these drills so that it protects their players and they
clearly didn't" (Ft. Lauderdale SUN-SENTINEL, 12/19).
