Raffi Torres hit on Marian Hossa

One year to the day after Phoenix Coyotes forward Raffi Torres hit On Brent Seabrook with a questionable hit behind the Blackhawks net Torres laid out Marian Hossa with this hit. The problem is that Torres left his feet to make this hit. The NBC broadcast crew interviewed the Blawkhawks head coach  Joel Quenneville on the bench and it was pretty obvious that he was very angry that four guys on the ice could miss that hit.

You would have to think that Raffi Torres might be looking at a big suspension and the possibility that this could be his last game during the 2012 playoffs, or not. Hossa was carried off of the ice on a stretcher and there was no penalty on the play.

Andrew Shaw ejected for decleating Coyotes goalie Mike Smith

The Blackhawks forward Andrew Shaw was ejected from last night's game for hitting Coyotes goalie Mike Smith. Depending on what angle you watch this collision from, it does appear that Shaw caught Smith with an elbow in the head. I think that Shaw could have avoided this collision and this was an unnecessary hit on the goalie who was playing the puck.

It also appears that Smith might have embellished this hit a bit and some have suggest that Smith should get a n Oscar for his efforts. I was watching the game with my buddy last night and I suggested this to him. Kind of reminds me of another goalie that tended to embellish a bit on the ice every time someone tapped him.

There are other hockey fans that have advocated that the goalie should be fair game if he steps outside of his crease.  I think the best way to start a brawl is to run the other teams goalie.

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• NHL playoffs: Chicago Blackhawks beat Phoenix Coyotes in dramatic fashion (thestar.com)
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Huskies Mike Lee Signs with the Desert Dogs

This was one of the more shocking pieces of news to surface today as Saint Cloud State Huskies goalie Mike Lee has signed a professional contract with the Phoenix Coyotes. Goon's Notebook: Mike Lee never was able to beat the UND Fighting Sioux in three season of play with the SCSU Huskies, Lee had a 0-6-1 record against the UND. 

With the departure of Lee,  Ryan Faragher is the only goalie with the Huskies with NCAA Division I college hockey experience. Faragher had a 2.77 goals against average and a .915 save percentage. Faragher started 23 games (9-11-3) while Lee was out with a hip injury from October 15th till January 21st.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA --- Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today the Coyotes have signed goaltender Mike Lee to a three-year entry-level contract. As per club policy, terms of the contract were not disclosed.

Mike Lee

The 6-foot-1, 195 pound Lee posted an 8-6-2 record with a 2.23 goals against average and a .930 save percentage with St. Cloud State (WCHA) in 16 games this season.

The 21-year-old native of Roseau, MN appeared in 74 games with the Huskies during his three-year career, posting a record of 32-29-9 with a 2.59 GAA and a .919 SV%.

He led Team USA to the gold medal game at the 2010 IIHF World Junior Championship in Saskatoon, Sask., posting an undefeated record of 4-0 with a 2.50 GAA and a .908 SV% in five games. Lee recorded the third-best SV% among tournament goaltenders.

Lee was selected by the Coyotes in the third round (91st overall) in the 2009 Entry Draft.

Related articles

• North Dakota vs. St. Cloud State Final Five (insidehockey.com)
• UND vs. SCSU game notes (ndgoon.blogspot.com)

Shane Doan hit on Jamie Benn

I can find no reason the NHL shouldn't suspended the Coyotes forward Shane Doan for this bush league, unnecessary and dirty hit on Dallas forward Jamie Benn. I also don't see how anyone can defense this hit? Rightfully so, Shane Doan has a hearing this afternoon with the department of players safety this afternoon.

Anyone want to guess on what kind of a suspension that Shane Doan gets for his efforts. I don't see how he can escape punishment for this hit. I think it's time for Brendan Shanahan to throw the book at someone and stop letting them escape with a fine or no punishment at all.

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Raffi Torres is at it again.

Raffi Torres is a dirty and reckless players and if you watch this video, you probably have come to the conclusion that Torres should have been suspended a long time ago and for a very long time. The next time this guy hits someone in the head, and it will probably be next week, he should be gone; suspended for 10 games this time.

Last week we had Torres doing this despicable act.

This is the proper response for someone that hits one of your fellow players in the head, this is called sticking up for your fellow players, instead of waiting for the refs to make the call. Nothing pleases me more than watching Adam McQuaid work Raffi Torres like a punching bag.

Let's not kid ourselves, Raffi Torres is notorious for racing all over the ice, taking unneeded runs at guys, many times Torres hits players with dirty hits like this hit on Brent Seabrook last spring during the Stanley Cup playoffs.

