Islanders Sale In Jeopardy

The sale of the New York Islanders to Dallas businessman John Spano may be in jeopardy.

The NHL said in February that Spano had purchased the Islanders from John Pickett for $165 million, including cable television rights.

But, according to published reports, a payment of as much as $20 million to Pickett has not been made and commissioner Gary Bettman has told Spano not to use team assets until the situation is resolved.

Wayne Gretzky’s agent denied a report Saturday by a Los Angeles radio station that hockey’s most prolific scorer will retire after next season.

John Rosasco, a spokesman for the New York Rangers, for whom Gretzky starred last season, also denied knowledge of any such plans.

The station, citing a source close to Gretzky, reported that the 1997-98 season would be the last in the NHL for the nine-time MVP and 10-time scoring champion.