Despite cloudy future, GMs focusing on draft

The first three rounds of the league's draft are today in Raleigh.
DURHAM, N.C. (AP) -- In one hotel meeting room, general managers of the NHL's 30 teams debated rule changes meant to spice up the game. In another room, a dozen of the sport's best young players spoke about their dream of playing in the league.
It was business as usual Friday, a day before the NHL's annual amateur draft, despite the threat that a labor impasse may shut down play next fall.
"It's not possible to ignore the situation that we're in," Montreal general manager Bob Gainey said as team and league executives ended a 4-hour meeting. "On the other hand, I think the best course of action is ... to just make the best of the situation we're in, not trying to predict or crystal-ball the way things will be.
Time in sun
"The draft, I think, is maybe the easiest part. It's a good time for (prospects) to have their day in the sun and for us to take it seriously."
The draft's first three rounds are scheduled for today at the RBC Center in Raleigh, home ice of the Carolina Hurricanes. Rounds 4 to 9 take place Sunday. Washington has the No. 1 pick followed by Pittsburgh, Chicago, Columbus and Phoenix.
Owners met Friday to discuss a package of proposed rule changes meant to speed up the game and improve scoring.
The modifications were meant to go into effect next season. However, there may not be one since the collective bargaining agreement with the NHL Players' Association expires Sept. 15, and the league has promised a lockout if the sides can't agree on a new system for negotiating player salaries.
Owners say they cannot go on under the current economic system, in which the league says player salaries eat up 75 percent of operating revenues. The league claims operating losses of more than $1.5 billion over the last decade.
No formal talks are scheduled, though NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said the league expects to hear from the union after it meets with its European members next month.
Discussion of the rules proposals were further complicated Friday by the union's objections to one idea: shrinking the size of goaltenders' pads.
Other changes
Other changes would include barring goalies from playing the puck behind the goal line, restoring tag-up offsides and making icing automatic instead of requiring a defending player to touch the puck.
The executives broke up their meeting without resolving their own differences over the proposals, reluctant to complicate the relationship with the NHLPA over matters less critical than the contract.
"I'm not looking to pick any fights with the union right now over issues that aren't essential to getting a new collective bargaining agreement," Bettman said.
Players who are stars on their current teams found little daunting about the prospect of a lockout.
"It's out of my control," said Kyle Chipchura, an 18-year-old center for the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders, ranked fourth among North American skaters. "I'm more worried about the stoppage meaning I won't be able to watch hockey."
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