Edmonton’s Attempted Move, Shootout Plan Top NHL Agenda

The future of the Edmonton Oilers, whose attempted move to Minnesota has been blocked by their landlord at the Northlands Coliseum, will top the agenda when the NHL’s Board of Governors meets today and Friday in Laguna Niguel.

Also to be discussed are instituting a shootout to break ties, formulas for a draft lottery and the status of collective bargaining negotiations with the NHL Players Assn.

A court injunction has prevented the Oilers from signing an agreement to play next season at the Target Center in Minneapolis. They are contesting the injunction, but a decision isn’t expected immediately. If they move, they would fill the void created by the North Stars’ departure for Dallas.

The shootout might create a controversy that will measure the clout wielded by Michael Eisner, chairman of the Walt Disney Co.’s Mighty Ducks. Eisner is a proponent of the shootout, which is currently used in the International Hockey League, but the idea has limited support among tradition-minded NHL executives. However, Eisner has two powerful allies in Marcel Aubut, president of the Quebec Nordiques, and Ron Corey, president of the Montreal Canadiens. A committee will probably study the idea.

A draft lottery will also be discussed as a way to avoid repeats of last summer’s game-fixing accusations against the Ottawa Senators. They were alleged to have lost games to get the top draft pick in June, but an NHL investigation found no wrongdoing.