Connecticut House Speaker Thomas D. Ritter said Wednesday the state should at least double the $20.5 million it wants the Hartford Whalers to pay for their ticket out of town.

“We were not thinking of the state of Connecticut when we made this deal,” said Ritter, a Hartford Democrat.

He said he is still holding out hope that a group of Hartford business executives and the mayor could buy the team from owner Peter Karmanos.

Barnaby sidelined

Buffalo Sabres left wing Matthew Barnaby could be out as long as four weeks with a sprained left knee.

Goalie re-signs

The Tampa Bay Lightning re-signed goaltender Daren Puppa to a three-year contract that will keep him with the team through 2000.

Cullen ailing

Tampa Bay Lightning center John Cullen, sidelined for several games with chest pains, has a form of lymphoma, it was reported.

Suspension trimmed

National Hockey League commissioner Gary Bettman reduced the suspension against San Jose Sharks left wing Andrei Nazarov to six games for physically abusing an official.

Bettman initially gave Nazarov a mandatory 13-game suspension for twice shoving linesman Brad Lazarowich, who was attempting to break up a fight between him and Edmonton Oilers defenseman Bryan Marchment March 24.