A parade has begun of NHL owners releasing to the public the amount of money they are losing, doubtless in preparation for the expiration of the labor agreement with the players next year.
Place the Blues at the head of the line.
Mark Sauer, a former team president of the Pirates who now holds that title with the Blues, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that his franchise lost $43.1 million last season. That figure, he said, was directly connected to the 57 percent jump in player payroll the team made in 2001-02 to $55 million -- third-highest in the league -- in pursuit of a Stanley Cup. The total income, including two rounds of playoffs, was $57.4 million against expenses of $100.1 million.
The Blues are projecting another $40 million in losses this season, and owners Bill and Nancy Laurie could sell the team. The Lauries have ties to the Wal-Mart fortune.
"If we can't significantly improve the economics of the whole operation, I don't think we can retain quality ownership on a long-term basis here," Sauer said.
The Kings finally acknowledged Thursday that they are shopping Zigmund Palffy, who would make $7 million next season if his club option is exercised. Los Angeles management, which also has spoken publicly about mounting losses, does not want to have $15 million committed to two players, and Jason Allison is due $8 million. "Ziggy's been our best player this year," General Manager Dave Taylor told the Los Angeles Times. "But we have to look at the economic side of things. We want to keep an eye on 2004, as well."
Sources at the All-Star Game last weekend indicated strongly that the next prominent scorer on the block will be the Sharks' Owen Nolan. There is palpable friction between San Jose's captain and General Manager Dean Lombardi. Lombardi has been singling out Nolan for blame as the Sharks have been among the NHL's most disappointing teams. Asked about that by a San Jose Mercury News reporter this week, Nolan replied, "No, I'm not even getting into it," before walking away.
In a season with seven coaches fired -- one shy of the NHL record set two years ago -- the Wild did the unthinkable Thursday and signed Jacques Lemaire to a three-year extension worth $1.2 million per year. That keeps him among the league's best-paid coaches and, given his credentials, it is difficult to deny him that. Minnesota's player payroll is a league-low $21 million, but the Wild has been the surprise of the season.
Brian Burke, the Canucks' GM, typically was among the most vocal of his brethren at the meetings in Florida earlier this week on the subject of diving. He does not want to see minor penalties, but rather fines and/or suspensions. "It has to go to supplemental discipline," he told reporters. "Start whacking these guys, and it will go away. We can't let our game turn into European soccer. On some nights, some of these dives resemble that."
Colin Campbell, who holds the NHL director of hockey operations job once held by Burke, was just as emphatic in his criticism of diving. But he noted one oddity about all the complaints forwarded to his office: "They all say there's no problem with their team, but there certainly is a problem with the 29 other teams."
Western Conference: Blues bleed $43 million in red ink 
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