NHL Clubs Split Three Ways

The 26 league teams have different attitudes toward ending the labor dispute.

HARD-LINE HAWKS

Boston Bruins: Owner Jeremy Jacobs is an ally and adviser of Commissioner Gary Bettman and will back him to the end.

Chicago Blackhawks: A money-making machine, and they want to maintain that large profit margin.

Edmonton Oilers: Squeezed financially by the limits of playing in a small market, they need economic supports of a new agreement to survive.

Florida Panthers: They lost $3 million last season after playing to 94% capacity in the 14,500-seat Miami Arena. Plans for a bigger rink fell through, so owner Wayne (Blockbuster) Huizenga will have to contain costs.

Hartford Whalers: Also limited by small market size and hurt by on-ice failures, they need financial bolstering.

New Jersey Devils: Adamant about slowing salary growth. Their real problem, though, is they are in an over-saturated market and don’t draw enough fans or advertisers who might put them in the black.

Philadelphia Flyers: Ed Snider, their majority owner, has threatened to sell if he can’t stem his losses. Don’t believe it. He’s planning a new arena and wants to be on surer financial footing before the project gets under way.

Washington Capitals: Won’t vote to start season unless a tax is part of the deal. Blame rising salaries for financial losses in recent years; better teams--and a better arena--might have averted much of that.

MODERATES

Mighty Ducks: One of the NHL’s most profitable clubs last season (about $9 million), they’re itching to play. But they’re cost-conscious and want one more medium-sized concession by players before they’ll approve a deal.

Buffalo Sabres: Robert Swados, their governor, is militant by nature. That’s being tempered by his need to sell seats and luxury boxes in the club’s new arena. They must play to sell those seats.

Calgary Flames: Say they can’t be competitive without salary controls. They’d jettison the tax for an alternative system.

Detroit Red Wings: They want to play, because they figure they have a good shot at the Stanley Cup in what figures to be Scotty Bowman’s coaching finale, but owner Mike Ilitch, who is also losing money on baseball’s Tigers, is determined to create cost controls.

Montreal Canadiens: They were hard-liners initially but have softened since players made various concessions.

New York Islanders: They’d drop the tax if players gave up salary arbitration or made a minor concession that would slow payroll growth.

Quebec Nordiques: Unhappy at being left out of negotiations, they might oppose Bettman out of spite. But as a small-market club, they desperately need financial help.

San Jose Sharks: Another big money-maker, they want to play. But they know their on-ice success will lead to a huge payroll, and they want to lessen the increase.

Tampa Bay Lightning: They lean toward being hawks because they’d lose $2 million less by not playing than by playing. But being on the ice could solidify fans’ affections.

Vancouver Canucks: Made only a small profit last season despite going to the Stanley Cup finals, so they want salary restraints. But they’re also building a new arena and it’s easier to sell luxury boxes if they’re playing.

Winnipeg Jets: A small-market club that would benefit from pooled tax fees. A local group working to finance a new arena has sold 40 luxury boxes. With that pot of gold lying ahead, they want to play.

DROP-THE-PUCK-TOMORROW DOVES

Dallas Stars: Cash-flow problems make them eager to play. Frustrated at inability to build on success of last season’s Big D debut.

Kings: Cash flow is a major problem because they’re paying huge bonuses to Wayne Gretzky and Marty McSorley. Playing would also deflect attention from last season’s playoff miss and minority owner Bruce McNall’s legal woes.

New York Rangers: They won the Stanley Cup and can’t raise the banner. Never crazy about the tax--they’d be hit hard--they’d drop it happily.

Ottawa Senators: Money problems and difficulties in financing their new arena make them want revenues they’d get from playing.

Pittsburgh Penguins: Publicly, co-owner Howard Baldwin says he’s a hard-liner. Privately, he’s scrambling to keep his club’s finances in order. There are rumblings that he will sell his stake.

St. Louis Blues: After hiring Mike Keenan away from the Rangers and acquiring defenseman Al MacInnis, they’re primed for a run at the Cup and have tried several times to get Bettman to lift the lockout.

Toronto Maple Leafs: Another money-maker and Cup contender, they’re managed well at every level and can only gain if the season is played.