It's about time this gutless puke pays for his act of transgression on the ice. You can hit someone hard and make a good body check without having to hit a opponent in the head. Nice to see that Brendan Shanahan has gotten it right twice in the same week. Some Day Torres is also going to get what he has coming to him, you would have thought he would have learned his lesson when Adam McQuaid beat the tar out of him.

Related articles

• Adam McQuaid works Raffi Torres like a clown (mvn.com)
• Coyotes' Raffi Torres fined for head shot (theglobeandmail.com)
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• Phoenix Coyotes' Raffi Torres fined $2,500 for hit on Colorado's Jan Hejda (thehockeynews.com)

Brett Hextall is no Matt Cooke...

I want to preface this blog post by saying that, I liked what Brett Hextall brought to the table during his three seasons at the University of North Dakota, however I am disappointed that Brett would compare himself to a gutless puke like Matt Cooke. I don't think we will every see Hextall suspended for the playoffs because he hit someone with a dirty elbow or an illegal hit... While Hextall plays the game with an edge I wouldn't say that he is a goon or a dirty player.

Pro Hockey Talk --- Phoenix Coyotes prospect Brett Hextall signed a pro contract this April and will be wreaking havoc all over the Coyotes training camp this week. He spent two seasons with Junior A Penticton before moving on to the University of North Dakota.

“Yeah, [the chippiness] probably my strongest point—at least when I’m playing my most effective,” Hextall explained. “I’m really getting under people’s skin just because I’m a pest. Like a Max Talbot, Matt Cooke, or someone like that. If I can be a relentless guy, [play] in-your-face, winning pucks, and just getting under people’s skin because I’m always around, always there, and always getting a piece of them. That’s definitely when I’m at my best.”

That’s right. A Hextall just said that he’s at his best when he’s playing like Matt Cooke. Not surprisingly, it’s something he’s learned from his family. He’s known from the start what it would take to be a good hockey player.

One player that I would probably compare Brett Hextall to is Boston Bruins forward and pest extraordinaire Brad Marchand. In case you have already forgotten, Marchand, was the player that the Montreal Canadians and the Vancouver Canucks came to hate during the Stanley Cup playoffs, by the end of both series Marchand was in Canadians and Canucks heads. Brett Hextall like Brad Marchand has been known to throw players but also whole teams off their games being a super pest, if you don't believe me just ask the Denver Pioneers.

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New glass goes in at Jobing.com Arena

Here is the new glass they were testing at the research and development camp last week. What do you guys think? If the new glass prevents injuries I am all for it.

Wild second round bust signed by Phoenix

I guess the Phoenix Coyotes have decided that they have found some value in Patrick O’Sullivan and have signed to him a one year, two way deal. O’Sullivan is another reminder of the failed days of former Wild GM Doug Risebrough that also brought Wild fans James Sheppard.

GLENDALE, ARIZONA – Phoenix Coyotes General Manager Don Maloney announced today that the Coyotes have signed forward Patrick O’Sullivan to a one-year, two-way contract. As per club policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

In parts of six NHL seasons with the Los Angeles Kings, Edmonton Oilers, Carolina Hurricanes and Minnesota Wild, the 6-foot-0, 190-pound O’Sullivan has recorded 56-101-157 and 114 penalty minutes in 311 games. O’Sullivan established career highs in goals (22), assists (31), points (53) and games (82) during the 2007-08 season with Los Angeles.

Last season, the 26-year-old native of Winston-Salem, N.C., appeared in 31 NHL games with Carolina and Minnesota registering 2-6-8. He also helped lead the Houston Aeros to the AHL Calder Cup Finals by posting a team best 18 points (4g, 14a) in 24 playoff games. He recorded 19-29-48 in 36 regular season contests with Houston.

O’Sullivan was originally drafted by Minnesota in the second round (56th overall) of the 2003 NHL Entry Draft.

Jets new logo unveiled.

Winnipeg Jets Hockey Team NHL.COM

The Winnipeg Jets have released their new logo and I must say that I am disappointed. I like the old Winnipeg Jets logo they had back in 1996 before the team moved to Phoenix and became the Coyotes.

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Winnipeg press conference with Gary Bettman

Wow!!! I can’t be the only one that thinks the NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman is a smug little pompous jerk? When I watch Gary Bettman talk in press conferences on television or listen to him speak on XM radio; Bettman reminds me of one of the many empty suits that make up Washington, D.C., arrogant, condescending, smug, gets short with people… Frankly I think Bettman is a jerk the way he conducts himself. I would have loved to hook up a lie detector during his press conference today.

