WITH the playoffs only days away, the National Hockey League is thinking well beyond the day in mid- June that the newest Stanley Cup winner will be declared. And thinking, believe it or not, in terms of self-serving generosity. The league*s newest mil- lennium project, to be intro- duced in the 2000-01 season, is such a radical departure from past practice, it’s the jockstrap equivalent of Preston Manning invoking the image of Tommy Douglas and preaching the virtues of * democratic socialism. Except for one thing. In the NHL it’s about to hap- pen. Your agent has learned that the Gary Bettman plan already has been hammered our, and only a handful of - American teani owners remain to be convinced before a radically enlightened " operation heads into the new century, What Bettman has told them, essentially, is the fairy tale about the goose that laid the golden eggs; and if things don’t change they, like the farmer of Greek legend, will destroy their primary source spectator of supply and fan interest. Ir’s a place called Canada. At his behest the NHI. will start the new century, not only with some new teams, but with a share-the- wealth philosophy in the form ot a 60-40 split of all live gates. He pur it to them in roughly these words: “Look, guys, Canada sup- plies us with more than 60% of our players. And that per- centage is about to increase because we've sucked the rempants of the old Russian system dry, and they don’t have a new one to replace it. We won't be getting many more trom there. “And how many more Swedes, Finns and Czechs can we get? Hell, there are more people in Ohio than the combined populations of those three countries. But this is whar really scares me: there are more kids in Canada nuw playing soccer than hockey. About 50,000 nerth shore news @ SPORTS | Canadian NHL teams vital to the league more — and growing. “And PH tell vou some- thing else. It’s all happened since the Quebee and Winnipeg franchises moved to Denver and Phoenix. What's going to happen to our Canadian player supply if Edmonton, Calgary and Orawa have to head south? “We all know the small marker story is a crock. What it’s all about is that lousy Canadian dollar. If we don’t keep the Canadian franchises safe, we're all in trouble. As [ see it, 60-40 is the answer. Share and share alike. Besides, if hockey turns out to be just a passing fad in some of our new market areas, some of you guys may want to move your teams up to Canada, And I’m sure you wouldn't go without a 60-40 gare split.” That was the gist of Betrman's message, along with the advice that ever since the arrival of the NBA in Canada, more kids who might become hackey stars are now wearing basketball sneakers. Quite aside from those few owners he has vet to con- vince, he must cut a deal with | the Players Association. The owners are solidly agreed that if they're to be loaded down with those 60-cent Canadian _ STRATEGIC "THINKING | for the new millenium i APRIL 28 THROUGH 30, 1998 . This executive seminar will teach you to take control through the understanding of CMR (Competence-Market-Relationship). Individuals and corporations ‘harbour Core-Competence which, once released and focused, becomes the key to “dramatic progress. ‘You will be introduced to CMR . By understanding Chaos as it affects the corporate world; : Through adjusting to a new Mind Set by challenging your presumptions “and perceptions; By identifying your Core-Corxz -etence and the need to Nurture it, . Through understanding your Interdependencies i in the real world; “and ‘By understanding that Strategic Thinking involves calibration of the ‘relationship between Competence and Market. This seminar is offered by Trilennium Mentors Ltd., a professional firm assisting select corporate clients with strategic planning and tactical execution. This seminar will be held at the exclusive Clam Bay Executive Retreat on Pender Island B.C. it will cost $4,000 (plus GST) per participant. Cost includes three nights accommodation, all meals, course material and airfare from Vancouver to Clam Bay. loonies, there’s going to have to be a salary cap, just as there is in the NFJ. and NBA. Without it, no deal. Rettman’s working on it and, by all accounts, he and players boss Boh Goodenow are close to cutting a deal. lt involves tree agency. Under the current union contract, a plaver can‘r become an unre- Wednesday, April 1, 1998 - North Shore News - 45 stricted free agent until he’s 31. Goodenow and the phs- ers will agree to a cap ifthe age is lowered to 25. The commissioner is holding out tor 27. They lf likely compro- niise at 26. Once they do, the few hesitating owners will climb aboard. As the new guy in Nashville says: “Hell, PF can’r v7 lose. If hockey doesn’t catch on down here the way coun- try music did, I can afford to move the team north to! Saskatoon. By the way, where's Saskatoon?” And that’s exactly where the NHL's revolutionary plan for the 21st century stands on this 32nd day of March, 1998, Johnny gets 8 ft. can you beat that? See more air on our website suggested retail $395 lifetime frame warranty BICYCLES &. . SNOWBOARDS . 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