NHL Rumor Mill – August 10, 2023

by | Aug 10, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – August 10, 2023

More speculation about the Canadiens possibly trading the recently re-acquired Jeff Petry plus the latest on the Capitals in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

WHAT NEXT FOR THE CANADIENS?

RDS.CA: The Montreal Canadiens still haven’t publicly commented on bringing back Petry and adding goaltender Casey DeSmith as part of their involvement in the three-team trade that sent Erik Karlsson to the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Montreal Canadiens defenseman Jeff Petry (NHL Images).

Neither general manager Kent Hughes nor Petry and DeSmith have been made available to answer questions from the media.

The silence coming from the Canadiens raises questions about where Petry and DeSmith fit into the club’s roster for the coming season. It’s also generated speculation one or both could soon be shipped off to another club.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: It is unusual for Hughes not to meet with the press following a trade, particularly in this case when his involvement in the biggest deal of the year meant bringing Petry back to Montreal. He could be keeping a lid on things for now as he attempts to make other moves. The longer the Canadiens go without commenting on that deal, the more rumors will churn about Petry and DeSmith.

It was noted that the Penguins retained 25 percent of Petry’s $6.25 million average annual value through 2024-25. He could be more attractive to other clubs with a cap hit of over $4.6 million.

If Hughes wants to trade Petry again, he could garner more interest by retaining a portion of that amount as well. Potential trade partners could include the Anaheim Ducks, Edmonton Oilers, Minnesota Wild and Winnipeg Jets.

MONTREAL HOCKEY NOW: Marc Dumont cited TSN’s Chris Johnston saying the Dallas Stars expressed an interest in Petry in the past. Johnston believes a lot of teams could be interested in the 35-year-old blueliner if the Canadiens retained half of his remaining cap hit.

Johnston believes the conditions could be right for the Canadiens to trade Petry within the next few months.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Petry’s 15-team no-trade clause will be a factor as it was during the trade negotiations that resulted in the Penguins acquiring Erik Karlsson from the San Jose Sharks. Reports claimed Petry wouldn’t waive his clause to go to San Jose because he didn’t want to be far from his family.

CAPITALS STILL SEEKING A MOVE BEFORE TRAINING CAMP.

THE ATHLETIC: Tarik El-Bashir noted that the Washington Capitals could attempt to make a trade to improve their roster. During last week’s press conference announcing Tom Wilson’s contract extension, general manager Brian MacLellan confirmed he’s interested in making a move ahead of training camp, which opens on Sept. 20.

MacLellan acknowledged that he’s looking to improve his top-six forwards. He said that he had a few discussions during the draft in June and would see whether they carry forward.

El-Bashir pointed out reports earlier this summer indicating the Capitals and Nashville Predators had discussed a trade of Evgeny Kuznetsov, who had requested a trade last season. MacLellan wasn’t asked directly about Kuznetsov during the press conference.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: We can’t rule anything out regarding Kuznetsov but it seems unlikely that he’ll get traded. A gifted but inconsistent playmaker, he’s coming off a disappointing 2022-23 campaign. He also carries a $7.8 million AAV through 2024-25 and a 10-team no-trade clause.

MacLellan might end up having to move a promising prospect and a draft pick if he’s seeking top-six forward help. He could offer up a first-round pick, one of his two third-round picks in 2024 or perhaps one or two of his three second-rounders in the 2025 draft.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 8, 2023

by | Aug 8, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – August 8, 2023

A promising prognosis for the Penguins’ Jake Guentzel, the Kings’ Quinton Byfield hopes for a healthy start, the Ducks sign Alex Stalock, and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Jake Guentzel’s recovery from ankle surgery could be shorter than expected.

Pittsburgh Penguins winger Jake Guentzel (NHL Images)

Speaking with the press yesterday to discuss his acquisition of Erik Karlsson, Penguins general manager Kyle Dubas said Guentzel was expected to be sidelined until late October or early November. With the Penguins having a late schedule during that stretch, Dubas said the 28-year-old winger could end up missing just the first five games of the regular season.