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Winnipeg Appears NHL's Only Option for Thrashers.

Image by Getty Images via @daylifeHere is an interesting article from the Spector blog about the NHL possibly making a return to Winnipeg. All I can say is whatever KDP, what does he know about Winnipeg? I wonder if Kevin can find Winnipeg on a map or even knows where the city of Winnipeg is at?

Spector Blog --- Since mid-May various reports suggesting the sale of the Atlanta Thrashers to True North Sports & Entertainment and their subsequent relocation this summer to the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba, may occur in the near future has generated considerable stir in the NHL world.

As of this writing there's been no confirmation a deal is in place or imminent but various media sources claim it's either all but done, or will be in a matter of weeks, perhaps even days.

It remains to be seen when an official announcement could be made, but unquestionably this is the closest the city of Winnipeg has come to getting back an NHL franchise since their beloved Jets were sold and moved to Phoenix, becoming the Coyotes, in 1996.

Winnpegers in particular and a majority of Canadian-based hockey fans in general are thrilled by the prospect, but there is some question if the city of roughly 750,000 souls can be a viable hockey market, given its market size, location and other economic factors.

Kevin Paul Dupont of The Boston Globe raised those questions in his May 22, 2011 column, suggesting the Thrashers would enjoy an initial rush of strong support in Winnipeg until the team's losses started to pile up, Winnipegers realize the sticker shock of attending NHL games, and American TV interests make it clear they're not interested in televising games involving a Winnipeg team.

Is a lockout looming in the future for the NHL???

Image via WikipediaJust when things are going well and we have witnessed some very good hockey you start hearing and reading about the NHL and a possible lockout. Talk about a looming NHL lock out would be a buzz kill. First off; last night’s hockey game between the Sharks and the Redwing was probably the type of hockey that the NHL envisioned when they were trying to remake In the last couple of days, Damien Cox from the Toronto Star wrote an interesting article about a possible NHL lockout and all I can say is that I hope not. I hope the NHL doesn't kill what momentum and good will that they have built in the last few years since the 2004-2005 lockout.their soiled image after the 2004-2005 lockout.

Damien Cox; Sports Columnist --- You could have argued at one point that the new cap system was a big break for the richest teams, since instead of spending $80 million on players they could spend a lot less. But those teams are now contributing huge amounts to the league’s revenue sharing system and contributing funds to pay for the Phoenix Coyotes.

Maybe that’s why, so far, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan hasn’t been able to get anyone to meet its asking price for its chunk of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. Business may be good, but not $1.5 billion-for-controlling-interest good.

So with Phoenix a punchline and propped up only by the inexplicable antics of local politicians, Columbus hemorrhaging upwards of $25 million a season, Atlanta bathing in red ink, the Islanders about to try and get Nassau County taxpayers to pay $350 million for a new rink on a flimsy I.O.U., Nashville looking for new equity partners and any number of other clubs looking to sell, hockey fans better get ready for what’s coming.

Another lockout. Oh yeah.

Unthinkable? They’d never do that again? Think again. Hockey fans surely swallowed their pride and came back after the 2004-05 season was erased from the record books, quickly forgetting their promises to never support the league that had betrayed them.

Don’t think the NHL didn’t notice.

The league didn’t get its “idiot-proof” CBA; therefore, it must try again.

ESPN; Delay of Coyotes sale has cascading effects

Hum, this is an interesting little news tidbit that just came across the Tweet Deck. Why do I get the feeling that the Desert Dogs are on life support in the Phoenix area? They can only fool around so long before the NHL is going to pull the plug on the Coyotes.

Scott Burnside, ESPN --- The trade deadline isn't the only deadline looming on the NHL landscape.

The City of Glendale, never quite on the same page as anyone else when it comes to getting the job done, failed to begin selling bonds to raise money that would go to Chicago businessman Matthew Hulsizer as part of an agreement on a new lease for Jobing.com Arena. That bond sale must go through before the lease agreement with Hulsizer is finalized, and that deal must be completed before the league will close on its sale of the Phoenix Coyotes to Hulsizer.

Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly told ESPN.com Friday that the league has established no deadline for the sale of the bonds and multiple sources familiar with the deal insist they expect the deal will close, just not as soon as had been anticipated.

One of the reasons for the delay in the bond sales, which were expected to be completed by this week, is the specter of a lawsuit by watchdog group the Goldwater Institute.

