McNall Still King of Con to the End

A few days from now, the Kings will celebrate their 30th anniversary in an attempt to strengthen the link between the team and its fans.

Uncanny timing, isn’t it, that as the Kings are focusing on the highlights of their history, the man responsible for some of them, and for their darkest hours as well, was again at center stage.

Former owner Bruce McNall surrendered to authorities Monday to begin his imprisonment in Lompoc, where he will serve five years and 10 months after pleading guilty to two counts of bank fraud, one of conspiracy and one of wire fraud. His name has been purged from the Kings’ media guide.

It’s not surprising that McNall didn’t go quietly, twisting the facts until the very end. In an interview with the Toronto Star last week, he implied that he had committed crimes merely to keep the Kings afloat.

“What a tough businessman would do is leave, just pick up and leave, just walk out on the lease or put the team in bankruptcy,” he said. “My problem was, I just couldn’t bear the idea of doing something like that.”

Wrong. His problem is, he can’t tell the truth. His $236-million spree began before he ran the Kings. McNall was creating phony financial statements for creditors in 1984, four years before he bought Jerry Buss’ majority share.

As for being unable to go into bankruptcy, don’t think him noble. Desperate for quick cash, he spurned better suitors and sold two-thirds of the club to Joe Cohen and Jeffrey Sudikoff, who plunged the Kings into bankruptcy and a decline they’re still reversing. Had he sold to an owner with more resources, the Kings would have avoided financial straits and could have acquired the scorers they now lack.

Because McNall can charm people--a tactic he uses on anyone with money--he still has supporters.

“Some people do things that are a lot worse, but he knows he did things that were wrong,” said former King Luc Robitaille. “I still think he’s a good person. . . . I think he’s done a lot more good than bad. I believe Bruce is one of the nicest persons I’ve ever met, but I can see if you lost money, you might not think that.”

Wayne Gretzky’s losses to McNall were estimated at $2 million, although the actual total might have been more than was documented. Even so, Gretzky hasn’t shunned him.

“As friends, you have to try to be supportive,” Gretzky said. “We’ll always be friends. In life, people go through tough times and have problems and make mistakes.”

With McNall in prison, an ugly chapter of the Kings’ history is about to end. Their fortunes can only get better, because nothing can be worse than the financial and moral bankruptcy that once prevailed.

REFERENDUM FOR SENATORS

This hasn’t been a good week for the Ottawa Senators. First, Chairman Rod Bryden announced that the team could be sold or moved if season ticket totals don’t increase to 12,000 from 6,100. Then the Senators, who are pushing for their first playoff berth, lost four consecutive games and six of seven before defeating Phoenix on Monday.

Pierre Gauthier, Ottawa’s general manager, is finding more gray in his hair every day.

“We’ve got to go about playing every game like a playoff game because that’s what it’s like,” he said. “We’ve had some better crowds. People have reacted well to the playoff drive. Beyond that, I can’t comment on what the owner said. That’s the owner’s prerogative.”

Gauthier has made many good moves in his 15-month tenure, including hiring Jacques Martin as coach and ending the salary disputes that split the team.

“It’s been real rewarding because everybody has gotten together,” he said. “We made a lot of changes last summer and it’s going to be a step at a time. At least people know what direction we’re heading. . . . Everybody wants to [make the playoffs], because once you’re in, anything can happen. We told our fans we wanted to compete, but we never made any promises.”

Which is wise, because they’re in danger of being squeezed out.

SIGN ON THE DOTTED LINE

Although the Colorado Avalanche recently signed Peter Forsberg to a deal that gave him a raise this year and added next year and an option year, talks with Joe Sakic probably won’t get serious until after the season. Sakic, the most valuable player of last year’s playoffs, can be a restricted free agent after the season.

“I don’t think anything will happen,” said Don Baizley, who represents Forsberg, Sakic and Paul Kariya of the Mighty Ducks, also a potential restricted free agent.

“For Joe and for Colorado, the focus is on the ice right now. Peter signed a very short contract, but the heat’s off them a little bit. . . . Joe’s not itching to leave Colorado. No one is itching to leave a Stanley Cup club, so I don’t think much has changed that way.”

COURTING LINDROS

The Flyers had ample motivation to sue a local radio station over a talk show host’s allegation that Eric Lindros missed a practice last month because he was hung over.

Although indignation is the key reason--the Flyers and Lindros say he had a back problem and have evidence to prove his whereabouts--the Flyers also know their effort may influence him to think more kindly of them when they get into contract talks this summer. If they support him vigorously, he may be more inclined to remain with the organization.

Lindros was upset but he maintained a sense of humor. Asked what he had done one night last week, he told the Philadelphia Daily News, “I went to see [the movie] ‘Donnie Brasco,’ and I took two alibi witnesses.”

SLAP SHOTS

Mike Barnett, who represents Detroit center Sergei Fedorov, planned to meet with Red Wing executives this week to discuss a new deal for Fedorov, who can become a restricted free agent this summer. Barnett scoffed at early-season rumors that the Red Wings would trade Fedorov, who has been relegated to a defensive role. “Scotty [Bowman, Detroit’s coach] really wants to win it this year,” Barnett said. . . . The Flyers wasted no time asking Washington Capital General Manager David Poile about Rick Tocchet, who indicated he won’t re-sign with the Washington Capitals and can become a free agent this summer. Poile, however, is reluctant to help a division rival.

The New York Islanders are interested in Ted Donato, who played for Islander General Manager Mike Milbury when Milbury was the Boston Bruins’ assistant GM. They’re making winger Todd Bertuzzi available. . . . The Calgary Flames tried for more than a month before they got prospect Hnat Domenichelli from the Hartford Whalers. They paid a hefty price in Steve Chiasson, a sturdy defenseman, but it may work out because Domenichelli and Flame rookie Jarome Iginla were productive linemates with Kamloops in Canada’s Western Hockey League.

Center Brian Skrudland, the seventh Florida Panther to suffer a knee injury this season, will probably be out for two months. . . . The Edmonton Oilers want to unload defenseman Jeff Norton and may find a fit with Tampa Bay, for Drew Bannister. . . . The Rangers’ acquisition of Russ Courtnall and Esa Tikkanen gives them much-needed speed and grit, but both can be unrestricted free agents and Tikkanen has a bad knee. The Vancouver Canucks hope center Sergei Nemchinov will inspire Alexander Mogilny and right wing Brian Noonan will be a plugger.

A thought after Mighty Duck defenseman J.J. Daigneault’s appeal of his 10-game suspension was denied by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman: Should Bettman have the final word? If he upholds the appeal, he undermines his top lieutenant, Brian Burke. An independent arbitrator or panel would make more sense. . . . Just when the Bruins thought their season couldn’t get worse, it did. Defenseman Ray Bourque was hit on the ankle with a shot and was on crutches. Winger Steve Heinze, their top early-season goal scorer, underwent abdominal surgery and is out until next season. . . . The expansion subcommittee will visit six prospective new sites by mid-April, Bettman said.

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Senators’ Roots

The Ottawa Senators are trying to make the playoffs for the first time, but a team with the same name was a powerhouse early in the century in the NHL. The Senators moved to St. Louis in 1934 and folded in 1935.

Here are the original Ottawa Senators’ Stanley Cup feats:

1909: Won without challenge.

1911: Defeated Port Arthur Bearcats, 1-0.

1920: Defeated Seattle Mets, 3-2

1921: Defeated Vancouver Millionaires, 3-2.

1923: Defeated Edmonton Eskimos, 5-1.

1927: Defeated Boston Bruins, 3-0-2.