Guentzel is to be reevaluated 12 weeks following his surgery last week. According to Dubas, he could be “ready to roll” if all goes well with his recovery.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Dubas cautioned that his five-game prognosis is “kind of a projected number, because it’s medical”, adding that they want to do what’s right for Guentzel. Nevertheless, it’s a more promising evaluation than the original assumption that he could start the season on long-term injury reserve.

NHL.COM: Quinton Byfield hopes for a healthy beginning to his third NHL season after injury and illness sidelined him from the start of his first two campaigns. The 20-year-old center believes those absences adversely affected his performance over those seasons.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The Kings had high hopes for Byfield after choosing him second overall in the 2020 NHL Draft. The 6’5”, 220-pound center was limited to 32 points in 93 games in his first two full NHL seasons but put up a respectable four points in six playoff games against the Edmonton Oilers in the opening round of the 2023 playoffs.

THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER: The Anaheim Ducks added more depth between the pipes by signing goaltender Alex Stalock to a one-year, $800K contract.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Stalock will slot in as the Ducks’ third goalie behind starter John Gibson and promising Lukas Dostal.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars hired Misha Donskov as an assistant coach. He was an assistant coach with the Vegas Golden Knights from 2019 to 2023.

NEW YORK POST: The Rangers hired Christian Hmura as a skills and performance coach.

THE HOCKEY NEWS: Former NHL defenseman Bryan Berard was arrested on July 30 in Newport, Rhode Island, for his alleged involvement in a bar fight. He was charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 9.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A first-overall pick by the Ottawa Senators in the 1995 draft, Berard played 619 NHL games from 1996-97 to 2007-08.

DETROIT HOCKEY NOW: Former NHL player Sean Avery is having a complicated summer. On the plus side, he has a small role in the hit film “Oppenheimer.” However, his personal life recently made news after his estranged wife, model Hilary Rhoda, successfully extended the temporary restraining order she took out against him.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines and Rumors – July 25, 2023

by | Jul 25, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines and Rumors – July 25, 2023

The Stars sign GM Jim Nill to a contract extension, the Hurricanes sign Tony DeAngelo plus the latest speculation on the Leafs, Rangers and Coyotes in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines and Rumors

MORNING COFFEE HEADLINES

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars signed general manager Jim Nill to a two-year contract extension. He is entering his 11th season with the Stars and became the first general manager in franchise history to win the Jim Gregory General Manager of the Year award last season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Nill did a fine job rebuilding the Stars in his early years, weathering some difficult times and bringing in young talent such as Jason Robertson, Roope Hintz and Jake Oettinger. They reached the Stanley Cup Final in 2020 and the Western Conference Final last season.

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: The Carolina Hurricanes have brought back Tony DeAngelo, signing the puck-moving defenseman to a one-year, $1.675 million contract.

DeAngelo, 27, played for the Hurricanes in 2021-22 and was traded to the Philadelphia Flyers last summer, who signed him to a two-year contract worth an average annual value of $5 million. However, the Flyers bought out the final year of his contract earlier this month, making him an unrestricted free agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: DeAngelo played a better-disciplined game during his first tenure with the Hurricanes which explains why the Hurricanes brought him back. They had a trade in place with the Flyers earlier this month to acquire him with the latter retaining half of his cap hit but the deal was rejected on a CBA technicality.

The Hurricanes were reportedly among the teams interested in acquiring San Jose Sharks blueliner Erik Karlsson. Signing DeAngelo likely takes them out of the Karlsson sweepstakes.

THE ATHLETIC: Joe Smith reports the Minnesota Wild and goaltender Filip Gustavsson could be headed to arbitration to resolve his contract situation. Gustavsson, 25, is coming off a two-year contract with an AAV of $787,500. He filed for arbitration and his hearing date is Aug. 4.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Gustavsson and the Wild will make their respective contract submissions to the arbitrator 48 hours prior to his scheduled hearing.

CAP FRIENDLY: Speaking of arbitration, Gustavsson is among eight players with hearings scheduled from July 30 (Arizona’s Jack McBain and Boston’s Jeremy Swayman) to Aug. 4 (Gustavsson, Edmonton’s Ryan McLeod, Pittsburgh’s Drew O’Connor and the New York Rangers’ Brandon Scanlin).

