Updates on Carey Price, Johnny Gaudreau, Tom Sestito and Martin Marincin, plus the latest on the Maple Leafs, Jets and Senators.
Canadiens goalie Carey Price says he enjoys participating in the NHL All-Star Game.
LA PRESSE: Montreal Canadiens goaltender Carey Price is happy to be participating in this year’s NHL All-Star Game.
CALGARY SUN: An injury to Tampa Bay Lightning forward Tyler Johnson means Flames rookie Johnny Gaudreau will be participating in the All-Star Game.
TORONTO STAR: The Maple Leafs are pushing to host the 2017 All-Star Game and an outdoor game for 2016-17 as part of the celebration of their 100th season. It was thought the Leafs also wanted to host the 2017 NHL Draft but it’s not expected to be held in Toronto that year.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Montreal Canadiens got to host the 2009 All-Star Game and 2009 NHL draft to commemorate their centennial. It’s only fair the Leafs get the same honor for theirs.
WINNIPEG SUN: NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is disappointed that stadium issues forced the postponement of the league’s plans to have the Jets host an outdoor game during the 2015-16 season. He remains hopeful, however, of staging an outdoor game in Winnipeg at some point during the 2016-17 campaign.
OTTAWA CITIZEN: The Senators, among other Canadian NHL teams, will feel the pinch of a declining Canadian dollar. The $55 million USD the Senators have in payroll this season is actually $67 million in Canadian dollars. Though not in crisis mode, the lower value of the “loonie” will make it difficult for small-market Canadian teams like the Senators to maintain a competitive team.
SPECTOR’S NOTE: In other words, don’t expect the Senators to be major players in this year’s free-agent market. And don’t be surprised if prices to attend a Senators game start rising in the near future. They’ve got to recoup those losses somehow.
THE PROVINCE: The era of the NHL enforcer may be ending but the Canucks Tom Sestito (currently in the minors) remains confident he can maintain an NHL career.
EDMONTON JOURNAL: Defenseman Martin Marincin’s days with the Oilers could be numbered. He last played with the Oilers on Nov. 25 and is currently with their farm team.
Glad that you’re continuing to bring the consequences of the lower Canadian dollar and the effects that it will have on the salary cap in your articles. This is definitely an issue that will have an impact on not only the Canadian small market teams, but also small market American teams as I believe that the richer franchises will balk at paying more teams than planned extra equalisation money.
Just think how much worse the situation would be if the NHL-Rogers contract would have been much lower.
And with how well Rogers is doing with that deal (sarcasam) how happy are they with the 5 billion dollar (US) that is nearly costing them 6 billion (Can) after year 1? How is that working out?…. In some corner of the Bell Media corporate offices there are echos of laughter, l am sure.
Canadian dollar drops nearly 20%, and the expected and running around 9 % less viewers than expected, and unrealistic ad revenue figures…ouch.