McNall Elected to Chair NHL Board of Governors

The contrast was shocking here Monday when the NHL’s transfer of power occurred.

The old guard, President John Ziegler, gave his farewell address to reporters in the morning. For Ziegler, who essentially was forced to resign earlier this month, it was a quiet, non-eventful departure.

“My guess was that they felt for their ideas to be adopted by the board, my presence might have interfered,” said Ziegler, 58, who has been the league’s president for 15 years.

”. . . It is what is sweeping North America--Perotism. ‘Let’s get rid of the Establishment.’ I was the Establishment.”

If Ziegler was perceived as the Establishment, owner Bruce McNall of the Kings came across as its antithesis in his first appearance as the new chairman of the NHL’s Board of Governors. As expected, McNall was elected to a two-year term, succeeding Chicago’s Bill Wirtz.

“I’m sort of overwhelmed by all this,” said McNall, 42. “It’s a privilege to be the chairman of the NHL. Especially since I haven’t been here that long, and a lot of people have been involved in the league a lot longer than I have. I just hope I can do half the job they think I can do. We’re going to see if we can’t move this league along in a very positive way.”

What was unexpected was McNall’s uncontested election, a rare show of unanimity by the board. No other candidate cared to take on McNall’s broad base of support. His biggest backers--the progressive branch--on the Board of Governors were pleased.

“Bruce McNall is a perfect choice,” Minnesota owner Norman Green said. “He took a franchise that was weak and made it a business (and) public relations success and made it one of the most powerful franchises in the NHL.”

It was suggested that acquiring Wayne Gretzky was what made it all happen in Los Angeles.

“If it hadn’t been Wayne Gretzky, it would have been someone else,” Green said. “I give the credit for the rebirth of the franchise in L.A. to Bruce McNall.”

Said San Jose co-owner George Gund: “He would be stronger than what we’ve had. He’s a dynamic, young leader, and he’s done some very innovative things with the Kings.”

Another surprising development was the apparent personality transformation of the league’s new interim president, Gil Stein.

As the league’s longtime vice president and general counsel, Stein’s public persona often came across as confrontational and irritable.

Monday, though, Stein came across as a media darling.

“There are obvious priorities. This change does not represent the league deciding to keep the car in neutral or keep it in park,” said Stein, 64, who will be the president until the board appoints a successor.

“We all know that, in park, the (car) doesn’t move. In neutral, you’re going to coast in only one direction. We need to get the league up and running in a lot of areas. It’s obvious we need a national network TV contract in the United States, and hockey is still the best-kept secret in the United States.

“We intend to do something about it.”

Ziegler’s ultimate successor will assume the position and title of commissioner. Stein does not seem to have a significant chance of attaining that position, although he could end up with a lengthy stay in office during the search for a commissioner.

Helping McNall find a successor will be an executive committee made up of Montreal president Ron Corey, Detroit owner Mike Ilitch, Edmonton owner Peter Pocklington and Philadelphia owner Ed Snider.

McNall has gone from being a part owner of the Kings in late 1986 to full ownership in March of 1988 to one of the most powerful positions in the league.

“I don’t know how it ranks as a personal achievement,” he said, joking. “It’s probably the lowest-paying job I’ve ever had. It’s almost like I’ve gone from having 23 friends to 22 enemies--including myself.”

Because of McNall’s increased league responsibilities, it is expected that Roy Mlakar, his executive vice president, will be promoted to a new position, possibly that of president of the Kings, Wednesday. Mlakar’s role had already been expanding during the off-season in the reorganization of the Kings’ front office.

There also is speculation here that the Kings will promote Nick Beverley from assistant general manager to general manager, meaning that Rogie Vachon, the general manager, also will be moved to a new job.

NHL Notes

Consideration of the Eric Lindros case involving the Quebec Nordiques, the Philadelphia Flyers and the New York Rangers officially started Monday afternoon when independent arbitrator Larry Bertuzzi began hearing evidence from the three teams. The Nordiques apparently agreed to trade the rights to Lindros to both the Flyers and the Rangers. The hearing probably will last until Wednesday. Then Bertuzzi plans to return to his Toronto office to study the evidence and render his decision. . . . The primary topics before these meetings were two proposals regarding the reduction of fighting. But the governors never were able to get to the issue because of the crowded agenda and the Lindros distraction. Apparently, the fighting issue will be raised at the next Board of Governors’ meeting in August.