Posts Tagged NHL Relocation

Kuznetsov doesn’t know when he’s coming to N.A. … All quiet on Marchand front … A terrible list of NHL relocation/expansion cities

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on August 21st, 2011

  • Alessandro Seren Rosso via twitter: Capitals prospect Evgeny Kuznetsov will head to the NHL but he doesn’t know when, “maybe tomorrow, maybe in 3 years, maybe in 1 year.”
  • Fluto Shinzawa of the Boston Globe: “Only crickets are being heard on the Brad Marchand front, with neither side amenable to disclosing information regarding negotiations.” Marchand’s deal could have an effect on what Tyler Ennis of the Sabres gets/is looking for in his next deal after this upcoming season. In Shea Weber’s arbitration hearing, Nashville used Keith Yandle and Dustin Byfuglien as comparables.
  • Steve MacFarland of the Calgary Sun: “The Business Journal” put out a list of cities that were the best candidates for NHL expansion or relocation. Quebec City was 31 of 58 North American cities. Hamilton was 33 behind Honlulu, Orlando and Tulsa.

    The Business Journals’ Top 10 markets for NHL expansion/relocation:
    1. Riverside-San Bernardino, Calif.
    2. Houston, Texas
    3. Bridgeport-Stamford, Conn.
    4. Las Vegas, Nev.
    5. Virginia Beach-Norfolk, Va.
    6. Providence, RI
    7. Austin, Texas
    8. Hartford, Conn.
    9. Sacramento, Calif.
    10. Richmond, Va.

    Here’s our list of five North American cities in which we’d like to see an NHL team:
    1. Quebec City
    2. Hamilton, Ont.
    3. Seattle, Wash.
    4. Hartford, Conn.
    5. Saskatoon, Sask.

  • Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: Red Wings forward Darren Helm had 32 points in 82 games last season. “Helm could end up centering the third line along with headlining the penalty-killing forward group in 2011-12. He’s a hard worker wherever he goes and is only going to get better.”

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Ice Edge Group Now Buying the Phoenix Coyotes?

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News, NHL Rumors on May 7th, 2010

  • David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail: Would someone PLEASE put an end to this ….. Shoalts is reporting that the Jerry Reinsdorf deal to buy the Phoenix Coyotes has hit a snag the city of Glendale, and they have gone back to the Ice Edge Group, who they earlier rejected. Weeks ago the city council accepted Reinsdorf’s bid 6-0 and rejected the Ice Edge bid 5-1. Reinsdorf’s bid called for subsidies for the team, which is almost $47 million in bonds and other revenues. The Ice Edge Group was approached again last week by the city, though the Reinsdorf deal still could go through. If a local buyer can’t be found June 30th, the league could sell the team to someone that would be able to move them to a different city. A report from ESPN is saying that if both Reinsdorf’s and the Ice Edge Groups bid falls through, the team could be sold to Canadian billionaire David Thompson, who would move the team back to Winnipeg.
  • Scott Burnside of ESPN: Sources have told ESPN that the Reinsdorf deal is dead and the city is back talking to the Ice Edge Group to keep the team in Phoenix. The City of Glendale is filing documents this morning accepting a new lease deal with Ice Edge, and will be working with them exclusively. The league hasn’t agreed to sell the team to the Ice Edge Group just yet, and there are some conditions the city must guarantee to the NHL, with one being covering the operating losses next year. If the city doesn’t agree with the NHL’s conditions, and the deal with Ice Edge falls through, the league could turn to Canadian billionaire David Thompson. There is apparently a purchase agreement already drawn up for Thompson to buy the Coyotes. Thompson would then move the Coyotes back to Winnipeg. The Ice Edge’s proposal was originally shot down by Glendale, even though they had agreed to not move the team for the next 24 years (time remaining on lease), Reinsdorf’s deal would have allowed him to move/sell the team after 5 years. Where the Ice Edge group was getting their funds to buy the team has been called into question in the past, but there is word now that they have it secured.