Toronto Maple Leafs winger William Nylander (NHL Images).

Others include Boston’s Trent Frederic (Aug. 1) and Anaheim’s Troy Terry.

RUMOR MILL

TORONTO SUN: Steve Simmons believes the Maple Leafs cannot afford to pay William Nylander the $9 million to $10 million annual cap hit that he’s seeking on his next contract. It’s still less than what John Tavares, Auston Matthews and Mitch Marner are currently making.

Simmons doubts the Leafs will get anything close to equal value for Nylander in a trade. He recommends letting the 27-year-old winger play out the final year of his contract and then let him walk via free agency. Simmons argues the Leafs could use the money they would’ve paid Nylander to put toward “all kinds of possibilities for roster movement” between now and next July.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The latest reports on Nylander’s contract negotiations claim they’re not going well with the two sides far apart.

General manager Brad Treliving went through a similar situation in 2021-22 with winger Johnny Gaudreau while GM of the Calgary Flames. He hoped to re-sign Gaudreau but wound up watching the winger depart for Columbus as a free agent last summer.

That’s sparked speculation that Treliving won’t go through the same thing with Nylander. Others, meanwhile, share Simmons’ belief that they should retain him this season as the Leafs chase the Stanley Cup, let him walk next summer and use the cap room to bolster their depth elsewhere.

It’ll be interesting to see how Treliving addresses this. While he won’t get equal value for Nylander in the trade market, he could get a couple of promising young players in return who could blossom into future stars. However, if the “Shanaplan” remains pursuing the Stanley Cup this season, they’ll likely keep Nylander and watch him depart as a free agent next July.

TSN: Travis Yost considers the contract buyout possibilities for the Maple Leafs in the wake of Ilya Samsonov’s contract award via arbitration on Sunday.

With the Leafs now well over the $83.5 million salary cap, Yost believes a buyout is coming before their second buyout window closes barring a cost-cutting trade. He suggests oft-injured goaltender Matt Murray or defenseman T.J. Brodie as candidates, though buying out the latter could hurt their efforts to be a Cup contender this season.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Yost also points out that the Leafs could place Murray on long-term injury reserve. However, they would have to be salary-cap compliant once he’s ready to return to the lineup. Of course, if injuries have ended his playing career they can place him on LTIR and buy out Brodie or someone else.

NEW YORK POST: Larry Brooks recently noted an unusually large number of free agents remain unsigned. He wondered how many of them would accept one-year contracts or tryout offers and if the Rangers might be able to tap into that low-cost pool to fill out their roster.

Among the notables that Brooks listed were Max Comtois, Jesse Puljujarvi, Zack Kassian, Anders Bjork, Colin White, Danton Heinen, Austin Watson, Cal Foote and Ethan Bear.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Puljujarvi might not be able to play until much later in the coming season. He underwent double hip surgery and faces a long recovery period.

GOPHNX.COM: In his latest mailbag segment, Craig Morgan was asked about why the Arizona Coyotes didn’t trade Nick Schmaltz this summer given how backloaded his contract was. Morgan believes they’re willing to absorb that cost given their shift to improving year over year as well as Schmaltz’s chemistry with high-scoring winger Clayton Keller.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Morgan believes Keller wouldn’t have been very happy if Schmaltz was traded. He tied the franchise single-season points record (86) in 2022-23 with Schmaltz as his linemate.

Morgan was also asked about the trade rumors that swirled about Coyotes goaltender Karel Vejmelka. While they’re always willing to listen to offers, management hasn’t put Vejmelka on the trade block.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 21, 2023

by | Jul 21, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 21, 2023

An update on Sebastian Aho’s contract talks, the latest on Brock Boeser and Oliver Ekman-Larsson, plus the latest contract signings and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

NHL.COM: Carolina Hurricanes general manager Don Waddell said the club is closing in on a contract extension with Sebastian Aho. The 25-year-old center is eligible to become an unrestricted free agent next July. He’s in the final season of a five-year contract with an average annual value of $8.454 million.

