ANOTHER STEP IN A LONG JOURNEY; NHL, YASHIN TO HAVE HEARING

          The NHL and the NHLPA have set December 8 as the date
     each will present arguments at a preliminary hearing in the
     league's lawsuit against Senators C Alexei Yashin, according
     to Bruce Garrioch of the OTTAWA SUN.  Independent arbitrator
     Lawrence Holden will decide if the case goes forward.  The
     NHL is suing Yashin on behalf of Senators Chair Rod Bryden
     for $930,000 in damages after Yashin decided to hold out the
     final year of his contract.  Attorneys for the NHLPA "have
     maintained the league has no case," but Garrioch notes that,
     "bottom line: this case will drag on" (OTTAWA SUN, 10/27).