While attending a meeting of league GMs in Toronto
yesterday, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman "flatly rejected
suggestions that owners collude against free agents,"
according to Mark Zwolinksi of the TORONTO STAR. Bettman:
"We are not colluding. ... We don't collude" (TORONTO STAR,
9/24). Bettman: "The past two years' salaries have
dramatically outpaced revenues which is not a healthy
situation. What we're seeing now is the pendulum swing the
other way because it's an economic reality" (AP, 9/24).
Meanwhile, Zwolinksi reports that a deal between the NHL and
the NHLPA to send players to the 2002 Olympics in Salt Lake
City is "essentially done," but Bettman "maintained" that
talks are a "long way from ending." Bettman: "We need only
a couple of things to get it done. But it has to make
sense. It's not about negotiation. We understand what it
takes to make sense to us as a league" (TORONTO STAR, 9/24).
BURKE ISSUES A STRONG WARNING: After news of the
Grizzlies being sold to U.S. investor Bill Laurie, see
(#18), Canucks GM Brian Burke reiterated that Canadian teams
will need assistance from the federal government to remain
competitive. Burke: "I'm curious why politicians faced with
these same issues south of the border have concluded that it
is a valued and useful way to spend tax dollars. Are we
that much smarter than they are? Does [the Canadian
government] have that much of a better grip on what should
be done on public money? I don't think so. I don't know
what it is going to take for people to realize these
problems are real" (TORONTO SUN, 9/24).
DOES THE NHLPA "GET IT"?: The HOCKEY NEWS' Stan
Fischler notes the possible sale of NHL teams and writes
that the NHLPA "doesn't get it." The Mighty Ducks, Canucks,
Islanders, Coyotes, Canadiens and Sabres could all
eventually be sold "because the corporate folks there
figured out they can't make a buck" (HOCKEY NEWS, 9/24).