Pay attention, shoppers. (Insider: NHL).

Every office has one: a penny-pinching business manager who glares at you every time you visit the stock room for a new pen or paper clip. In the NHL these days, that role is being played by commissioner Gary Bettman.

Over the last few weeks, Bettman met with the NHL's 30 teams, making sure each club sticks to its budget.

The commissioner wants to maintain the perception that owners can't afford to spend freely on free agents. So when it's time to renegotiate the collective-bargaining agreement, which expires September 15, 2004, he won't have to explain the actions of a few rogue owners who increased players' salaries.

Bettman's visits stemmed from a concern for what's going to happen after July 1, which is the real draft day for some teams. The beginning of the free-agent signing period can be wild, and Bettman doesn't want the spending to veer out of control.

"Bettman's actions are noble," one general manager says. "But I don't think he is going to tell (Stars owner) Tom Hicks how much to spend on free agents. I don't think Hicks would listen."

The Stars failed to make the playoffs last season, yet they made more than $10 million. Imagine what the Stars could pocket if they made it back to the Stanley Cup finals. For that reason, Hicks' team was expected to be one of the most active participants in the free-agent market. And why wouldn't it be?

A glance at team payrolls indicates spending translates into success. Of the teams with the top 16 payrolls, only the Rangers (No. 1 payroll), Capitals (No. 6), Stars (No. 7) and Mighty Ducks (No. 15) missed the playoffs. Below the No. 16 cutoff, the Coyotes (No. 19), Hurricanes (No. 20), Canucks (No. 21) and Senators (No. 23) made the playoffs. Those four teams proved you can win by building through the draft, making smart personnel moves and not overspending on free agents.