NHL’s revenues are expected to rise this season, Gary Bettman says

Commissioner Gary Bettman said Friday that NHL revenues are projected to rise about 4% this season and hit record levels on the heels of a rise in sponsorships and in TV ratings, and that the salary cap, which had been expected to drop in a wobbly economy, could grow by $2 million if the players’ association exercises its right to approve a 5% escalator clause. The cap was $56.8 million this season.

Bettman also said the league’s franchises are stable and firmly denied a report that the Kings are for sale. A Kings spokesman recently dismissed that report as speculation. Bettman said the Phoenix Coyotes, being operated by the NHL after falling into bankruptcy, will remain in Arizona next season. However, prospective owners who want to move the Coyotes back to Winnipeg, Canada, are in the background and “they’re prepared to be patient,” he said.

Speaking at a news conference at the United Center on the eve of Saturday’s Stanley Cup finals opener between the Chicago Blackhawks and Philadelphia Flyers, Bettman confirmed that the Pittsburgh Penguins will host the Washington Capitals in the next Winter Classic outdoor game on Jan. 1, 2011, at Pittsburgh’s Heinz Field. It will be followed by an outdoor game between the Montreal Canadiens and the Calgary Flames at Calgary’s McMahon Stadium, probably on Feb. 20.

Bettman said holding a second outdoor game next season won’t dilute the unique atmosphere that those events generate.

“I believe, based on the sense we’re getting in particular north of the 49th parallel, there is real interest and desire for us to have another outdoor game,” he said.

In addition, he said the Coyotes and Carolina Hurricanes will play exhibition games in Russia and Latvia, respectively, in October and six NHL teams will open their schedules in Europe.

The All-Star weekend will take place Jan. 29-30 in Raleigh, N.C., and Bettman said the league is coming up with ideas to improve the format and enhance competitiveness.

Bettman broke from his usual calm demeanor only once, when he was asked about a column posted on the International Ice Hockey Federation’s website criticizing Sidney Crosby and other prominent NHL players for skipping the recent world championships after playing in the Vancouver Olympics. The column, written by IIHF official Szymon Szemberg was later removed.

The IIHF makes big money off the Games, but the NHL does not receive compensation. The federation begged the NHL to allow players to participate in the 2014 Sochi Olympics, but that must be negotiated between the league and the players’ union, and no accord has been reached regarding Sochi.

Bettman called NHL players’ participation in the Vancouver Games “a mixed bag,” consistent with his hesitance to commit to suspending the season in 2014. It’s all a bargaining ploy, but Bettman was irked that the IIHF had denigrated his players and called IIHF President Rene Fasel to complain.

“What he said was inappropriate, out of line and simply wrong, and he needed to make a public apology, which he did,” Bettman said. “I’m not happy with the way the IIHF somehow feels it has entitlement to these great athletes who risk their careers and put themselves out on their own time without anything but love of country to be belittled by the IIHF.”

Injury report

Blackhawks forward Andrew Ladd, who suffered an upper-body injury in Game 4 of Chicago’s Western Conference finals sweep of the San Jose Sharks, missed his third consecutive practice Friday. Tomas Kopecky replaced him alongside Kris Versteeg and Dave Bolland.

Coach Joel Quenneville said Ladd is day to day and will return during the series.

“We’ll see about tomorrow,” Quenneville said.

Kopecky, lured away from the Detroit Red Wings as a free agent last summer, has played in 11 of the Blackhawks’ 16 playoff games. But he’s used to that, having made 12 postseason appearances the last two seasons during the Red Wings’ 2008 Cup run and seven-game finals loss to Pittsburgh last spring.

“I’ve been on a team that was really talented up front, and you have to find a way to help the team,” he said. “Right now we’re going to be a checking line, and that’s fine with me. …

“It’s going to be fun. Bollie’s the kind of guy that likes to get under your skin and I like that, too. We’re just going to be pests out there.”

Aw, shucks

The more successful the Flyers are, the lower the draft pick that they gave the Ducks in the Chris Pronger trade last June will be.

If the Flyers win the Cup, the pick will be the 30th of the first round; if they lose, it will be No. 29. Philadelphia gave up first-round picks this season and next season as part of the deal.

“Too bad. It’s breaking my heart,” Pronger said in a tone that clearly suggested otherwise.

Familiarity hasn’t bred contempt

The Flyers and Blackhawks played once this season, a 3-2 Philadelphia victory March 13 decided on a goal by Pronger with 2.1 seconds left. So the teams are eager to get going and figure each other out.

“The weird part is we don’t know much about the Hawks. We’ve seen them once, a long time ago. And I guess it’s the same thing on their side,” Flyers forward Danny Briere said.

“I can’t wait to start playing, to start the hatred going a little bit. Right now everybody’s nice to each other. I can’t wait until it feels like this is going now and there’s no love anymore.”

But Philadelphia captain Mike Richards had some respect for his Chicago counterpart, Jonathan Toews.

“I mean, he’s hockey 24/7,” Richards said of his teammate on Canada’s Olympic championship squad at the Vancouver Games. “He’s obviously a leader. He’s tenacious on the ice. And he’s just nonstop. He makes his linemates better and in doing so makes his teammates better. … I would put him up with one of the best players in the world.”

Slap shots

The Blackhawks, who have a seven-game road winning streak, will try to simulate an away game by staying at a hotel Saturday afternoon instead of having players return to their homes. …

Blackhawks assistant coach John Torchetti coached the Kings for the final 12 games of the 2005-06 season after Dave Taylor, then the team’s general manager, fired Andy Murray in a desperate-but-futile attempt to get the team into the playoffs.

How is Torchetti enjoying this playoff run? We’d love to know, but the Blackhawks wouldn’t allow him to be interviewed. A club spokesman said Quenneville doesn’t allow his assistants to speak during the playoffs, which Torchetti confirmed. …

The Ducks are awaiting word from defenseman Scott Niedermayer and winger Teemu Selanne about their plans for next season, but General Manager Bob Murray hasn’t been pressing the unrestricted free agents for a decision.

Selanne, who will be 40 in July, and Niedermayer, who will be 37 in August, retired briefly after the Ducks’ 2007 Cup triumph. Each played well enough to be chosen for his country’s Olympic team in February at the Vancouver Games: Niedermayer was Canada’s captain and Selanne led Finland to a bronze medal.

“I want to make sure they have all the time they need to think about it,” Murray said. “We still have a month before the draft, and both guys are aware we would like to know by then. We still have plenty of time.” …

The Ducks signed left wing Brandon McMillan, their third-round pick (No. 85 overall) in the 2008 draft, to a three-year, entry-level contract. They also traded the rights to goaltender Mattias Modig to Pittsburgh for a sixth-round pick in this year’s draft.

helene.elliott@latimes.com

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