From: simpson@bnr.ca (Scott Simpson)
Subject: The Market Competition Committee report (was: '93 draft picks)
Organization: Bell-Northern Research, Ottawa, Canada
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 22:35:56 GMT

In article <1992Dec24.174414.27109@mprgate.mpr.ca> duncan@mpr.ca (Nick Duncan) writes:
>I just read in my Sun this morning that Ottawa has won its battle to
>keep the first draft pick and that the draft had been restructured to
>allow this and to take care of the new expansion teams. The paper was
>a little unclear about what had actually happened, but it did mention
>that some of the "old-guard" (their phrase) including Bill Wirtz had
>"gone ballistic" at the new draft rules and that they were appealing the
>decision. 
>
>So the draft is or isn't drastically changed to accommodate the
>Senators, Ducks and Videos. Does anybody know anything else about this?
>Nick Duncan <duncan@mprgate.mpr.ca>

Well, the Market Competition Committee has apparently decided tthe following:

  o  In the June 1993 entry draft the two new teams - Disney and Blockbuster -
     will select no worse than third and fourth.  Only 1992 teams (Ottawa and
     Tampa Bay) will be able to select ahead of them, and only if they finish 
     in one of the bottom three positions.  Presumably Disney and Blockbuster
     will flip a coin to decide their order of selection.

  o  In the 1994 entry draft, Disney and Blockbuster will flip again to
     determine first and second, no matter how they finish their first season.

  o  The 1993 expansion draft will make more players available to the new teams
     than ever before.  They will be able to select 24 players, including three
     goaltenders, and established clubs will only be able to protect 15 players,
     including one goaltender (I think I heard 1 goalie, 5 defencemen and 9
     forwards).  Each club could lose a maximum of two players.

  o  A second "cross-pollination" draft will be held a week later in which all 
     teams protect only 16 players, including one goalie, and the 1992 teams
     (Ottawa and TB) would be able to select from Disney and Blockbuster, as
     well as the other 22 teams.

  o  The waiver draft, in which teams can lose but one player each fall, would
     gradually be expanded to three players by 1995.

  o  Only first-year professional players would be exempt from the protected 
     lists.  For the first time, second-year pros would be available in the 
     draft.

So, these were accepted by Gil Stein, and it is noted that Bettman was behind 
the changes as well, and it's assumed he will put them in action when he takes
over in January.  It's clear that San Jose is getting a bum deal here, as they
will draft either 4th or 5th this year, even if they finish last (a mighty big
"if", considering the Senators are around).

But, at least I'm happy.  That's all that matters ;-).


Later,
Scott
----------------->  rec.sport.hockey Ottawa Senators Contact <------------------
- Scott "Stop Calling Me Bart" Simpson | "Hmmm... [chocolate | barbequeue |    -
- CAD Operation Tools Development      |           donuts | potato(e) chips |  -
- Bell-Northern Research Ltd.          |           crumbled-up cookie things | -
- Ottawa, Ontario, Canada  [CRK 043]   |           beer | hog fat | boobies]." -
- simpson@bnr.ca       (613) 763-9243  |       - Homer, hero to men everywhere -
--->  In case it's not obvious, BNR and I may or may not share these views. <---
Newsgroups: rec.sport.hockey