NHLPA Exec Dir Bob Goodenow will appear before a House
of Commons Subcommittee on the Study of Sport in Canada and
tell members not to "include restrictions on players'
salaries in the federal government's calculation of possible
financial breaks for struggling" NHL teams in Canada,
according to Jack Aubry of the OTTAWA CITIZEN. Goodenow is
"expected" to give a "firm message that salary caps should
not be part of any government equation to help the teams."
The committee will hold its final hearings in Toronto
"before submitting its report by the end of the month."
With a CBA in place until 2004, Goodenow "is expected to
stress the financial and voluntary contributions of the
players to their local communities" (OTTAWA CITIZEN, 11/10).
GAME NEEDS "CARE"? In Chicago, Bob Verdi: "Despite the
NBA lockout, pro hockey has failed to seize the opportunity.
There is no evidence whatsoever that Bulls fans have
converted to Blackhawks fans, nor are there any discernible
crossover patterns being detected in any other market, major
or minor." But Verdi added that NHL should "forget about
luring fans you don't have into rinks and worry about
entertaining the fans you do have. ... Don't disguise the
game, improve it." Verdi wrote that expansion has diluted
the product: "Hockey, the fastest and best spectator sport
of all, is being slowed to a crawl by too many players who
lack talent and too many administrators who lack vision. ...
The NHL doesn't need more gimmicks, more rules, or more
teams. The NHL needs more care" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 11/8).
