Friday, July 20, 2018

Another Boring NHL Post

NHL's former goalie Ray Emery died last week, age 35. What a shame. CBS News:
Ray Emery was found dead Sunday in Hamilton, Ontario, a victim of an apparent drowning. The 35-year-old Emery was identified by Hamilton Police as the man pulled from Hamilton Harbour. 
According to initial reports, Emery was visiting friends when the group decided to go swimming near the docks of the Royal Hamilton Yacht Club around 6:30 a.m. Sunday. Emery plunged into the harbor and never re-surfaced. His body was recovered Sunday afternoon.
"They went out for a swim and unfortunately he did not emerge after diving in,' said inspector Marty Schulenberg[.]
We're all tethered to the thinnest thread.
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Vegas Knights' Marc-Andre Fleury inked a 3-year, $21 million dollar deal. Worth. Every. Cent. CBS Sports:
The veteran goaltender signed a three-year extension with the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday. That extension carries a value of $21 million -- bringing an average annual value and cap hit of $7 million -- and will kick in after next season, keeping Fleury under contract through 2022.
His stats for one season are incredible. Same CBS link:
During the Knights' inaugural season, Fleury posted a .927 save-percentage and 2.24 goals against average (both career-highs) and finished fifth in Vezina voting. He was also exceptional during Vegas' improbable run to the Stanley Cup Final, posting a save-percentage of .927 and four shutouts in 20 postseason games.
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"We will be a team that will spend to the (salary) cap so, all things being equal, what would make a player choose Seattle over other cities in the NHL? And it's things like training centers that can make a huge difference," [said Tod Leiweke, CEO of the NHL Seattle organization].
A decision from the NHL on awarding an expansion team could come in September, with a potential first game in October 2020.
More Seattle NHL expansion discussion at Reddit.

I wonder what Phil thinks about getting an NHL Team?

Sporting News lists some possible names for a future Seattle NHL team; a few of many:
Seattle Cougars,
Seattle Whales,
Seattle Kraken[.]
Richmond is being a total sports whore (in a good way), open for business from any professional sports franchise. Richmond Times Dispatch:
Hunden Strategic Partners, the firm hired by Richmond Mayor Levar Stoney to review a proposed replacement for the Richmond Coliseum, has declared the city one of the nation’s best markets for a pro sports team to locate in.
Hunden released the list on Friday, offering a list of the top markets “ready to host a Major League franchise” — a team from the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL or Major League Soccer. 
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The Dallas Stars are the first professional sports team to openly oppose a proposed "bathroom bill" in the state of Texas...  Sporting News:
... that would require transgender people to use bathrooms in schools and government buildings assigned to the gender on their birth certificate.
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A good read on hockey legend Lou Lamoriello Newsday:
The transition to being the Islanders’ president of hockey operations and general manager did not give him a moment’s pause.
How quickly did he flip that mental switch? “The day you decide,” said Lamoriello, 75.
In other words, always look forward.

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