The NHL will begin accepting applications for expansion,
according to an announcement made by NHL Commissioner Gary
Bettman following a meeting of the Board of Governors yesterday.
Bettman said the league had made no decisions on timing, target
markets, the number of new teams and other terms. But he cited
five reasons: 1) Interest expressed in the NHL; 2) Reaction of
newest NHL markets; 3) Competitive play of recent expansion
teams; 4) Enhancement of TV and marketing deals through addition
of new markets; and 5) Long-term labor peace (NHL). Bettman:
"Does this mean we're definitely expanding? No. Does it mean
we're expanding by the end of the century? No. Does it mean a
certain number of teams? No. It means we're going to see who
wants us, under what circumstances. And we'll see what makes
sense -- if anything" (AP/TORONTO SUN, 6/27).
SALARY FIGURES: The NHL's average salary increased last
season to $892,000, according to the NHLPA. That figure is up
from $733,000 in '94-95 and $562,000 in '93-94. The increase
allows the union and owners to "claim partial victory" in the '94
labor dispute, according to Joe Lapointe of the N.Y. TIMES. The
NHLPA can say, by fighting against a salary cap or luxury tax,
"it allowed wages to continue growing." While the owners can say
that the rate of increase "has been drastically slowed," and that
it will continue to slow as the effects of the rookie salary cap
become "more pronounced" (N.Y. TIMES, 6/20).
