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Tuesday, December 7, 1999
Bryden set to brief owners
Sens situation a major topic at meeting
BOCA RATON, Fla. -- Senators owner Rod Bryden will arrive in the Sunshine State today to try clear up the clouded future of the Ottawa franchise with the NHL's board of governors.
During meetings beginning today, Bryden is expected to update the 29 owners of his intentions to sell the team, the level of interest in the Senators and his ongoing battle for tax concessions from the Canadian government.
It's also expected he'll let the governors know when he needs a decision from the feds on tax relief before he accepts an offer to sell and move the team.
"It will be good for these people to hear this from Rod Bryden's mouth," said Senators president Roy Mlakar last night. "Rod hasn't attended a meeting in a long time and he'll be able to tell everyone where everything stands.
"We all know that through all this stuff there has been a lot of speculation about dates, deadlines and who is making offers here and there. Rod is going to get a chance at these meetings to clear up that speculation and let everybody know exactly what is happening."
LOTS TO SAY
Sources say Bryden will outline the following to the governors:
n That there have been six or seven calls from parties interested in buying the Senators to move them to the U.S. No firm offers have been put on the table, but Portland's Paul Allen is the frontrunner, while Houston has two parties interested. Cleveland, Las Vegas, New Orleans and Oklahoma City have voiced interest.
Bryden will also tell the owners that he still wants to give the Canadian government time to make a move.
"He really doesn't want to sell the team," said the source. "His first choice, which he's made very clear, is to keep the team in Ottawa."
n Secondly, Bryden is expected to tell the governors he is optimistic that the team will get the relief it needs from the Canadian government.
Bryden has already come up with ways to get relief from the provincial and regional governments, so the feds are the last hurdle. Sources on Parliament Hill told the Sun that a package could be coming in the next 10 days.
"He's going to have to wait at least that long, but I really believe we're going to see something get done," said the source.
"The federal government is behind this and they're just trying to make sure that they can come up with a way not to face voter backlash."
n It's also expected Bryden will ask NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and the board to play a more active role in aiding the six Canadian teams.
The Senators won't ask for more money, but it's believed Bryden will ask Bettman to reinforce his commitment that the Canadian franchises won't move.
"My belief is that the federal government wants a five-year commitment from the league on the future of teams if they're going to be able to come through with some kind of tax relief," said an NHL executive. "They don't want to go through with some kind of package and then see everybody going south anyway."
The fight is far from over for Bryden, and the other six Canadian teams. But today he'll let the governors know that for the Ottawa franchise at least, the race is nearing the finish line -- one way or another.
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