NHL Round-up

NHL Round-up
By LCS: guide to hockey

General NHL News
NHL Substance Abuse/Health Program
The National Hockey League Players' Association and the NHL announced the establishment of a comprehensive program to address substance abuse, HIV, and related health matters for players and their families. The program was developed by league and NHLPA representatives and will take effect immediately.
The substance abuse and behavioral health program will be incorporated into the NHL/NHLPA collective bargaining agreement. The program will be jointly funded by the NHLPA and the league, and treatment costs will be paid for by the NHL medical insurance plan.
Under the program, a player seeking first-time help will receive confidential counseling and treatment. Here is the outline for the discipline drug and alcohol treatment policy.

Stage one: First in-patient treatment; no penalty.
Stage two: For violation of stage one treatment plan, suspension without pay during active phase of treatment and then eligible for reinstatement.
Stage three: For violation of stage two treatment plan, suspension without pay for at least six months, then eligible for reinstatement.
Stage four: For violation of stage three treatment plan, suspension without pay for at least one year. Reinstatement is not assured.

Players may also be subject to program supervision for substance abuse-related involvement within the criminal justice system. For example, players arrested for substance abuse-related offenses may be placed in stage one.
NHL Waiver Draft
The NHL Waiver Draft took place prior to the start of the 1996-97 season. Each team was allowed to protect 18 skaters and two goaltenders. Prospects were not counted towards the total.
Nine players switched teams when all was said and done:
PLAYER               CLAIMED BY     CLAIMED FROM    COMP.
Rob DiMaio, rw       San Jose       Philadelphia    Cash
Jim Dowd, c          NY Islanders   Vancouver       Cash
Corey Foster, d      NY Islanders   Pittsburgh      Cash
Bob Corkum, c        Phoenix        Philadelphia    Cash
Alexander Semak, c   Vancouver      NY Islanders    Cash
Dean Malkoc, d       Boston         Vancouver       Cash
Craig Billington, g  Colorado       Florida         Cash
Chris Joseph, d      Vancouver      Pittsburgh      Cash
Ralph Intranuovo, c  Toronto        Edmonton        Cash
Colorado claimed a reliable back-up for Patrick Roy when they selected Craig Billington from Florida. After trading Stephane Fiset to Los Angeles in the off-season, the Avs were without a back-up goaltender.
Rob DiMaio, who was claimed by the San Jose Sharks, was quickly dealt to the Boston Bruins for a fifth-round draft pick in the 1997 Entry Draft.
No Soup For You
Wayne Gretzky is first in a lot of NHL categories and two weeks ago Gretzky added another first to the record books...or I should say, soup labels. Gretzky now has the honor of being the first person to be featured on a Campbell's soup label.
The soup label bears Gretzky wearing a Rangers jersey, his famous number 99 and signature. The new design will appear on 50 million Campbell's Chunky Soup labels.
Campbell's is also donating 1,000 cases of soup to Second Harvest Food Bank Network for every point Gretzky scores during the 1996-97 season.
Pens Want to Improve Igloo
The Pittsburgh Penguins are asking city officals for $10 million in renovations to the Civic Arena. In addition, they are seeking relief from a portion of a $10 million loan used to improve the arena in 1994.
Before approving the new $10 million for renovations, leaders on both sides are investigating the possibility of building a new arena in Pittsburgh. The Civic Arena is now one of the oldest in the NHL at the ripe old age of 35.
Isles sold to Texas Businessman
The NY Islanders have been sold to Texas businessman John Spano for a price of $80 million. The sale of the team is subject to the approval of the 26-member NHL Board of Governors; the next meeting of the Board is scheduled for December 12th and 13th in Phoenix. It is likely the deal with be approved.
While it has been rumored that the Isles were on their way out of town, Spano reassured Islander faithful that the team will stay put. Spano told Newsday, "They will not move. That's my committment.".
Firings...Hirings...etc...
* Jeremy Roenick signed with the Phoenix Coyotes on October 14. The deal is for five years and is worth $20 million. Roenick played his first game as a Coyote that evening and recorded an assist on a Mike Gartner goal.
Police Blotter:
* October 7: New Jersey Devils' defenseman Scott Stevens received a one-game suspension and was fined $1,000 for highsticking Detroit center Igor Larionov.
* October 8: Messier was suspended two games without pay and fined $1,000 for hitting Panthers left wing Mike Hough from behind. Messier slammed Hough into the boards from behind and was given a major penalty and a game misconduct.
* October 8: Edmonton left wing Louie DeBrusk was suspended for four games and fined $1,000 for a slashing incident against Vancouver Canucks defenseman Dana Murzyn. DeBrusk received a match penalty in the contest for attempting to injure Murzyn with a two-handed slash.
* October 11: Brendan Shanahan received his first suspension as a member of the Detroit Red Wings after cross-checking Edmonton Oiler Greg De Vries. For the infraction, Shanahan received a one-game suspension.
Online Excursions
Listening to the NHL is now even easier than ever thanks to RealAudio broadcasts via the Internet. Radio broadcast of several NHL teams can be listened to from AudioNet. Teams offering online broadcasts through this service include: Buffalo, Chicago, Dallas, Florida, Los Angeles, Toronto, and Washington. In a future edition of LCS, we will investigate more sources for online audio broadcasts.