HOCKEY : It’s Time to Find Ideal Commissioner

One league president was hardly ever quoted and rarely spotted in public, especially at hockey games.

For this, John Ziegler was widely criticized and eventually fell out of favor with his bosses, the NHL’s Board of Governors.

Another league president is always quoted and has assumed a very public presence, especially at hockey games. He has appeared at almost every important NHL event since taking over in June.

For this, Gil Stein has been widely criticized and has fallen out of favor with one faction of his bosses, also known as the Board of Governors, who plan, eventually, to choose a commissioner and may or may not still have a president.

Stein’s sudden unpopularity--he is no longer considered a strong candidate for commissioner--emerged as one of the topics of discussion at last week’s Board of Governors’ meeting in New York. King owner Bruce McNall, the board’s chairman, acknowledged an element of unrest in regard to Stein’s public persona.

“Look at Gil’s situation,” he said. “You have some people who are very unhappy about his being very aggressive and out there and pro-active on things. We have some people who are very happy and some who aren’t happy.”

McNall, who indicated he wasn’t part of the anti-Stein lobby, tried to explain why this has occurred.

“There’s people who don’t like his personality,” he said. “He talks to (reporters). Some people don’t like that. Sure, his aggressiveness offends some people. It’s openly discussed at times.”

Stein certainly hasn’t been perfect during his short tenure. There is his new disciplinary philosophy, under which someone like Marty McSorley can cross-check another player in the face and not have to sit out a single game. And the NHL’s recent record in court rivals San Jose’s road record--except that the Sharks win one from time to time.

These setbacks aside, Stein has tried to make the NHL a little less secretive, a little less impenetrable. His summer-long tour managed to get the league unprecedented off-season publicity in the United States. He has been outspoken and decisive in his rulings.

Since the owners don’t seem to want this, it prompts a question: Do the owners want another John Ziegler armed with a fancier resume?

McNall says no. But the chairman has only one of 24 votes. The owners might be their own worst enemies, scaring off strong-minded, quality candidates.

In any case, McNall’s idea of an ideal commissioner may be different from what other owners want.

“I think it would be better to have someone probably different than me,” McNall said. “I’m more of a mediator type. I’m more of a guy who tries to get along. I suspect a good commissioner would be stronger-handed. To do it his way . . . whether I like it or not or whether anybody likes it or not.

“I personally think it’s important to have a strong hand at the top. At the same time, that’s what the whole Board of Governors are looking at. They’re saying, ‘What are we really ready for? Is this league ready to be led?’

“And we may not be.”

About 35 candidates for the commissioner’s job have been identified by an independent search firm. That group probably will be trimmed to a manageable number of five by the time the board has its next meeting in December at West Palm Beach, Fla.

Detroit owner Mike Ilitch sat down the other day for a lengthy interview with the Detroit News and made it clear he wasn’t pleased over losing Barry Melrose to the Kings in June.

Melrose played defense for the Red Wings and coached their top minor league affiliate at Glens Falls, N.Y., to the American Hockey League championship last season.

“In Barry’s case, I thought he’d be coaching the Detroit Red Wings one day,” Ilitch said. “I’m disappointed he’s not in our organization. I feel we lost a good person.”

Ilitch was asked whether he had given the Kings permission to talk to Melrose about their coaching opening. He paused for several seconds.

“I didn’t give them permission, no,” he said. “That was all handled between (General Manager) Bryan (Murray) and Barry. . . . I was under the impression he was going to coach here next year.”

The NHL has released its demographic analysis for this season, summarizing the trend of increasing percentages of its players born outside North America.

In 1992-93, 17.2% of the league’s players were born outside North America, 16.6 were U.S.-born and 66.2 were Canadian-born. Last season, the numbers were 16.9 U.S., 71.2 Canadian, and 11.9 outside North America.

The first year of the survey, 1967-68, yielded these numbers: 1.97 U.S., 96.72 Canadian and 1.31 outside North America.

Winnipeg and New Jersey lead the league with players born outside North America with nine each. The Jets have five players from the former Soviet Union, two Swedes and two Finns. The Devils have four from the former Soviet Union, three Czechoslovaks, one Swede and a Finn.

Two King draft picks have gotten off to good starts in the early portion of the European schedule.

Right wing Timo Peltomaa, an eighth-round pick in the 1988 draft, has seven points in eight games for the Finnish team, Ilves.

Center Daniel Rydmark, a sixth-round selection in 1989, has four points in six games for the Swedish team, Malmo.

Save the Whale: Hartford owner Richard Gordon says the Whalers lost $4.5 million last season and might lose $6 million this season.

Naturally, this has sparked rumors, putting the Whalers in every place from Miami to Milwaukee to Dallas, and, of course, Anaheim. Gordon, who owns 76% of the franchise, said he has not negotiated with anyone to move the team. But the Whalers are playing to 60% capacity and Gordon can’t go it alone much longer.

Connecticut Gov. Lowell P. Weicker Jr. is trying to offer an assist, urging talks on an improved lease at the Civic Center.

“I’m telling you right now: The Whalers are not going anywhere,” Weicker told the Hartford Courant on Friday. “Everybody is out of the picture. I don’t care if it’s Miami, Dallas, Denver or anywhere.

“I want the Whalers players, Richard (Gordon) and everybody else to get it through their heads. This team is staying. I told Richard, ‘Go manage your damn hockey team and do a good job without the sword of Damocles hanging over your head.’ ”

Quote of the week: After the Montreal Canadiens had opened with a 1-3-1 record, Coach Jacques Demers called a 7 a.m. practice, ordering the players to appear by 6.

“I knew it was early because Rocket Richard had his eyes closed in the picture on the dressing room wall,” Vincent Damphousse said.