NAPLES, Fla. (AP) -NHL general managers wrapped up three days of meetings Wednesday without making any major trades or significant rule changes.
Among the topics discussed during the week were the size of goalie equipment and relations with colleges and foreign leagues.
The GMs left the Ritz-Carlton Hotel split over a players union proposal to extend the regular season from 82 games to 84 games. Talks Wednesday also centered on no-touch icing and clarification of offsides rules.
Kicked-in goals, and how they're ruled, also were discussed, Anaheim Ducks GM Brian Burke said.
Most importantly, the meetings offered a chance for GMs to talk face-to-face about potential deals prior to the Feb. 26 trade deadline.
``You want to make sure you talk to every manager ... find out what their needs are,'' said New York Islanders GM Grant Snow, whose last-place team remains in contention for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. ``If we can help our team get better at a reasonable price, we will.''
Also on Snow's priority list is signing center Mike Comrie to a long-term deal. The GM said he had talked with Comrie about a deal, but wouldn't disclose any details.
Meanwhile, Buffalo Sabres GM Darcy Regier said he expects to continue to talk contract with two-time All-Star defenseman Brian Campbell, who becomes a free agent following the season.
``The focus has been on signing him,'' Regier said during the first intermission of the Sabres game against Tampa Bay on Wednesday night. ``Getting him signed is still the objective. We continue to communicate, and I expect to do so over the next few days.''
However, Regier doesn't know if a deal with Campbell will be struck before Tuesday's trade deadline.
``Too early to tell,'' he said. ``We'll just keep working on it.''
Several teams have expressed interest in trading for Campbell, however the Sabres remain hopeful for a playoff run. Regier said he didn't receive any trade offers for the defenseman during the meetings.Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
