PHILADELPHIA - There's a hitch in Ken Hitchcock's former contract, and it has become a $100,000 source of irritation for NHL commissioner Gary Bettman.

Hitchcock was fired by the Dallas Stars on Jan. 25. As with every NHL contract, his deal ran through June 30.

So, when the Flyers introduced Hitchcock as their coach on May 14, he was still under contract to the Stars. There's the rub.

Stars owner Tom Hicks claims that since the Flyers announced in May that Hitchcock would be their coach, he's off the hook for about $100,000 Hitchcock was due between May and June 30.

"I only found out about this recently," said Hitchcock, who has been covered for the shortfall by the Flyers. "(Chief operating officer) Ron Ryan told me there was some kind of grievance filed by Dallas. I've been told to just let the process take care of itself."

Hitchcock told reporters when he was hired that his starting date for the Flyers was July 1. Hicks says it was May 14. Hence, he is adamant about not paying. Neither Hicks nor the Stars would comment.

On the other side of the hockey rink, Flyers chairman Ed Snider is equally adamant that Dallas is responsible for Hitchcock's former contract through June 30, even though he has already put up the money.

"It may be an issue in Dallas, but with me, it's very clear-cut," Snider said from his off-season home in Southern California. "Hitchcock began work on July 1. Until then, he was under contract to Dallas. There is no issue with us. He didn't report to work until July."

That Hicks is taking this kind of stand over a relatively small amount of money, owed to a guy that he liked so much he wanted to rehire him in May, is an embarrassment to him and the NHL. It's generally understood in hockey that when you fire a coach, you pay his contract off unless he begins anew during the season - not out of season.

How many coaches have the Flyers fired over the years? Ever hear of them not getting paid the remainder of their contracts?

A senior NHL official said that it appears as though Bettman himself will have to arbitrate.

"By virtue of being the commissioner, he ultimately ends up dealing with these kind of issues," the source said.

Signed. All it took for 27-year-old Russian goalie Evgeni Nabokov to get a two-year deal worth $7.5 million after refusing to re-sign in training camp was San Jose's 1-4 start to the regular season, with 22 goals against. The trade-off for Nabokov was that he got less money for a shorter deal. San Jose would have paid more to sign him through 2004, when the current collective-bargaining agreement expires.

The assumption around the NHL is that the players will concede to some sort of cap on salaries in the next collective-bargaining agreement, in exchange for lowering the age for free agency from 31 to possibly 29. That's why so many free agents want short-term deals that expire in 2004. Nabokov, for example, will be 29 when the current agreement expires and potentially eligible for free agency.

Retrospect. Asked if he had been bitter over the summer because the Bruins pinched pennies again by not re-signing him, Bill Guerin, now in Dallas, said his initial reaction was wrong. "At first, I guess I was a bit bitter," he said. "But I kind of thought about it a little bit more, and I guess there's really nothing to be bitter about. I had two great years in Boston. It was place where I was lucky enough to fulfill a life dream in playing for the team I grew up watching. Like I said, I had two great years, a lot of fun there, great teammates and a fantastic city. So there's really nothing for me to be bitter about. They made a business decision, and you have to live with that."

Loose pucks. Pity the Boston Bruins. Avalanche goaltender Patrick Roy has faced them 67 times in his career, more than any other club. ... Bad news for U.S.-born players. Since 1999-2000, the percentage of American players in the NHL has been on the decrease. That season, it was 16 percent. Now it is 13 percent. There were 101 Americans last season, and only 93 this season. ... For the eighth consecutive season the average height in the NHL remained the same, at 6-foot-1. However, the average weight shot up from 200.2 pounds to 204.1, the largest increase since the 1981-82 season. Meanwhile, the average age increased to 28.1 years from 27.5 years. ... The only club in the Eastern Conference heavier than the Flyers (at an average of 210 pounds) is Washington (212). ... The Chicago Blackhawks are the oldest club in the league at 30.8 years, followed by Dallas (30.3) and Detroit (29.9). The Flyers are the 14th-oldest club at 28.2. Good news for coach Mike Keenan. For the second consecutive year, the Florida Panthers are the youngest club at 25.0. ... Legendary Bruin Johnny Bucyk recalled that his first NHL deal was worth $6,000 with a $1,500 signing bonus. He was so happy, he went out and bought a 1949 Ford. What did Guerin buy after signing his five-year, $45 million deal in Dallas? "Just a new house to live in, in Dallas," Guerin said. "That's basically it." ... Does former Red Wings goalie Dominik Hasek miss hockey in retirement? "There is no better way to leave the game," Hasek said about winning a Stanley Cup. "But it wasn't about leaving on top. My goal was to win the Cup. It was the only trophy I was missing. After I won it, I felt like I achieved all my goals in hockey." ... Hard to believe that with the Flyers losing on Tuesday in Buffalo, the Tampa Bay Lightning were the last remaining unbeaten team in hockey.