Friday, December 14, 2001
Slovaks shut out by commissioner
By BRUCE GARRIOCH -- Ottawa Sun
As NHL commissioner Gary Bettman spoke yesterday, you could hear the door slam all the way to Slovakia.
Speaking to Ottawa media during a visit to the Corel Centre, Bettman came down hard on the notion that the Senators could release winger Marian Hossa and defenceman Zdeno Chara to help the Slovaks qualify for the Winter Olympics.
While Slovakian GM Peter Stastny has been holding out hope teams will release players, Bettman made it clear yesterday that if teams allow players to miss games they could face repercussions.
"It's a little curious to me that this issue is getting so much attention now. This is nothing new," Bettman said. "This tournament was structured the way it is structured in 1998. There were discussions with all the various federations and it was made clear there was only so long a break.
"We (told everybody) that we would only give up our players during the break. The fact is that while I'm very sympathetic to the teams that have to qualify in the first round, this is nothing new. This is what everybody agreed to before the last Olympics. While I understand their concerns, first and foremost comes our season."
Bettman said he had no problem with players playing in games if their teams aren't active that night. But he added players have to be in uniform for their NHL teams until everybody is released Feb. 13 for the break.
Though Hossa and Chara have held a couple of meetings with Senators GM Marshall Johnston, they would only be available to play in one of Slovakia's qualifying games, and getting them to Utah would be a logistical nightmare.
Phoenix owner Wayne Gretzky announced recently that he'd let Michal Handzus, Ladislav Nagy and Radoslav Suchy play one game for the Slovakians, while Montreal GM Andre Savard is also willing to release Richard Zednik for one game.
"There's a bylaw that says you have to ice your best team, so you can't be giving up your best players," said Bettman. "There's no surprise here to the IIHF or anybody else. We were very clear four years ago that we were not doing anything than the (12-day break) with respect to our season.
"There are a whole host of reasons why we should not release our players. One game or two points could make a difference in a team making the playoffs. The Coyotes should know that because I'm sure there's one or two games they'd like to have back (this season)."
In a 35-minute session, Bettman touched on other issues, including those that concern Canadian franchises:
* On the Senators' financial picture and owner Rod Bryden's search for a partner: "This franchise is extremely well run. Rod Bryden is committed to making this work. Just because not every movement or discussion somebody has is in the newspaper, I think the resolve to bring in some assistance over the long term is there. If the right situation arises, I'm sure Rod will do what needs to be done. I'm bullish long term on the franchise. This is a competitive, good, young team and I think prospects are good."
* On the collective bargaining agreement that expires in 2004: "I view the notion of 2004 as an opportunity. When I say that, everybody thinks I'm talking Armageddon, or another war is what I heard. That's not what I mean. I view it as an opportunity to make sure that our next CBA has 30 healthy franchises. I talk on a regular basis with (NHLPA union head) Bob Goodenow. My hope would be we could get something done quickly and quietly. But it's not a dance we can dance by ourselves."
* On the battle with the lottery corporation:"We have consistently said that Sports Select unfairly violates our property rights by taking the results of our games. That's an issue that we can always address. We're trying to work on common ground for a constructive solution, but any point in time, we can move forward on (legal action)."
2002 Games Men's Hockey Coverage
