The NHL concluded its Board of Governors meeting in
Scottsdale, AZ, yesterday and re-approved the Canadian
Assistance Plan (CAP), which helps "small-market" Canadian
teams -- the Oilers, Flames and Senators -- "cope with the
huge discrepancy between the value of the Canadian and U.S.
dollars," according to USA TODAY's Kevin Allen. Last
season, the three teams split US$8M (USA TODAY, 12/9).
Teams receive the aid by failing to meet ticket, advertising
and luxury seat sales goals, and in Edmonton, Jim Matheson
writes that the Oilers "must sell 13,000 season tickets" to
qualify for the subsidy, but with 34 of their 41 home games
on local TV, the ticket sales "could be even tougher."
Oilers President Glen Sather: "I know that with all the
games on TV that we're taking a risk" (EDM. JOURNAL, 12/9).
NHLPA ALTERS PLAN? In Toronto, David Shoalts writes
that a clause in the former CAP allowing teams to qualify
for payments based on their payroll size was "eliminated,"
because it was the "basis of a grievance" filed by the NHLPA
with the U.S. Labor Relations Board. The NHLPA felt it was
"an unfair labour practice, since it acted as a salary cap"
(Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/9). Oilers GM Glen Sather, on the
NHLPA saying that the plan represented "an unfair labor
practice": "I think it's ridiculous. They do more things to
hinder this league than to develop it" (EDMONTON JOURNAL,
12/9). In Calgary, Mark Miller wonders if the "economic
reality of small market clubs even matters" to NHLPA Exec
Dir Bob Goodenow. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman: "Frankly,
I'm not even sure why they would want us to have to change
the plan that's been good through the years ... so we're
resisting their efforts to have the NLRB take action against
it." Miller writes on Goodenow: "You're not part of the
solution, you are part of the problem" (CALGARY SUN, 12/9).
SALARY ISSUES: In Toronto, Paul Hunter writes that
"crippling player salaries cast a shadow over every decision
and almost every discussion" during the meetings (TORONTO
STAR, 12/9). Ducks President & GM Paul Gauthier pointed out
that the Senators, with one of the lowest payrolls in the
league, show "you can be successful and not spend a lot of
money." Gauthier: "I came out of two days of meetings here
and that's all I came out with, that we're paying too much
to the players." He proposed that "the best way" to stop
the salary increases is for teams to "keep their heads" on
signing free-agents. Gauthier: "It doesn't add up for us,
and it doesn't add up for the fans because we're charging
too much for tickets" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/9).
MEETING NOTES: Bettman put a "guarantee into writing"
that should the Coyotes build the proposed arena at Los
Arcos Mall in Scottsdale, AZ, the NHL All-Star Game will be
played there. Bettman added that "as long as the team stays
in America West Arena," they will not host an All-Star Game
(ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 12/9)....Bettman, on the decision to play
in the 2002 Olympics: "If the players decide they don't want
to go, then we won't go. It's not open to discussion. ...
This is a joint effort and we both have to agree" (TORONTO
SUN, 12/9)....In Toronto, David Shoalts writes that the six
Canadian teams have "postponed" a decision on a preseason
tournament and hope to "resolve the final issues in a week
or so" (Toronto GLOBE & MAIL, 12/9).