Carolina Hurricanes center Sebastian Aho (NHL Images)

“We’re working on it, getting close,” said Waddell. The Hurricanes GM indicated the two sides are talking “almost daily”, adding that he remains hopeful of reaching an agreement “in the next week or so.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: This shouldn’t come as a surprise. There’s no way the Hurricanes are going to let their best offensive player walk away next summer.

Aho is a key reason why the Canes are a Stanley Cup contender this season. He could be in line for a maximum eight-year contract worth an AAV between $9.5 million and $10 million.

THE PROVINCE: Vancouver Canucks winger Brock Boeser is working out with a new trainer this summer in the hope of reaching peak fitness for this season. The 26-year-old winger’s performance improved after Rick Tocchet took over as head coach. There’s reason for optimism if Boeser can also avoid injuries.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: A healthy, productive Boeser will be a crucial part of the Canucks playoff aspirations in 2023-24.

FLORIDA HOCKEY NOW: Oliver Ekman-Larsson is looking forward to a bounce-back performance with the Panthers after being bought out of his contract by the Canucks last month. The 32-year-old defenseman admitted a broken foot suffered during the 2022 IIHF World Championship adversely affected his offseason training last summer and contributed to his poor performance in 2022-23.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Ekman-Larsson’s performance has been in decline for several years but it really fell off last season. Perhaps a healthier offseason with a new club will lead to some improvement. Having signed a one-year, $2.25 million contract, he’s an affordable gamble for the Panthers.

TORONTO SUN: The Maple Leafs hired Guy Boucher and Mike Van Ryn as assistant coaches. Boucher will work with the power play while Van Ryn is expected to help with the defense.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The additions of Boucher and Van Ryn prompted questions about head coach Sheldon Keefe’s future with the Leafs. He has a year remaining on his contract but remains unconcerned about his status. “The other stuff will work itself out over time,” said Keefe.

WASHINGTON HOCKEY NOW: Speaking of hiring assistant coaches, the Capitals have brought in Kirk Muller and Kenny McCudden. Muller spent the past two seasons as an associate coach with the Calgary Flames while McCudden is coming off an eight-year tenure with the Columbus Blue Jackets.

TSN: The Dallas Stars have added former goaltender Ben Bishop as a player development coordinator. His main focus will be working with players from their AHL affiliate as well as prospects from Junior A and the NCAA.

TSN: The Chicago Blackhawks and forward Philipp Kurashev await an arbiter’s decision after entering his scheduled hearing yesterday without a deal. The decision will come within 48 hours.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: As per the 2020 memorandum of understanding (MOU) extending the collective bargaining agreement, negotiations cannot continue between the team and the player once the arbitration hearing has begun.

TRIBLIVE.COM: Former Pittsburgh Penguins forward Derek Grant has signed with the ZSC Lions in Switzerland’s National League. Grant, 33, has 132 points in 427 NHL games with the Penguins, Ottawa Senators, Calgary Flames, Buffalo Sabres, Nashville Predators, Anaheim Ducks and Philadelphia Flyers.










NHL Rumor Mill – July 18, 2023

by | Jul 18, 2023

NHL Rumor Mill – July 18, 2023

What’s the latest on the Hurricanes? Could they move Brett Pesce? What would it take for the Islanders to sign Vladimir Tarasenko? Find out in today’s NHL Rumor Mill.

LATEST ON THE HURRICANES

THE NEWS & OBSERVER: Luke Decock reports the Carolina Hurricanes had a busy start to July but rumors have died down since then. Their last addition was signing winger Brendan Lemieux on July 11 and things could remain unchanged.

The Hurricanes had a proposed deal in place with the Philadelphia Flyers to reacquire defenseman Tony DeAngelo but it was blocked over salary-cap circumvention concerns. It was placed on the back burner after the Hurricanes signed free-agent blueliner Dmitry Orlov. DeAngelo has since become a free agent after being bought out last week by the Flyers but the Hurricanes have not spoken with his agent.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I think we can rule out the possibility of DeAngelo coming back to the Hurricanes.

Carolina Hurricanes defenseman Brett Pesce (NHL Images).

They’ve been linked to Vladimir Tarasenko but their interest in the unrestricted free-agent winger has cooled. They continue to monitor Norris Trophy winner Erik Karlsson but their limited cap space would make it difficult to acquire the San Jose Sharks defenseman unless they make another trade first.

