All through the tortuous summer, NHL general managers fretted about what the world would look like with a salary cap.

In Detroit and Colorado and even New Jersey, the hope was that the cap would be over $40 million because each of those clubs had veteran unrestricted free agents they needed to re-sign.

You knew that Red Wings GM Ken Holland would take a hit. Which is why he waved bye to Derian Hatcher. You knew Pierre Lacroix would take a hit. Which is why he cried when Adam Foote and Peter Forsberg descended the Rockies.

And in the back of your mind, as much as you gave Lou Lamoriello credit for being one of the slyest foxes around in get maximum bang for his cash outlay, you knew he was going to face a crisis even if he had been able to re-sign Scott Niedermayer.

And when push finally came to shove this week, Lamoriello bit the bullet, spit out the lead and said, so be it. He "traded" Jeff Friesen to Washington for a third-round pick in the 2006 draft.

"Trade" is being kind. Truth is, Lou virtually gave Friesen away. Everyone in the NHL knew what his cap problems were. He had no choice even though Friesen was earning a reasonable sum of $2.28 million this season.

"This is certainly not a surprise," he told the Newark Star-Ledger. "We had to do something. It was only a matter of time. Jeff scored some big goals and played very well for us, but this is part of the new world. This is part of the game today and you're going to see it more and more. We felt good about some of our younger players, so we were able to make this move. This is the best depth we've ever had with forwards."

The move allows the Devils to barely remain under the $39 million cap and buys Lamoriello some time to figure out what to do when _ and if _ forward Patrik Elias (hepatitis) comes off injured reserve. He's due to earn $4.18 million.

Friesen a solid citizen and honest player, who should surpass the disappointing numbers he had in 2003-04 (17 goals). He took the news with dignity and expressed candor.

"It comes down to: What are you worth?" he told the Star-Ledger. "I just didn't perform enough to be worth that salary and, in the end, I had to leave. It's tough leaving this team. I'm disappointed. My name was always brought up. When you get asked for three weeks about a trade, it takes its toll on you. I've never been a guy able to leave those mental things behind. It wears on you."

One thing about the NHL salary cap now ... there are always going surprises ... now and forever.

Bettman, Saskin in D.C. Today

(Canadian Press) - Hockey's two most powerful men _ NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman and embattled NHLPA executive director Ted Saskin will appear in Washington today to discuss their new anti-doping policy before a U.S. Senate Committee.

They'll testify before the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation - one of four U.S. Congressional Committees looking into steroid policies in U.S. athletics, and the possible need for federal legislation which would mandate certain minimum standards.

Also joining the hockey leaders will be Major League Baseball commissioner Bud Selig, union chief Donald Fehr, NFL commissioner Paul Tagliabue and his union counterpart Gene Upshaw, NBA commissioner David Stern and union president Antonio Davis (union boss Billy Hunter can't attend).

The league and union leaders will be asked to comment on draft legislation being proposed by the Committee. Two bills are on the table right now: the Clean Sports Act and the Professional Sports Integrity and Accountability Act.

Bettman and former NHLPA executive director Bob Goodenow last testified May 18 but at the time, hockey's new collective bargaining agreement was not yet agreed upon.

This time the NHL and NHLPA have a new anti-doping policy to defend. Under the policy, players are tested randomly up to a maximum of twice a season. First-time offenders are suspended 20 games, second-time offenders 60 games and a third-time offence is a life-time ban.

OLN's Gesture of Good Will

When we broke the story in the Philadelphia Inquirer that Comcast would get the rights to the NHL via the OLN Network, we were bombarded with emails from hockey fans across North America.

"How will see the games if my cable/satellite company doesn't provide OLN," was the most common concern.

It's a legitimate concern, too, because ESPN and ESPN2 reached more people than OLN. Part of Comcast's deal with the NHL is that it will increase the number of households over the life of its deal that get OLN. Which means seeing that more cable providers carry the network.

This week, OLN announced that its season opener on Oct. 5 _ Rangers at Flyers _ will be distributed world wide so that all hockey fans can watch the game, even if their cable or satellite provider does not normally carry OLN.

"Opening night is a celebration of the return of these great teams and players to the ice, so we're making it available free of charge to all operators," said Gavin Harvey, president of OLN. "Rangers vs. Flyers is a legendary match up and a terrific way to kick off the NHL on OLN. We can't wait to deliver a great hockey season, especially with as many teams going into it with serious playoff potential."

Yet there appears to be a snag in the New York market. According to Newsday's Neil Best, there is no guarantee that Cablevision will offer the game to his subscribers who don't already get OLN on their optional package. Which could be a public relations' embarrassment to everyone involved, Best writes.

We've said this more than once and it is worth repeating: In a year of the re-launch of the NHL, the league, the players, the TV networks, the sponsors and even the cable/satellite company execs need to call a truce and help hockey get off to a fresh, new stride, unimpeded by politics or money considerations.

The goal for 2005-06 should be for everyone to rejoice in hockey's return. Let them see the games this season, give the sport a fighting chance to recover on its feet.

Everything else connected with rights fees etc., can wait.

(you can read more hockey in today's Philadelphia Inquirer by clicking onto this link: http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/sports/12759595.htm