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Professional hockey

NHL Commissioner Bettman Hands Down Harsh Settlement in Mike Keenan Dispute

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman put an end to the nine-day-long dispute over Mike Keenan's contract, imposing harsh penalties on the New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and Detroit Red Wings. Under the settlement, Keenan is free to join the Blues as coach and general manager, but will have to repay the Rangers $400,000 of a $608,000 bonus. Bettman fined the Blues $250,000 and the Red Wings $25,000 for tampering with Keenan's rights, while the Rangers were fined $25,000 for filing a lawsuit against Keenan and his lawyer. The settlement also suspends Keenan from his dual roles for 60 days and imposes a $100,000 fine on him for "conduct detrimental to the league."

Key Takeaways:

  • The NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman imposed a harsh settlement on the New York Rangers, St. Louis Blues, and Detroit Red Wings in the Mike Keenan contract dispute.
  • Mike Keenan is allowed to join the Blues as coach and general manager, but must repay the Rangers $400,000 of a $608,000 bonus.
  • The Blues were fined $250,000 and the Red Wings $25,000 for tampering with Keenan's rights.
  • The Rangers were fined $25,000 for filing a lawsuit against Keenan and his lawyer.
  • Keenan was suspended from his dual roles for 60 days and fined $100,000 for "conduct detrimental to the league."
  • The settlement includes a trade of Petr Nedved to the Rangers for Esa Tikkanen and Doug Lidster.
  • Esa Tikkanen, 29, is a four-time Stanley Cup winner with the Edmonton Oilers and won his fifth Stanley Cup with the New York Rangers last season.
  • Doug Lidster, 33, played 10 seasons with the Vancouver Canucks and won his only Stanley Cup against his former team in June.
  • Petr Nedved, 23, is a promising center from the Czech Republic who played for Canada in the 1994 Olympics.

Statistics:

  • $250,000: the fine imposed on the St. Louis Blues for tampering with Mike Keenan's rights.
  • $25,000: the fine imposed on the Detroit Red Wings for tampering with Mike Keenan's rights.
  • $25,000: the fine imposed on the New York Rangers for filing a lawsuit against Mike Keenan and his lawyer.
  • $608,000: the bonus that Mike Keenan received from the New York Rangers, $400,000 of which he must repay.
  • 60 days: the suspension of Mike Keenan from his dual roles as coach and general manager of the St. Louis Blues.
  • $100,000: the fine imposed on Mike Keenan for "conduct detrimental to the league."

Sources:

  • The Associated Press
  • The New York Times (July 22, 1994)
  • The St. Louis Post-Dispatch (July 22, 1994)
  • The Detroit Free Press (July 22, 1994)

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