THE NHL : Current Calm Might Precede the Storm of a Lockout or Strike

A month ago, there was sound and fury. Now, there is silence. A month ago, there were threats of strikes and lockouts. Now, there is peace.

Or is there?

There isn’t much talk these days about the labor troubles that threatened to tear the NHL apart on Sept. 15, when the collective bargaining agreement between the owners and players expired. But with negotiations in recess, there also isn’t much talk, and there is no new agreement in sight.

The issues remain--free agency, the entry draft and, to a lesser degree, the pension plan and a greater financial share for the players in the postseason.

Owners are hesitant to talk to reporters since league President John Ziegler put a gag order on them. One quote in the paper and they know their phone will be ringing with an angry Ziegler on the other end.

But this much is known: Management of three teams--the New York Rangers, New Jersey Devils and Chicago Blackhawks--voted for a lockout the last time the teams were polled.

And the number might increase if another vote is taken soon.

It all hangs on the opinions of the army of lawyers the league is employing in this war of nerves.

Some maintain that, by operating without a collective bargaining agreement, the owners are risking an antitrust suit because they do not have the legal approval of the players that such an agreement provides.

Other legal voices are counseling, however, that to call for a lockout without a collective bargaining agreement could be disastrous, resulting in a ruling that every player in the league has automatically become a free agent.

So why take such a risk by putting the locks on the dressing-room doors?

Because the owners take very seriously an oft-heard player threat to strike at the start of the playoffs.

Compared to their ever-growing salaries, the players make next to nothing in playoff shares. A postseason strike would hit the owners where it hurts.

More and more owners are thinking they must seize the initiative if they are to come out ahead.

The truth, however, is that both sides will lose with either a strike or a lockout during a recession. The public would be disgusted by the sight of millionaires walking picket lines, and by the thought of an owner shouting poverty from his luxury box.

The NHL is making much ado about its 75th anniversary season. But if it doesn’t complete this season, whether because of the owners or the players, it could slide a long way back toward its humble beginnings.

Headed for arbitration? Defenseman Phil Housley, the Winnipeg Jets’ top scorer last season with 76 points, is making $425,000 this season, his option year, but is looking for a hefty raise into the million-a-year club.

Headed for a new home? There is a plan in Winnipeg to raise nearly $250 million, mostly through private financing, to build a 48,000-seat football stadium for the Blue Bombers, a 23,000-seat arena for the Jets, a pool, a baseball diamond and hotel offices. Also planned is a plane for the use of both the Jets and the Blue Bombers.

Said Rick Koswin of the development group behind the scheme: “I’m sick and tired of hearing about Loserpeg.”

Headed for oblivion? The complicated and frequently criticized NHL waiver draft, normally held at the start of the season, was scrapped this year because of the expansion draft for the new San Jose Sharks.

Did anybody notice? Or care?

Headed for the trading market? Bernie Nicolls’ refusal to report to the Edmonton Oilers after his trade from the New York Rangers has sparked stories that Edmonton General Manager Glen Sather is trying to put together a package impressive enough to persuade the Quebec Nordiques to finally part with unsigned top draft choice Eric Lindros.

Another scenario has the Oilers dealing with the New York Islanders for Pat LaFontaine.

The only sure thing is that Nicholls will not get his first choice, a trade to the Kings.

Headed for New York: The day after former Hart Trophy winner Mark Messier was sent to New York in the Nicholls deal, the Edmonton Journal gave Messier a Wayne Gretzky-style send-off with 12 stories, three of them on the front page.

Headed for the penalty box: New Jet Coach John Paddock gets an “A” for honesty.

Talking about resident enforcer Shawn Cronin, Paddock told the Winnipeg Sun: “If he doesn’t get into a fight in 20 games, I don’t think he’ll be here. We need guys doing their jobs to win.”

Not to worry. In the Jets’ first four games, Cronin had a team-leading 15 penalty minutes. In their fifth game alone, he had 16.