APOLOGIES CAN'T BE FOUND AFTER CUP INCIDENTS

He didn't get it.

Sources told The News that to the contrary, Sabres owner John Rigas said he would not apologize and then told Bettman that the commissioner owed his team an apology.

Repeated attempts to reach Rigas have been unsuccessful, but according to several sources, Rigas stunned the commissioner with his remark.

The repercussions undoubtedly will have a ripple effect in the relationship between the Sabres and the league for years to come. It's likely Ruff will even become an unofficial target of the commissioner's office, for that and the fact Ruff refused to shake Bettman's hand when the two met on stage Saturday prior to Buffalo making its first pick in the Entry Draft here.

Ruff did not make an overt gesture in snubbing Bettman. You had to watch closely to see it, but it was noticeable to anyone who was looking for it. It was especially noticeable to many on the draft floor, several of whom later came over to Ruff and shook his hand.

The Sabres, from their coach, players, fans, and now, obviously, their ownership, believe that the goal credited to Brett Hull was not a goal. Though the Sabres have kept a low profile in this regard, the organization is known to be seething about the call and the apparent complete reversal of countless disallowed goals that had come before.

In conversations with general manager Darcy Regier and Sabres chief executive officer Tim Rigas held before the apology issue came to light, both supported Ruff and his assertion that the goal should not have counted.

"My interpretation, in part based on the history of the rule over the last few years, is that this is the NHL's decision, but I told (director of officiating Bryan) Lewis that I didn't agree and I haven't changed (my opinion) nor has anyone in the organization," Tim Rigas said. "I don't think it was a goal, but having said that I do think we need to move beyond it and we're not dwelling on it. This is not to question the integrity of the NHL. We've dealt with it, unsuccessfully, and now we have to move on."

Regier said he protested the call immediately in conversations with Lewis and director of hockey operations Colin Campbell and told both men he did not think it was a goal. He said he stands by that determination and by his coach.

It's known the Sabres are also upset about the league's handling of the entire post-goal process from the review to the opening of the Zamboni entrance doors some 13 seconds after Hull scored the controversial goal. In a telephone press conference Tuesday, Bettman twice indicated that was not the league's fault and the door was opened by a Marine Midland Arena staffer. (The flooding of the ice with league and media people was a strong indication that the goal was not immediately under review.) When asked if it were true that a league employee had final say as to when the door opened, Bettman indicated the league did not have that much control over the arena and Campbell said "you have to ask the Marine Midland Arena or security people if they opened the doors."

Bettman also said those issues about people on the ice, when doors were opened and the like were "red herrings" and not germane to the issue.

Bettman is either horribly misinformed or opted to answer the question with phrasing constructed by a lawyer. Sources told The News the league told the Sabres earlier in the day that the league was in control of that aspect of the postgame. Sources also told The News that a league official did indeed give the order to open the door, which both Regier and Rigas confirmed.

"Our people physically opened the door but they were told to open the door at that point," said Regier. "There were two league employees there. One gave the order to open the doors."

This is an issue because the normal time for a review of a goal -- by the NHL's own admission -- is 1:33. Since no review was ever announced and the Zamboni doors opened 13 seconds after Hull scored, the prevailing opinion among many in the NHL is that the review process was likely tainted by the fact that there were people on the ice, and that the commissioner was standing at the Dallas bench waiting to present the Cup.

Bettman, Lewis and Campbell were all especially careful in how they addressed this. Lewis made a point of saying the ice would have been cleared and the game resumed if, in fact, it was determined Hull did not score.

Regier said he was uncertain of the time frame at this point. He acknowledged the goal was under review and said he knows that the league, in fact, reviews and validates all goals.

But he also said he didn't know why there was no announcement that the goal was under review -- an accepted practice in the NHL although Bettman denied that was the case -- and that there was a great deal of confusion because of it.

Ruff, who may have given the commissioner cause to demand an apology given that he was less than polite in his confrontation with Bettman, said the commissioner turned his back on him and walked away. Sabres captain Michael Peca also claims to have confronted Bettman, in a polite way, but said the commissioner walked away from him as well.

Bettman tainted

The fallout from the controversy over the goal is likely to taint Bettman's stature in the league. The Stanley Cup is the league's premier event. To have it end badly reflects on him above all others. That did not go unmentioned among governors who gathered in New York Monday for a regularly scheduled board meeting.

Having the commissioner angry at you certainly doesn't bode well for the Sabres, but having an angry team owner with the clout of the fifth largest telecommunications company in the United States isn't exactly a rosy scenario for the commissioner either.

Small-market team owners are not particularly enamored with Bettman to begin with. While it's fair to say the Rigas family is not yet a power in the National Hockey League, they have the economic muscle to become one.

Clock ticks on Grosek

The Sabres have exercised their option to retain Michael Grosek, but rumors were sweeping the FleetCenter Saturday that the Sabres would entertain offers to trade him.

Grosek is still young and a highly desirable player given his size and upside potential, but his mercurial moods and inability to be a consistent player, especially in the playoffs, would indicate that the clock is ticking on his time as a Sabre.

The Sabres, however, did not pick up their option to sign defenseman James Patrick, making him free to negotiate with any other team.

Regier said the price on Patrick, a reported $2 million for next season, was intentionally high in order to scare off teams in the expansion draft. In opting not to pick up the option, the Sabres are free to renegotiate with Patrick at a more reasonable price.

Regier said it was his intention to do that, but acknowledged Patrick may sign elsewhere.

Window closing on Nolan

Former Sabres coach Ted Nolan has an open offer to coach the Erie Otters in the Ontario Hockey League next season, but so far hasn't shown much interest.

Ottawa general manager Sherry Bassin said he approached Nolan about the position but he hasn't been encouraged by Nolan's replies.

Nolan is still holding out hope of landing an NHL job, but the window of opportunity is closing again as coaching positions in Phoenix, Los Angeles and with the New York Islanders have been filled.

Dryden makes power play

Toronto Maple Leafs president and general manager Ken Dryden has emerged on top in a power struggle with associate general manager Mike Smith.

Dryden made Smith an offer to remain with the team, even offered him the general manager title outright, but insiders maintain Smith countered with a request that he not have to report solely to Dryden.

The presumed end-around approach to Dryden's leadership prompted Dryden to cancel the offer and fire Smith.

That hasn't sat well with Toronto coach Pat Quinn who has made some pointed remarks about the loss of Smith and whether he could work with Dryden.

How it all sorts out is anyone's guess, but bet on Quinn having a say as to who will replace Smith and at least expect that Dryden won't have complete power over the general manager's office if he wants to retain Quinn as coach.