January 21st

NHLPA WANTS CANADIAN CITIES INCLUDED IN EXPANSION

National Hockey League Players Association executive director Paul Kelly would like Canadian cities to be included should the NHL consider future expansion.

In an interview with the Palm Beach Post, Kelly listed a number of cities that are "anxious" to get a team, including Seattle, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Kansas City, Las Vegas and Houston.

"The six Canadian franchises do so well, they pack the buildings, get great TV, great revenue streams. If you put another team up there, be it in Nova Scotia or Hamilton, it would be more of the same."

In the most recent collective bargaining agreement between the players and the owners, the salary cap has been set at 54% of hockey-related revenues. Any increase in revenue would mean an increase in the salary cap and, theoretically, player salaries.


CROSBY TO HAVE MRI MONDAY

Sidney Crosby underwent treatment over the weekend in Pittsburgh on what was initially diagnosed as a high ankle sprain, but the reigning MVP will have an MRI today to officially diagnose the injury to his right leg.

Crosby didn't travel with the team to Montreal for Saturdays game, and will miss the All-Star game in Atlanta on Sunday, after hitting the boards in the first period of Fridays game against Tampa Bay.

Heading into this season, Crosby has missed just four games in his first two NHL seasons. He missed three games in November of 2006 with a groin injury and sat out one game last season with the flu.


BERGERON MAY BE DONE FOR THE SEASON

According to the Boston Globe, Patrice Bergeron took off on an island vacation at the suggestion of Bruins General Manager Peter Chiarelli, who feels the injured center's season may be over.

"I don't think he'll be back this season", Chiarelli told the Globe, "I hope he's back. He wants to be back...but at the same time, we don't want any pressure on him. So we told, 'hey, head off to the islands'."

Bergeron suffered a Grade 3 concussion and broken nose when he was hit from behind by Philadelphia Flyers's defenceman Randy Jones in a game on October 27. Jones was handed a two-game suspension for the hit.

Last month, Bergeron began working out on the exercise bike in what appeared to be a sign the slick centre was on the road to recovery. But his return may now be many months away.

"He may be best served - and we may be best served - in the near future to shutting him down," Chiarelli told the Globe. "At the start, there was that little blip, he showed good signs, no headaches . . . but then that stopped, and he regressed a little. It's the way it is with concussions; the recovery is not linear."

If Bergeron is out for the season, the Bruins could use what is left of his $5-million salary to add to their roster for this season. With the Bruins fighting for a playoff spot and the trade deadline approaching, cap room could be a valuable asset for the Bruins but that is not Chiarelli's first concern.

"That's really not the big issue with Patrice," Chiarelli told the Globe. "What I'm really concerned about, more than anything, is his long-term well-being."

Before he was injured, Bergeron had scored three goals and added four assists in 10 games with the Bruins this season.