Commissioner doesn’t expect many NHL players to sign

Nick Christensen

Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2005 | 9:33 a.m.

If and when the NHL does officially cancel the 2004-05 season, don't expect a final influx of major-league talent, ECHL commissioner Brian McKenna said Tuesday.

"My feeling is there would be a trickle of players," McKenna said. "Even at this point anyone who is a Canadian or a foreign player would not be able to get access to a visa to be able to play."

Las Vegas Wranglers coach Glen Gulutzan said he is still trying to acquire an NHL player, who he identified Monday as a forward. The team will still not disclose the name of the player it is pursuing.

McKenna said that because the league allows only four NHL veterans per team, he doesn't think many teams will want to risk altering chemistry developed over the season. The Wranglers have one veteran's spot available after releasing forward Billy Tibbetts last month.

"Most of the players who have been waiting this thing out, if they had anticipated there would definitely not be a season, they've already headed to Europe or elsewhere," McKenna said. "We may have a few more but I do not foresee opening the floodgates."