Goldwater threatened legal action because the deal may contravene state rules on subsidizing private businesses. If the monies committed by the City of Glendale are greater than what they would receive through parking revenues and other monies that would go to the city as part of the deal, it would break state rules.

It's not clear whether Goldwater will take the municipality to court if the deal is consummated.

While the NHL may not have imposed a deadline the reality remains that the NHL does not have infinite patience with the City of Glendale.

Ice Edge deal on thin ice? Prospective Coyotes ownership group misses deadline

This is an interesting turn of events. Actually, I hope this means that Winnepeg is back in the picture.

By Winnipeg Sun ---- Negotiations over the future of the Phoenix Coyotes have hit a snag, according to an Arizona newspaper.

An Arizona Republic article published Monday claims the group seeking to buy the NHL team — Ice Edge Holdings — has not complied with terms to provide the City of Glendale with financial documentation required as part of exclusive negotiations between the city and the prospective ownership group to hammer out a lease deal for the city-owned Jobing.com Arena.

Ice Edge has been granted the right to negotiate exclusively with the city as it attempts to purchase the team from the league, which bought the Coyotes out of bankruptcy last year.

The Arizona Republic report cited City of Glendale spokeswoman Julie Frisoni as saying Monday that Ice Edge failed more than five weeks ago to meet a deadline to submit some of the proof of its financing and the group had lost the right to negotiate exclusively as a result.

The 60-day period of exclusivity Ice Edge was granted to negotiate with the city is slated to end next Friday.

When contacted by QMI Agency Tuesday, Frisoni would not comment on the matter and said negotiations were continuing as planned with the deadline still in place.

When reached via e-mail on Tuesday, Ice Edge chief operating officer Daryl Jones said there are “no comments at this time.”

Glendale city council voted in May to cover up to $25 million in team losses if a buyer isn’t found in time for next season.

The NHL has given Glendale until the end of the year to complete an arena deal with a new owner.

Reinsdorf group withdraws from Coyotes competition

You have to wonder how long before the NHL final says Phoenix you're out? Just move the team back to Winnipeg where it belongs.

(AP) — PHOENIX - A group headed Jerry Reinsdorf has withdrawn from efforts to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes, a move that leaves Ice Edge Holdings as the last potential buyer that would keep the NHL team in Arizona.

Reinsdorf, owner of the Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls, issued a statement Monday night saying "it was time to move on."

The Reinsdorf group once was the front-runner to buy the team but had fallen out of favor in recent weeks while Glendale officials worked out a memorandum of understanding with Ice Edge, a group of Canadian and American investors.

The Glendale city council is to vote Tuesday night on that memorandum, which gives Ice Edge exclusive negotiating rights for 60 days.

A new lease for the Coyotes to play at Jobing.com Arena is a necessary step before Ice Edge can proceed to try to purchase the team from the NHL.

Glendale puts $25M into Phoenix Coyotes escrow account

Read this article, this kind of says what others have been saying if no buyer steps up the teams moves. There really isn't a lot of room for error. The city of Glendale had to show proof of funds to cover the teams losses or risk losing the team immediately.

Money earmarked for city services such as water and sewer now sit in an escrow account to cover the $25 million pledge that Glendale made to the National Hockey League to keep the Phoenix Coyotes in town next season.

The NHL demanded Glendale show its proof of funds by last Thursday or risk the team leaving Jobing.com Arena immediately. The NHL owns the team, which it purchased for $140 million out of U.S. Bankruptcy Court last fall. (Emphasis mine)

"The NHL had a buyer on the table willing to pay $170 million for the team," city spokeswoman Julie Frisoni said.

The buyer wanted to relocate the Coyotes to Canada next season, she said.Although Glendale planned to set up a special taxing district or some other funding mechanism to meet the $25 million obligation, the NHL's deadline made that impossible, city officials said.

So the city dipped into its enterprise-fund investment account, which pays for long-term costs not anticipated to come due for several years. The city's enterprise account totaled $415 million for the fiscal year ending in June, according to an annual report.

The money in the enterprise funds comes from fees paid by businesses and residents for public services such as trash, water and sewer, landfill and housing. The fund absorbs revenue shortfalls in enterprise departments such as water and sewer, repays debt for capital projects and covers the cost of regulatory requirements, according to the city.

Art Lynch, the city's former chief financial officer who now consults with the city, insisted this week that tapping into the enterprise fund is not using taxpayer dollars. Rather, it is a fee paid by residents and businesses who use city services.