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Coyotes back to Winnipeg? 2009 Draft picks to join Senators … Duncan Keith has bad Skates

Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Free Agents, NHL News, NHL Rumors on March 30th, 2010

  • Andrew Willis of the Globe and Mail: Winnipeg entrepreneur Mark Chipman (who co-owns the 15,000 seat arena) and Toronto billionaire David Thomson are working on bringing the NHL back to Winnipeg. Rumors out of Phoenix yesterday were that they were getting close to doing this, but that may not be the case. Rumors that the Coyotes will be changing to the Jets have been around for over a month, but are being shot down by the league. Bill Daly says the NHL has no plans on moving the Coyotes to Winnipeg or to any other city. The NHL still wants to find a buyer that wants to keep the team in Phoenix. More will be known about Jerry Reinsdorf`s intensions and Ice Edge Holdings by Thursday, as that is the date the city of Glendale set for a lease to be settled.
  • Allen Panzeri of the Ottawa Citizen: 2009 1st round pick Jared Cowen will join the Ottawa Senators if his Junior club is eliminated from the playoffs, but it`s doubtful he`ll play a game. They are also close to signing 2009 2nd round pick, U of Denver defenseman Patrick Wiercioch, who`ll also join the team but probably not play. If either plays a game, they`ll burn a year on their entry level contracts.
  • Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: One UFA who might consider retiring after the season is Stars winger Jere Lehtinen. The 37-year-old will wait until the summer to decide if he wants to come back. The Stars would like to have him back. This season he made $1.5 million base with up to $1 million in bonuses, which he’ll make most of.
  • Tim Sassone of the Daily Herald: Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Duncan Keith was on fire for most of the season, but has struggled recently, going a minus 7 in the last 13 games. One of the reasons for his struggles has been that he hasn’t been comfortable in his skates. “I like my skates to fit right and to feel good,” Keith said. “When you feel good out there, you play good. It’s been a while since I had a good pair. “They’re just not sending me good pairs of skates, there’s not much more to say. Every hockey player likes his equipment to feel good and my skating is my biggest asset. When my skates are feeling good and fit right and are how I like them, then I skate how I want to skate.” Keith says he doesn’t want to make a big deal of the skate issue. If you don’t want to make a big deal out it Duncan, why did you bring it up to the media then?
  • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: The Blue Jackets will most likely be looking for a new coach in the off-season, and early candidates could be former Oilers coach Craig MacTavish, Anaheim AHL coach Kevin Dineen, and Predators assistant coach Brent Peterson.

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    Around the Boards: Ilya to LA? Governors to talk 2 teams in T.O.? Lightning and Capitals holding pat?

    Posted by Mark Easson in NHL Injuries, NHL News, NHL Rumors on December 15th, 2009

    • David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail: At upcoming NHL governors meetings, expect talk of a 2nd team in Toronto to be brought up, regardless if it’s not currently on the agenda.
    • ESPN: Their rumors section is suggesting that if Ilya Kovalchuk becomes available, the LA Kings might have an interest, with Dustin Brown as part of a bigger package.
    • Jim Matheson of the Edmonton Journal: Add Scott Walker to the list of Carolina Hurricanes players that are available for trade, but don’t expect him to be moved until around the trade deadline. He’ll be owed $600,000 after the deadline.
    • Damian Cristodero of the St. Petersberg Times: Despite their recent struggles, don’t expect the Tampa Bay Lightning to start making moves. ”One of the things that has happened here, in my opinion, the last few years, it has been panic at times,” he said. “You’re not going to see that. It’s slow and steady. It’d be nice to make three blockbuster trades and be first in our division two weeks from now, but it doesn’t work that way.”
    • Corey Masisak of the Washington Times: The Capitals now have a bit of Salary Cap flexibility with Nylander off of their cap numbers, but they are not expected to do anything just yet.
    • Helene St. James of the Detroit Free Press: The Detroit Red Wings have lost another player to injury. Defenceman Jonathan Ericsson injured his left knee and will be out for at least 2 weeks.

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    Around the Boards: Dubinsky and Leclaire returning soon, O’Brien to Leafs, Relocation to Canada?

    Posted by Mark Easson in NHL News on December 10th, 2009

    • Larry Brooks of the NY Post: Rangers center Brandon Dubinsky is getting closer to returning from a broken right hand. Tortorella thinks he might return in a week or so.
    • Bruce Garrioch of the Ottawa Sun: Pascal Leclaire could return to the Sens crease in about 10 days. Leclaire has been out since Nov. 23rd after having his cheekbone broken by a puck while sitting on the bench.
    • Puck Prospectus from ESPN: They are speculating that Canucks and Leafs could work out a deal with Shane O’Brien heading to the Leafs. We noted here a few days ago that O’Brien is being shopped, but I don’t see the Leafs trading for his $1.6 million salary. Yes he’s the type of player Burke likes but I don’t see where he’d fit in the Leafs D plans, unless you can unload either Jeff Finger or Garnett Exelby. The Leafs are close to the cap limit.
    • Canadian Press in the Globe and Mail: Talk is heating up again of the NHL adding to the number of Canadian teams. It would be a smart move for the NHL to bring one or two of the struggling American teams up to Canada, but that would mean the Gary was wrong about something. Can Bettman admit he was wrong about hockey in non traditional markets? I’m not so sure of that.

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