A "package of information" compiled by the NHLPA for a
meeting of certified agents today in Toronto reveals that in
the nine years since Alan Eagleson "was replaced" as NHLPA
Exec Dir, the number of NHL players who will earn at least
$1M has "skyrocketed" from eight to 280 this year, according
to James Christie of the Toronto GLOBE & MAIL. Christie:
"That's a 35-fold increase, and comprises about half the
number of regular NHL roster positions." Among other stats
that the agents will receive -- the median salary this year
is $825,000 and the average salary is "expected to reach"
$1.4M this summer (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 4/27). In Toronto,
Al Strachan writes that the 280 players earning $1M is a
"significant number in view of the fact that there were only
832 players who played at least 10 games or spent 20 days on
an NHL roster." Strachan notes that NHL salaries and
agents' fees "rose" about 5% last year. According to the
NHL, the average salary last year was $1,288,974, though the
NHLPA puts the figure at $1,297,649 (TORONTO SUN, 4/27).
The NATIONAL POST's Alan Adams places the average salary at
$1.35M and writes that the 5% raise is "the lowest increase
in the last decade." But "experts caution it is too soon to
suggest ... that the new numbers reflect a trend to more
moderate contracts." The '99-2000 season is the first since
'90-91, when the average salary was $271,000, "not to see
double-digit salary increases" (NATIONAL POST, 4/27).
HAVE CUP, WILL TRAVEL: On "World News Tonight," ABC's
Brian Rooney followed the travels of the Stanley Cup and
reported, "When the Stanley Cup takes a turn around the
rink, it is just the beginning of this trophy's travels.
From the Kremlin, to the White House. From remote reaches
of Canada, to opening day at Yankee Stadium, the Stanley Cup
tours -- sometimes in a limousine -- in the company of
official Cup keepers who never let it out of their sight.
... The rest of the year, this icon of Canada, ... travels
as a Goodwill Ambassador" ("World News Tonight," ABC, 4/26).
