NHL Will Cancel Its Draft With No New Deal in Sight

The NHL will cancel its June draft, with the announcement coming as soon as today, and will replace it with a scaled-down version after a new collective bargaining agreement is in place, a league source said.

The draft was to be held in Ottawa on June 25-26 and be the coming-out party for Sidney Crosby, who is being pitched as the next great NHL player. But the source said that the league and its 30 teams were unwilling to spend deposit money on hotel and meeting rooms in Ottawa considering the slim likelihood that a deal with the NHL Players’ Assn. could be worked out in time.

The draft will be held once an agreement is approved and will be conducted using a teleconference call and electronic selections, the source said.

The NHLPA executive committee, which includes Trevor Linden, Bill Guerin, Vincent Damphousse, Bob Boughner, Arturs Irbe and Trent Klatt, spent the last three days meeting and golfing at Pebble Beach. No new proposal is expected to come from the meetings.

By canceling the draft, the NHL removed what little leverage the NHLPA had at this time. Union representatives were banking on the NHL’s need to conduct a showcase draft as part of an effort to win back fans and sponsors. As a result, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman would probably link player salaries and league revenues in any future proposals.

The NHL floated two proposals when the two sides last met -- one did not have a link to revenues and set the salary cap at $37.5 million, while the other included a link with revenues. The NHLPA rejected both proposals.

Elsewhere, the sale of the Mighty Ducks to Henry and Susan Samueli is expected to be put on the agenda for the NHL’s board of governors meeting April 20. The Samuelis agreed to buy the team from the Walt Disney Co. in what is believed to be a $75-million deal.

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Chris Foster

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Motor Sports

An appeals committee lifted the suspensions of the crew chiefs for Jimmie Johnson and Kyle Busch, 10 days after they were accused of cheating in a race in Las Vegas.

The National Stock Car Racing Commission rescinded the two-race suspensions NASCAR had levied against Chad Knaus and Alan Gustafson, and instead put both on 90 days probation.

NASCAR stiffened its penalty process after the March 13 race in Las Vegas, when Johnson’s race-winning car and Busch’s second-place car failed inspection. Johnson’s was too low and Busch’s was too high.

Knaus, crew chief for Johnson, was suspended by NASCAR for two races and fined $35,000. Johnson was also docked 25 points, and Jeff Gordon was docked 25 owner points because he is listed as the car owner.

Gustafson was suspended two weeks and fined $25,000. Busch was docked 25 points, as was car owner Rick Hendrick.

William G. Miller, president of California Speedway for the last 4 1/2 years, has resigned effective at the end of the month.

No permanent replacement was selected. Bryan Sperber, president of Phoenix International Raceway, will oversee operations until a successor is chosen.

Formula One Chief Bernie Ecclestone and three banks have reached agreement over control of the world’s premier open-wheel racing series.

Details of the settlement were not disclosed and it was not immediately clear what effect the agreement would have on the sport. Ecclestone is trying to fight off a rival breakaway series.

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Soccer

The United States men’s team will play World Cup host Germany in an exhibition game on March 22 next year, according to the governing body of German soccer.

The U.S. moved up one spot into a 10th-place tie with Italy in the March FIFA rankings.

Brazil remained No. 1, a position it has held since July 2002, a month after winning its record fifth World Cup.

Mexico, which plays the U.S. in a World Cup qualifier Sunday in Mexico City, is No. 6.

Ezra Hendrickson headed in a 23rd-minute corner kick by Francisco Gomez to lead Chivas USA to a 1-0 victory over Club America in an exhibition game at Juarez, Mexico.

Australia took an important step in its bid to leave the Oceania federation and join the Asian group.

Asian soccer chiefs unanimously agreed to the move, but Australia still must resign from Oceania, apply to the Asian group and receive approval from FIFA, soccer’s world governing body. The move would allow Australia a chance at direct entry to the World Cup instead of having to win a playoff.

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Miscellany

New England Patriot linebacker Tedy Bruschi is considering sitting out next season for health reasons, the Boston Globe reported.

Bruschi’s agent told the newspaper that the Pro Bowl player was contemplating whether he can play next season after being treated for a mild stroke last month. Bruschi, 31, was admitted to a hospital on Feb. 16 and released a couple of days later. However, an Arizona television station reported that Bruschi was readmitted to the hospital so doctors could repair a hole in his heart.

Greek track and field authorities expect the sport’s governing body to overturn their decision that cleared sprinters Kostas Kenteris and Katerina Thanou.

The Greek federation last week exonerated the runners of evading doping tests before the Athens Olympics, saying they had not been properly notified.

Peter Forsberg will skip the hockey world championships in Austria because of injuries. Forsberg played for his hometown club MoDo this season during the NHL lockout. He sat out the last part of the regular season in Sweden because of a broken wrist and then had a concussion in the playoffs.

The United States assured itself of a medal with a 10-7 victory over Canada, and Russia secured an Olympic berth at the World Women’s Curling Championship at Aisley, Scotland.

Mike Penner is on assignment.