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Sunday, August 04, 2002

By Dejan Kovacevic, Post-Gazette Sports Writer

Mellon Arena's dome-shaped, stainless steel roof makes for the most distinct, most dramatic backdrop of any venue in the NHL.

But it also makes for a lousy place to hang a clothesline.

That's what the Penguins have learned this summer in attempting to comply with the NHL's new requirement that all arenas place netting behind each goal to protect fans from stray pucks.

Because Mellon Arena doesn't have the support grid in its roof that the NHL's other 29 arenas do -- catwalks, girders and other structures that make for easy maintenance -- the Penguins are having difficulty figuring out how to mount the netting in a way that would allow it to be put up and taken down routinely. Their studies have shown that, if netting is hung from the roof, it could be accessed only by bringing a crane in and out of the building for each event, an expensive and cumbersome task.

Because of this, NHL officials have told the Penguins they can have an exemption from the safety standards. The league still would like the netting to reach the required 23.5 feet above the glass, but it has allowed the team to lower that if necessary. When the Penguins come up with a plan -- as early as next week -- it will need to be submitted for approval.

"Obviously, we will deviate from the league's safety requirements as minimally as possible," said Mike Lee, the team's vice president of properties and point man on the netting issue. "We don't want a day-of-game malfunction and have to try to get a crane into the building to fix it. We also don't want to construct some monstrosity that will hold the netting in place but be more detrimental to sightlines. We're working feverishly with different manufacturers to come up with a custom solution for Mellon Arena."

The Penguins have looked at several different types of mesh for the netting and have determined that black is the best color. A clear thread is available, but team officials believe it refracts light and distorts the view. They also plan to use the thinnest thread and largest grid space possible while still meeting the league's strength standard.

The team has heard this summer from season-ticket holders in the affected areas -- mostly the C-level seats behind the goals and the E and F balconies -- concerned about how well they will see the game. But Lee is optimistic complaints will be few come October.

"I think it will hinder fans' views as much as they want to notice it. It certainly doesn't help, but we've selected what we feel is the least obstructive netting possible. Plus, as a fan, you have to realize that this is for your own protection. It's a small inconvenience that has a much larger purpose. I view it like the seat-belt law. Sure, most people hated putting on the seat belt at first, but now you feel naked without it on. It takes getting used to."

Icy chips

Add Bob Boughner of the Flames to the list of those confident the NHL will have a work stoppage when its Collective Bargaining Agreement ends in 2004. "Baseball will have a big effect on what happens in hockey," he told reporters Thursday in Windsor, Ontario. "Baseball and hockey are the only two of the four major sports that don't have salary caps. If they get a salary cap in baseball, it'll be much harder on us. You just have to listen to the quotes from management to know what's coming. The league will settle for nothing less than a salary cap. The players are happy with the way things are. Both sides are willing to get into a fight. There's going to be a lockout." He said the NHLPA is ready. "If the gloves do come off, we're in it for the long run. The players have a much stronger relationship with each other than the owners have with each other."

One franchise that suffers in the current system is the one for which Boughner plays, based in the league's smallest market, Calgary. But that isn't stopping the Flames from making a major move to keep restricted free agent Jarome Iginla, who led the league in scoring while making $1.7 million last season. He figures to triple that salary, but it will require team owner Harley Hotchkiss to expand his payroll and likely operate at a loss.

That Wayne Gretzky comeback story didn't exactly have legs. After Jeremy Roenick and a few others told the Chicago media they saw Gretzky working out and thought he might come out of retirement a la Mario Lemieux, all the national outlets ran with it. Trouble is, Gretzky will be 41 in January, and he has two herniated disks that require surgery. What raised speculation was a casual skate he made last month with a few players at the Coyotes' rookie camp. He explained in a press release Friday that he did so partly for fun and partly to strengthen his back: "It was enjoyable, and I intend to do it again at some point. But I am not planning on making a comeback to play."

Theoren Fleury ended months of silence about his off-ice troubles -- including substance abuse -- by speaking to the media Monday in Calgary. He is 34 and still available on the open market after the Rangers chose not to exercise a $7 million option for the coming season. He said he would play for a significant pay cut. "To me, it's no longer about money," he said. "It's about being in a situation where I can be on a team that has a chance to win, and it also has to be a situation where I feel I can be successful, do what I do best and continue my recovery. That's the most important thing in my life." Among his blowups last season was an early, voluntary exit from a game at Mellon Arena Jan. 5. He described his behavior as "nuts."

When Paul Kariya accepted the Mighty Ducks' offer of one year for $10 million Wednesday, he swelled the ranks of the NHL's eight-digit salaries to five, joining Jaromir Jagr, Nicklas Lidstrom, Peter Forsberg and Pavel Bure. Will Alexei Kovalev be next?

If Randy Robitaille plays on the Penguins' top two lines next season, he should be expected to get another chance to skate with Kovalev. They played together sparingly in March and April but showed chemistry when they did. That is rare for any player with Kovalev, who is as unorthodox and unpredictable as anyone in the game. "Yeah, it can be difficult to read a guy like Kovy, but it's also fun. He does stuff other people aren't capable of, stuff other people won't even think of," Robitaille said. "My skill level isn't where his is, but I consider myself a guy who can play with him. It didn't feel like it took me that long last season."

Kovalev has spent the bulk of his summer relaxing at home rather than flying or engaging in his various other activities. The reason? His first child, son Nikita, was born in May. "It's the greatest thing," he said. "It changes your whole life."

Dan LaCouture had a pretty big week. Two days before signing his first NHL-only deal Thursday, he was engaged to Bridey Delaney of Cape Cod, Mass.

The Penguins have committed $27.47 million to 20 players with NHL-only contracts for next season. Their self-imposed payroll cap is $35 million.

Only 67 days until the puck drops between Lemieux and Mats Sundin.

Dejan Kovacevic can be reached at dkovacevic@ post-gazette.com.