NHL Thread Because There Isn't An NHL Thread

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman is pouring cold water on the recent rumors that the Arizona Coyotes could leave the Phoenix area.

"The Coyotes aren't going anywhere," Bettman said following the Board of Governors meeting Friday, according to TSN's Pierre LeBrun.

The city of Glendale announced in August that it'll opt out of its lease agreement for Gila River Arena after this season, which means the Coyotes need to find a new home building.


On Wednesday, it was reported that the city of Glendale was planning to lock the Coyotes out of the arena Dec. 20 due to $1.3 million in unpaid state and city taxes. On Thursday, the club reportedly settled the debt.

Bettman argued Friday that Glendale has it out for the Coyotes and reiterated that the league has no problems with the club itself.

"There's no issue with the Arizona Coyotes," Bettman said, according to TSN's Rick Westhead. "It's clear the city of Glendale has either an agenda or an edge in the way they are dealing with the Coyotes."

There hasn't been an update on the Coyotes' plans for next season in months. However, the team did file a bid for land in nearby Tempe to be the construction site for a new arena.
 
Does Bettman have a financial stake in Arizona (state not team). One would think if the city is averse to maintaining the agreements, they’d opt to find a more amenable location. Not like this would be an expansion 🤷🏾‍♂️.
 
Ben Bishop is hanging up his pads after an 11-year NHL career due to a knee injury, Dallas Stars general manager Jim Nill said Saturday, according to The Dallas Morning News' Matthew DeFranks.

The Stars netminder hasn't played a regular-season NHL game since March 10, 2020. Bishop made three appearances for Dallas during the 2020 bubble playoffs in August.

The 35-year-old underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in October 2020 and has spent the last 14 months rehabbing the injury. The organization assigned Bishop to the AHL's Texas Stars on a rehab assignment this past week, and he allowed eight goals on 34 shots in his lone appearance.


"It’s no secret, he has a degenerative knee injury, and he went down there, he wanted to be a big part of this," Nill said. "He wanted to do everything he could to get back. In the end, by going through the process, going down there, and playing, he found out that it’s the end of his career.

"He’s the one that said, 'No, that’s it,'" Nill added. "In the end, he’s the one that had to make that decision."

Bishop was a three-time Vezina Trophy finalist (2014, 2016, 2019) and finishes his career with 222 wins, 33 shutouts, a 2.32 goals against average, and a .921 save percentage - the latter of which currently ranks fifth on the all-time list behind Dominik Hasek, Ken Dryden, Tuukka Rask, and Jack Campbell.

The 6-foot-7 Bishop proved to be a big-game goaltender as well, posting a 2.27 goals against average and a .924 save percentage in 52 career playoff games. The netminder also guided the Tampa Bay Lightning to the Stanley Cup Final in 2015.

Stars head coach Rick Bowness was a Lightning associate coach for five campaigns from 2013-2018.

"It hurts," Bowness said. "I feel terrible for him because he’s such a great person, and as I’ve always said when he’s on, he’s a top-three goalie in the league. He took us to the Finals in Tampa. When you go that far, you have a special bond.

"I’ve always felt very close with Bish. I’m devastated for him and his family, I know he wants to play. It’s just a very, very unfortunate thing that’s happened."

In addition to his time in Dallas and Tampa, Bishop also played for the Los Angeles Kings, Ottawa Senators, and St. Louis Blues.

Bishop is in the fifth season of a six-year, $29.5-million contract. He was recalled from his conditioning loan on Saturday and placed on long-term injured reserve, where he will remain through the duration of his deal.

While Bishop would've been a welcome addition had his comeback been successful, the Stars already have a crowded puck-stopper room. Offseason acquisition Braden Holtby and youngster Jake Oettinger have been sensational this campaign. Meanwhile, veteran Anton Khudobin has struggled and is reportedly on the trade block.
 
🤕

The injuries continue to pile up for the Colorado Avalanche.

Gabriel Landeskog is expected to miss two weeks or so with a lower-body injury, head coach Jared Bednar announced Sunday.

The Avs captain suffered the injury during Friday's 7-3 win against the Detroit Red Wings.


Nazem Kadri, who missed Friday's contest, won't return Sunday versus the Florida Panthers after getting hurt against the New York Rangers on Wednesday.

Colorado will at least get one player back from injury against the Panthers, as goaltender Pavel Francouz just finished a conditioning stint in the AHL and is set to back up Darcy Kuemper for the first time this season.

Landeskog ranks second on the team with 27 points in 22 contests this season. Only four players on the roster have appeared in all 24 games - Tyson Jost, Erik Johnson, Logan O'Connor, and Darren Helm.
 
😷

The Calgary Flames have postponed at least their next two games after six players and one staff member entered the NHL's COVID-19 protocol over the last 24 hours, the league announced Monday.

Elias Lindholm, Andrew Mangiapane, Brad Richardson, Adam Ruzicka, Chris Tanev, and Nikita Zadorov are the players that were put on the COVID-19 list, the team announced.

The Flames were scheduled to play on the road against the Chicago Blackhawks on Monday night and then versus the Nashville Predators on Tuesday. Calgary was concerned about border issues as its players may have had to face lengthy quarantine requirements upon returning to Canada if they tested positive, according to Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman.


The Flames are the third NHL team to have games postponed due to COVID-19, following the New York Islanders and Ottawa Senators, and eight games in total have had to be rescheduled.
 
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