The Hurricanes are also working on finalizing an eight-year contract extension for center Sebastian Aho. They face decisions on winger Teuvo Teravainen and defensemen Brett Pesce and Brady Skjei, who are a year away from UFA eligibility.

Decock considers it unlikely or prudent that the Canes will go into 2023-24 with those three still in limbo. Nevertheless, general manager Don Waddell is not yet facing any time pressure.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Acquiring Karlsson would likely mean parting ways with a defenseman, most likely a right-side defender like Pesce. Speaking of whom…

THE ATHLETIC: Shayna Goldman listed five clubs that could or should be interested in Brett Pesce if the Hurricanes opt to trade the 28-year-old blueliner. They include the Dallas Stars, Buffalo Sabres, Toronto Maple Leafs, Nashville Predators and Edmonton Oilers.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Pesce carries a $4.025 million cap hit for 2023-24 plus a list of 15 preferred trade destinations. At least one of the aforementioned clubs could be on that list.

Assuming Pesce would accept a trade to those five teams, salary-cap constraints hamper the Leafs, Stars, and Oilers. They’d have to shed salary in a cost-cutting deal to free up room for him. The Hurricanes could be reluctant to take on a player in return if they’re trying clear space for another move.

The Sabres have the cap room but it could get tricky if they want to keep Pesce beyond this season. They must ensure they’ll have sufficient room once they get Rasmus Dahlin and Owen Power signed to their long-term extensions. They also recently signed Erik Johnson and Connor Clifton, leaving them with eight defensemen on one-way NHL contracts. Power is on his entry-level contract which is a two-way deal but he’s not going to be buried in the minors following his solid rookie performance last season.

Meanwhile, the Predators have the cap space and the depth in tradeable assets. First-year GM Barry Trotz has shown a willingness to make bold moves. Perhaps he’ll pursue Pesce if the opportunity presents itself.

CAN THE ISLANDERS AFFORD TARASENKO?

NEW YORK POST: Ethan Sears noted the Islanders’ ongoing search for a scoring winger, pointing out Vladimir Tarasenko is still available in the free-agent market.

Signing the 31-year-old winger, however, would mean having to free up some cap room. He reportedly rejected offers between $5.5 million and $6 million before changing agents.

Sears believes Jean-Gabriel Pageau would be the logical cost-cutting trade candidate. Removing his $5 million cap hit from the Isles books wouldn’t leave a hole at center since Mathew Barzal could be moved back to that position.

Pageau’s skills as a two-way center and penalty killer give him value in the trade market. However, he has a 16-team no-trade list. Meanwhile, just 13 teams have $5 million in cap space, and that’s without accounting for their unsigned restricted free agents.

Moving Pageau alone might not be enough. Sears suggested waiving Ross Johnston and including Oliver Wahlstrom in any deal. If Zach Parise opts for retirement it would leave them with $6.4 million in cap room.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: I don’t rule out anything when Isles GM Lou Lamoriello is concerned. He’s been chasing a scoring winger since last summer. Perhaps he can woo Tarasenko while finding a way to clear sufficient cap room. Still, it won’t be easy, especially if there are other suitors with more cap flexibility in the hunt.










NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 14, 2023

by | Jul 14, 2023

NHL Morning Coffee Headlines – July 14, 2023

No Patrick Kane signing this summer plus the latest on Cam Atkinson, Tristan Jarry, Nazem Kadri and more in today’s NHL Morning Coffee Headlines.

ESPN.COM: Greg Wyshynski reports Patrick Kane intends to take his time recovering from major hip surgery that is expected to sideline him for four to six months. Once he’s ready to return (which could be by December), the 34-year-old right winger will select the suitor he feels will give him the best chance of winning the Stanley Cup.

Free agent winger Patrick Kane (NHL Images).

Wyshynski noted the drawbacks of this strategy. Kane can’t control how general managers will manage their rosters. Desirable clubs might not have the salary-cap flexibility in December that they currently have in the offseason. On the other hand, signing with a team now runs the risk of committing to a club that might not become a contender.

