Labor Problems Are on Horizon

Although I believe that the NHL season is too long, Commissioner Gary Bettman has reason to feel good about the league.

Riding the success of the popular Detroit Red Wings, television ratings were up for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

ABC’s coverage of the finals posted a national rating 9% higher than last season, which included a 13% increase among males aged 18-34.

The league’s attendance during the playoffs also increased. Arenas were filled to 99.9% capacity with an average attendance of 18,791, which exceeded the previous record of 18,419, set last season.

But before Bettman breaks his arm patting himself on the back, there are a couple of things the league needs to address.

Topping the list is the NHL’s financial state. With their $65-million payroll, the Red Wings did not spend the most money in the league, but they were close. The success Detroit had after adding such big-contract players as Dominik Hasek, Brett Hull and Luc Robitaille will likely motivate deep-pocket franchises such as the New York Rangers and Colorado Avalanche to spend even more money.

With the collective bargaining agreement scheduled to expire Sept. 15, 2004 and the NHL becoming more a league of haves and have-nots, Bettman will have to perform his best spin job to keep things harmonious.

That’s why in his recent state-of-the-league address Bettman made sure he discussed economics. The commissioner didn’t hesitate to say the league required a new economic system and made another public appeal to the NHL Players’ Assn. to begin talks toward a new collective bargaining agreement.

“We remain prepared, available and eager, any time, anyplace, any day, to undertake substantive dialogue with the players’ association on a new collective bargaining agreement,” Bettman said in his attempt to make the players’ union the bad guy before the labor battle even begins.

Bettman and the league owners want some sort of salary cap but do not want revenue sharing. Union chief Bob Goodenow and the NHLPA oppose a salary cap but would not mind seeing some of the financially stronger franchises share their profits with other teams.

That’s not the case right now. Even with Carolina and its modest payroll making an unexpected run to the finals, that doesn’t mean the Hurricanes will be favorites to win the Stanley Cup next season unless they are willing to spend money this summer to keep pace with more financially capable franchises such as the Rangers.

The NHL can’t afford to follow the path of Major League Baseball, which already has a class system and continues to have labor issues. Bettman understands this. He knows his league’s shortcomings as well as anyone, and that’s why he’s speaking out now even with two seasons left on the CBA.

Bettman may be just posturing, but unless something is worked out sooner than later, the NHL appears headed for some type of work stoppage, which would not be good for anyone.

Down and Out in Buffalo

The status of the Buffalo Sabres is uncertain because of the economic crisis facing owner John J. Rigas and his family.

Grand juries in two states are investigating financial transactions between Rigas-founded Adelphia Communications, the nation’s sixth-largest cable TV company, and the Rigas family.

Among the questions is whether Rigas used Adelphia funds to purchase the NHL team without the approval of Adelphia stockholders.

The NHL is hoping that a locally controlled investor group is able to step in and keep the Sabres in Buffalo.

According to league sources, Buffalo businessman Mark E. Hamister, who owns the Buffalo Destroyers of the Arena Football League, is the main person behind the investment group, with help from Boston Bruin owner Jeremy M. Jacobs, who has been very involved in advising the group.

Another option could be for the Sabres to be purchased by an out-of-town investor group. That may be a longshot because of a strong nonrelocation agreement in the team’s lease with local governments.

But until the ownership issue can be resolved, the league may be forced to take over the franchise.

No Rush to Find Scotty’s Replacement

According to Detroit owner Mike Ilitch, the Red Wings will take their time hiring a replacement for Coach Scotty Bowman, who announced his retirement after the Stanley Cup finals.

Although many people around the league believe that longtime assistant coaches Dave Lewis and Barry Smith should take over as co-head coaches, Ilitch said the Red Wings will interview numerous candidates.

“We can’t afford to make a mistake with a coach, not with the talent that we’ve got,” Ilitch said.

Because of the high number of veterans on their roster, the Red Wings are expected to go through a transition stage, and Ilitch wants his next coach to not only be able to attract future free agents but also continue to develop young players.

Remember, Bowman may have received a ton credit for getting his future Hall of Famers to play together, but he also did a great job of getting the most out of role players such as Tomas Holmstrom, Darren McCarty, Jiri Fischer and Mathieu Dandenault, who were all drafted by the Red Wings.

Line Shifts

Here are some items that you may or may not have heard about throughout the NHL playoffs:

At this week’s Board of Governors meeting, the NHL will discuss ways to make arenas safer for spectators--such as safety netting used in Europe--following the death of 13-year-old Brittanie Cecil at a Columbus Blue Jacket game this season.

Without getting into specifics, Bettman said the league would not make any decisions until he reviews a report being prepared by engineers, architects and safety inspectors....

Somewhat lost in the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup celebrations was the presence of former defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov, who attended Detroit’s Game 5 victory five years after being injured in a limousine accident that left him partially paralyzed....

Veteran coach Pat Burns was a great hire for New Jersey, which fired Kevin Constantine one month after the Devils were eliminated in the first round by the Hurricanes.

Burns has a winning track record and he demands the most out of his players, which is something the Devils, who have had four coaches in four years, need.