The city transferred $25 million out of the enterprise account and into an account which the NHL can begin to draw upon in September, under the deal between the league and Glendale signed May 20.The city agreed to pay the NHL for "actual cash losses" for the team and the arena management that could start accruing in July.
[Read more]

Bettman coolly exploits both Winnipeg and Glendale

Here is an interesting story on the Phoenix Coyotes situation. Really no shock here, NHL butt head Gary Bettman exploiting both citys to further his failing agenda. My question is how long does the NHL go one with this charade? When does the NHL decide to pull the pin and move the club to Winnipeg?

If there was any doubt about the shamelessness of the NHL when it comes to the Phoenix Coyotes, it was erased last Thursday when commissioner Gary Bettman had an ultimatum delivered to the city officials of Glendale, Ariz.

Show us proof you have $25-million (all currency U.S.) available to cover the Coyotes’ operating losses next season, the suburban Phoenix community was told, or we will sell the team immediately to someone who will move it. Glendale city council member Phil Lieberman said Tuesday they were not told who was buying the Coyotes or where they were going, but he found out the destination was Winnipeg.

The ultimatum was made one week after Bettman dismissed reports he had a backup plan to sell the Coyotes to True North Sports and Entertainment of Winnipeg. “Rampant speculation that has no foundation,” Bettman said in one interview.

But there was Bettman’s henchman, deputy commissioner Bill Daly, dropping a Winnipeg grenade into the lap of Glendale city manager Ed Beasley. Cough up $25-million or we’re out of here.

Officials from the city of 250,000 were given until 5 p.m. Friday to produce the $25-million guarantee, according to one source. They caved at 4:45, with 15 minutes to spare. [Read the rest of the story]

Poor Sister In The Desert

When the NHL moved the Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix after the 1996 season, questions were raised about whether the decision was the right one or not.

The answer may come sooner than later. After 12 seasons in the desert, the hot sun may be finally setting on the Coyotes.

Initially, the Coyotes re-located to America West Arena in the affluent city of Scottsdale, Ariz. Because the NBA’s Phoenix Suns were the primary tenant in the arena, the Coyotes were, essentially, cut out of any revenue the building earned.

They approached Scottsdale City Council in 2001 for a loan to construct a new building.

When Scottsdale City Council rejected their financing proposal, the club turned its eyes to courting the working class west-end city of Glendale, Ariz.

Glendale City Council voted in favour of a $180 million loan (all figures in U.S.) to help build a facility for the Coyotes. The hockey club found another $40 million and settled into the Jobing.com Arena, in Dec. of 2003 and began to lay the groundwork for the franchise.

Hockey in Phoenix is a marginalized venture at best. The Coyotes may have counted on northern ex-pats to support the team but when your limited fan base lives in one city you can’t assume they will follow you to another town 45 kilometres (26 miles) away.

Another fatal error was the Coyotes’ belief that corporate dollars would follow them across town.

“The big-money guys, the corporate guys don’t live in Glendale,” NHLPA executive director Paul Kelly told David Shoalts of the Globe and Mail. “If you live in Scottsdale, Glendale is not an easy place to get to. That hurts them in the area of club seats and boxes.”

Coyotes’ governor and CEO Jeff Shumway told the Arizona Republic that the team lost $30 million (all figures US) in 2006-2007.

The Globe and Mail also reported that the Coyotes may be on the verge of losing between $25 million to $35 million this season.

It hasn’t helped that owner Jerry Moyes’ has serious financial troubles of his own. Moyes, 63, owns Phoenix based Swift Transportation and according to Eiad Asbahi, managing partner of Prescience Investment Group in New York, his liabilities are reported to be worth $1 to $1.5 billion more than his company’s assets.

This seriously jeopardizes Moyes’ ability to swallow any more of the hockey club’s losses.

Inside the arena the Coyotes are averaging 14, 657 through 15 home games this season. However, the club suffers from the upper bowl phenomenon where the cheap seats in the upper bowl are full while the suites and expensive seats sit unused. It is even rumoured that the club discounts the expensive seats, driving revenues further down

The average ticket price is about $39, which ranks 29th in the league.

Whoever said that numbers don’t lie was speaking the truth.

So, what’s next?

There are three choices in play:

1) File for Bankruptcy.

2) Put the onus on NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman to find a new buyer for the team.

3) Re-negotiate their arena lease forcing the city of Glendale to cover some of their losses.

Given the financial situation of Moyes, he may have no choice but to put the team in the hands of the NHL.

Shumway doesn’t buy that.

“I am confident not only that hockey will be here in five years but that we will be doing well in five years,” Shumway told the Globe and Mail. “We run a great franchise in a great sport, a sport we love.”

With files from the Globe and Mail