Kane’s agent, Pat Brisson, is unconcerned by this strategy. He noted that teams have called to express interest in his client. “You could offer me a one-year or a two-year deal right now at $7 million or so,” said Brisson. “I don’t even know if I want to entertain it, because it’s not what he needs. We’ll see, at the right time, how he feels, where he’s at, and then we’ll take it from there.”

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The flattened salary cap for 2023-24 likely means Kane will have to accept a one-year contract when he’s ready to return by December. Most Stanley Cup contenders in the market for a scoring winger with championship experience will have little cap room by that point.

Kane earned an annual average value of $10.5 million on his previous contract. At this stage of his career, he and his agent understand they won’t get anything close to that. Given the cap situation, he might have to accept a significant pay cut that could be well below what they anticipate.

It’s likely more important for Kane to show the hockey world that he’s fully recovered from his surgery and is still capable of being an effective scorer despite his age. A strong showing this season on a low-cost, one-year contract will set him up for a better deal next summer when the cap is projected to rise by at least $4 million.

TSN: After missing all of 2022-23 to an upper-body injury and neck surgery, Cam Atkinson is looking forward to returning to action this season with the Philadelphia Flyers. The 34-year-old winger said he’s fully recovered from his surgery and no longer experiences pain in his neck.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Atkinson’s absence was a contributing factor in the Flyers’ decline last season. A return to form in 2023-24 could help them become a better-than-expected team.

CALGARY HOCKEY NOW: Nazem Kadri believes the Flames’ coaching change will re-energize the roster for 2023-24. He feels the elevation of Ryan Huska as head coach will have them playing more to their style. Kadri also said Huska is a coach who communicates well, adding he thinks that’s what the team needs.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Huska’s predecessor, Darryl Sutter, was a taciturn old-school coach who reportedly clashed at times last season with several of the Flames’ roster core. The change of style could help this club unlock its potential.

PITTSBURGH HOCKEY NOW: Penguins goaltender Tristan Jarry said he’s 100 percent healthy after struggling through injuries last season. He indicated that he’s changed his offseason training to get stronger and fitter in a different way. While the precise nature of his injuries last season hasn’t been divulged, Jarry denied that they were chronic issues.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: Penguins management evidently believes Jarry has put his injury woes behind him, signing the 28-year-old goalie to a five-year contract worth an AAV of nearly $5.4 million. A healthy season by Jarry will be crucial to the club’s hope of returning to playoff contention.

THE ATHLETIC: The Arizona Coyotes placed Alex Galchenyuk on unconditional waivers on Thursday for the purpose of terminating his contract. The 29-year-old winger had signed a one-year, two-way contract with the Coyotes on July 1.

The decision was made after the club became aware of an off-ice issue involving Galchenyuk. It was subsequently reported he was arrested by Scottsdale police on July 9 on a number of charges including private property hit and run, disorderly conduct, failure to obey, resisting arrest and threatening or intimidating. The police indicated the hit and run was “only property damage and no injuries. Galchenyuk was released on his own recognizance and arraigned on Monday.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: There was no comment from Galchenyuk’s agent or his attorney. We’ll likely learn more details of this story in the coming weeks.

TSN’s Rick Westhead tweeted yesterday that several NHL executives, sponsors and player agents are bracing for the NHL’s possible release of its investigation regarding an alleged sexual assault involving as many as eight players from Canada’s 2018 World Junior team.

If the league names and suspends the players allegedly involved, those players will likely appeal any sanctions with an arbitrator as per the CBA and might pursue defamation lawsuits against the league.

SPECTOR’S NOTE: The report of the NHL’s investigation was expected to be released sometime in July.

THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS: The Stars re-signed forward Ty Dellandrea to a one-year, $900K contract.

TSN: The New York Islanders have promoted Rick Kowalsky as head coach of their AHL affiliate in Bridgeport. He served as Bridgeport’s assistant coach for the past two seasons. He replaces Brent Thompson, who recently joined the Anaheim Ducks’ coaching staff.

BUFFALO HOCKEY NOW: The Sabres have signed a two-year affiliation agreement with the ECHL’s Jacksonville Icemen.