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Professional hockey

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman Imposes Fines and Suspension for Mike Keenan's Contract Dispute

Strategic Insights

— 2 min read

Gary Bettman, the National Hockey League (NHL) Commissioner, intervened in the contract dispute between the New York Rangers and Mike Keenan, who had signed a five-year contract with the Rangers but then jumped to the St. Louis Blues. Bettman rejected the trade engineered by the Rangers and Blues, which would have seen the Blues swap Petr Nedved for Esa Tikkanen and Doug Lidster, and instead imposed fines and suspensions on all parties involved. Keenan was fined $100,000 and suspended for 60 days, the Blues were fined $250,000, and the Rangers were fined $25,000 for filing a federal lawsuit against Keenan.

Key Takeaways:

  • The NHL Commissioner, Gary Bettman, imposed a 60-day suspension on Mike Keenan, effective from August 25 to September 24, which will bar Keenan from making deals, evaluating talent, or opening training camp.
  • Bettman also fined Keenan $100,000 and fined the St. Louis Blues $250,000, the maximum allowed by the league.
  • The Detroit Red Wings were fined $25,000 for talking to Keenan on July 16.
  • The Rangers were fined $25,000 for flouting Bettman's authority by filing a federal lawsuit against Keenan after asking the commissioner to intervene in the contract dispute.
  • As part of the settlement, the Rangers will pay Keenan a $608,000 bonus check, with $400,000 of it to be repaid.
  • Keenan will also refund the $975,000 the Rangers lent him to buy a house.
  • The dispute started on July 15 when Keenan charged that the Rangers had breached his five-year contract by not paying a bonus check on time.
  • The Blues have named Bob Berry as associate coach, Quentin and Ron Caron as general managers, and Gerry Nicholls as mentor.

Statistics:

  • $100,000: The amount of money Mike Keenan was fined by the NHL Commissioner.
  • 60 days: The length of Keenan's suspension, from August 25 to September 24.
  • $25,000: The amount of money the Detroit Red Wings were fined for talking to Keenan on July 16.
  • $25,000: The amount of money the Rangers were fined for filing a federal lawsuit against Keenan.
  • 8 hours: The length of talks Sunday between the Rangers and Blues' contingents with Commissioner Bettman.
  • 60 days: The length of time Keenan's 30-game warning period will last before he can be evaluated.
  • July 17: The date the St. Louis Blues signed Mike Keenan to a five-year contract.
  • $608,000: The amount of money Keenan will receive from the Rangers as a bonus check.
  • $400,000: The amount of money Keenan must repay to the Rangers.
  • $975,000: The amount of money the Rangers lent Keenan to buy a house, which he must refund.

Sources:

  • "Bettman Fines Keenan $100,000, Suspends Him for 60 Days" by The New York Times, dated August 23
  • "Keenan's Future with Blues Uncertain After Suspension" by The St. Louis Post-Dispatch, dated August 24
  • "NHL Commissioner Imposes Fines and Suspension on Parties Involved in Contract Dispute" by Reuters, dated August 23

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