In Dallas, Mike Heika cites a source as saying that potential Stars Owner Tom Gaglardi "hopes to have a signed purchase agreement in place by the end of the week." Stars GM Joe Nieuwendyk said that though he "does not have a budget for next season, he expects it will be higher" than last season's $47M payroll. Nieuwendyk: "I think our first hurdle is to find out what our budget will be, and we should know that soon." The Stars "tried to sign" impending free agent Brad Richards in March, and Nieuwendyk said having the "ability to go out and sign Brad, it says that our payroll will be higher, so we'll have some money to play with" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 6/7).
DIFFERENT APPROACHES: In New Jersey, Andrew Gross writes Knicks and NHL Rangers Owner James Dolan is "equally involved" in the two franchises, but is "perceived in two different ways: Hands-on (too much so) with the Knicks, hands-off (perhaps, too much so) with the Rangers." Dolan as a general rule "no longer talks to media covering either team," but he is "not nearly as visible as the Rangers' owner as he is with the Knicks, when he often sits courtside." Dolan "attends Rangers games, out of sight from the Garden crowd in the skyboxes." Sometimes, he "pops into the dressing room after the game, before the media is allowed in" (Bergen RECORD, 6/7).
OFFERING HIS TAKE: In San Jose, Mark Emmons reported new Warriors Exec BOD member Jerry West wants to make it clear that all he is "providing is opinions." Warriors GM Larry Riley and Assistant GM and "G.M.-in-waiting" Bob Myers are running the Warriors show." West said, "I am not the decision-maker. I am not the face of the franchise. I know if I get involved, I'm going to get too involved. And I'm not going to be someone who makes myself crazy like I used to. I can't be that person anymore" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 6/5).
WELCOME TO THE BIG LEAGUES: In DC, Jason Reid wrote Nationals GM Mike Rizzo "has made major mistakes quickly, showing he has much to learn." Reid: "Despite his impressive scouting background and strong work ethic, Rizzo, at this point, has a lot to learn regarding some of his most important duties. His dealing with the media is at best awkward and at worst antagonistic, which won't make his on-the-job training any easier." Since "officially being given full control of the Nationals in October, Rizzo grossly overpaid for right fielder Jayson Werth, assembled a batting order with baseball's fourth-worst on-base percentage and for several weeks prohibited hitting coach Rick Eckstein from speaking with reporters" (WASHINGTON POST, 6/4).
