NHL NOTES : North Stars Would Come Full Circle in Move to Oakland

The North Stars’ plan to relocate is no idle threat. It is likely they will not return to Bloomington, Minn., next season and will play in Oakland.

On Wednesday, the North Stars applied to the NHL for permission to transfer their franchise to an unspecified location after the season. Brothers George and Gordon Gund co-own the team. Gordon told the St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch, “Oakland is our choice. It’s the fourth-largest market in the U.S. and it’s where George lives.”

If the North Stars want to move, in the wake of Al Davis’ legal victory over the NFL, there is no way the NHL can prevent it. The North Stars say they will lose $4 million this season for a total of $16 million in losses from 1987-90. They have demanded that $15 million in improvements be made at their 15,093-seat Met Center, including the doubling of luxury suites from 20 to 40. The Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, which owns the arena, is expected to offer a compromise at its next meeting Feb. 21.

Its director of operations, Dennis Alfton, told Newsday, “They want us to spend $15 million so they can get $13 million in additional revenue over the next four years. That’s hard to agree to.” Alfton said the commission received the proposal Wednesday and is digesting it.

Bloomington Mayor Neil Peterson said, “I think the commission will try to do something. If not, the North Stars are gone and it’s their fault.”

The NBA’s Timberwolves, drawing 24,000 fans a game at the Metrodome, will move into a new 18,000-seat arena in Minneapolis this fall. On Wednesday, they offered the North Stars three years rent-free in it.

Gordon Gund rejected that offer. He said he paid only $126,000 in rent last year, so free rent is no big deal. Gund said if his team moved to the new arena, where it would not share parking, concession, advertising and luxury-box revenue, it would lose $18 million in the next four years instead of the $10 million he projects if it stays put.

Alfton said, “We want to keep the North Stars,” but added the commission might let the debt-ridden team go and seek an expansion franchise. “That probably will be one of the alternatives we’ll review,” he said.

“This is a good area,” Alfton said. “A lot of good hockey is played here. But the North Stars have not put a good product on the ice. Improvements need to be made (to Met Center). But that isn’t the reason people aren’t going there.”

The North Stars say they are selling fewer than 11,000 tickets per game and their tickets-used average is 7,800, the NHL’s worst. NHL spokesman Gerry Helper said franchise relocations require an amendment to the league constitution plus a unanimous vote from its Board of Governors. Such amendments and votes were obtained by the Atlanta Flames when they moved to Calgary in 1980 and the Colorado Rockies in 1982 when they became the Devils. The board meets Feb. 19-20 in Chicago.

If the move is approved, the North Stars franchise will have come full circle. It was one of six expansion clubs that joined the NHL in 1967. Eleven years later, it merged with the Cleveland Barons, who lasted two winless seasons after having been transplanted from Oakland in 1976.

Oakland never had a winning season in nine years and was the NHL’s worst drawing team. George Gund was a one-third owner of the Oakland franchise when it shifted to Cleveland and bought out his partners. The North Stars had five straight winning seasons from 1979-84 but have had only one in the past five.

NHL President John Ziegler, who seems sympathetic, said, “It is imperative that each (club) has maximum revenue opportunity from the area in which the team plays. It is well-recognized that the Met Center at the present time does not provide the type facilities which will be needed for the North Stars to compete in the ‘90s.”

Can Oakland support a team? Groups in San Francisco and San Jose are vying for an expansion franchise. If the North Stars move, they would be co-tenants at the 15,039-seat Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum with the NBA’s Golden State Warriors. A new arena is expected to be built nearby soon.

The Coliseum is owned by the city and county and run by Coliseum, Inc., whose president, George Vukasin, referred questions to the North Stars. The Gunds did not return calls to Newsday.

Remember last spring when goaltending seemed the least of the Blackhawks’ worries? Alain Chevrier had a 2.61 goals-against average in 16 playoff games, leading them to series victories over Detroit and St. Louis before they were ousted by Calgary.

Chicago has the NHL’s fourth-best record (29-19-4) after Thursday night’s 7-4 win over the Los Angeles Kings in Inglewood, Calif., but goaltending now is its biggest problem. Coach Mike Keenan has yanked his starting goalie 12 times this season. The Blackhawks are 4-8 in those games. Saturday he used Chevrier and Jacques Cloutier twice each in a 6-4 loss in Hartford.

On Wednesday, Blackhawks General Manager Bob Pulford and assistant Jack Davison flew to Czechoslovakia to try to sign goalie Domenic Hasek, their 10th-round 1983 draft pick. Chicago’s first-round choice in 1987, goalie Jimmy Waite, is playing with Indianapolis of the IHL.

To prepare for the Kings, Keenan held a three-day mini-camp at a ski resort at Lake Arrowhead East of Los Angeles.

In a 7-4 home win over the Kings last month, three French-speaking Maple Leafs were chosen as stars of the game, a rarity in English-speaking Toronto.

“There hasn’t been many French guys play here,” said left wing Vincent Damphousse, who was named first star. The others were Daniel Marois and Gilles Thibadeau. They played on a line until Jan. 19, when Thibadeau was sent to Newmarket of the AHL.

“I was the first French guy they drafted in the first round (in 1986),” Damphousse said. “I was born and raised in Montreal. We’re all hockey players. In Quebec, most of the players are playmakers and scorers. Hopefully, they’ll realize there’s some good players in Quebec and draft more.”

Former Red Wings left wing Bob Probert is to be released from prison next week, but his problems are not over. He pleaded guilty to importing cocaine and was convicted after being arrested in March with 14.3 grams.

A Chicago immigration judge on Jan. 2 ordered Probert, a Canadian citizen, deported, citing the conviction and his history of alcoholism. Probert has appealed.

The appeal process could take a year. In the meantime, he is not permitted to leave the United States. So, if the Red Wings reinstate him, he could not play in Canada. No date has been set for hearing his appeal.

Detroit Coach Jacques Demers said of Probert, “Even if he wins, I would think it will be a year or more before he comes back. We need a tremendous commitment from Bob Probert before we’ll let him anywhere near the team.”