BBC SPORT | Other Sports | US Sport | Red Wings begin new era

The Detroit Red Wings begin their defence of the Stanley Cup on Wednesday without two of their most legendary figures.

Dave Lewis has been given the formidable task of following in the footsteps of coach Scotty Bowman, who announced his retirement after clinching a record ninth NHL crown last season.

Gretzky opens new season

And the Red Wings have also been forced to adjust to the loss of goaltender Dominik Hasek.

It's going to make this a skating game again

Ottawa boss John Muckler on the new rules

The Czech decided to return to his homeland after helping to see off the Carolina Hurricanes in June, despite the offer of a new $8m contract.

Taking his place will be Curtis Joseph, who was seen as the best goaltender on the free agent market when he was signed from Toronto.

All of the NHL's players will have to come to terms with new rules this season designed to boost the state of the game in the face of declining ratings.

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman gathered the league's coaches, general managers and on-ice officials for an "obstruction summit" to explain plans to cut out interference and hooking.

The object of the new rules is to speed up the game and make it a more attacking spectacle.

Detroit coach Scotty Bowman holds up the Stanley Cup
Bowman won the Stanley Cup nine times

"It's going to happen. It's going to make this a skating game again," said Ottawa Senators general manager John Muckler.

This season will see American exposure on ESPN and ABC drop 30% from last season, with only 71 games being broadcast.

And NHL broadcasts have been shunted from Wednesday to Thursday nights to make room for the network's new basketball schedule.

Overall attendance figures have remained strong but there has been a decline in popularity in Florida, where both Tampa Bay and the Florida Panthers have changed ownership.

Both teams have struggled on the ice, with top players such as the Panthers' Pavel Bure being traded away for unknown prospects or draft picks.

In Buffalo, the NHL has taken control of the team while it searches for new ownership following the criminal investigations into the Rigas family's financial involvement with Adelphia Communications Corp.

And Dallas Stars' owner Tom Hicks is looking for a buyer for the financially vibrant Stars.

Stars set to be sold

In Calgary, the Flames have re-signed their star player Jarome Iginla.

But they are facing a shortfall in season tickets which could lead to them taking advantage of the NHL's revenue-sharing plan.

There is also the prospect of a players' strike when the current collective bargaining agreement ends in September 2004.

Bettman believes fans will be prepared to put up with a work stoppage if it means getting the game's finances under control, with the possible introduction of a salary cap to follow.

The average salary this season is expected to rise marginally from last year's $1.6m, a figure which is five times that of the corresponding average of $271,000 in 1990/91.


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