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Houston Rockets Owner Responds To NHL Rumors

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After Katie Strang of The Athletic reported this morning that the new owner of Houston Rockets Tilman Fertitta visited NHL offices to speak with the league, the man himself took to Twitter to qualify his intentions.

As I’ve mentioned before, I’m very interested in the possibility of bringing the NHL to Houston, but it will have to be a deal that works for my organization, the City, fans of the NHL throughout the region and the NHL Board of Governors. We are in the very early stage of evaluating what opportunities may exist but look forward to a thorough process.

As we said earlier, this by no means makes Houston a guaranteed destination for the NHL in the near future. It does however increase the probability of it happening, with both expansion and relocation now possibilities for the city.

Fertitta bought the NBA’s Rockets for $2.2B this summer, and immediately spoke about the possibility of bringing the NHL to the city. In October, even just as he was being introduced as the team’s new owner he spoke about the NHL.

I would put an NHL team here tomorrow, but [the Rockets franchise] has got to work.  Would I love to have the other dates in the building, do I want to see Toyota Center filled up 300 nights a year, definitely. So we’ll do whatever we can do, but whatever we do is going to make sense. But yes, Will we be aggressive? Yes. That’s my nature.

The league however has been less immediate about their desire to expand or relocate. In fact, NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman told Strang “we’re not relocating any clubs right now,” and in a press conference in Sweden said that they weren’t “considering anybody” for expansion at the moment. Bettman did admit that they would listen to those who had continued interest in an expansion franchise but that they wouldn’t go to 32 teams just to be symmetrical.

Gary Bettman Speaks On Olympics, CBA

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NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman took the stage today in Toronto at the PrimeTime Sports Management conference, and was asked a multitude of questions regarding the upcoming 2018 Olympic Games and the possibility of expansion in the future. Emily Kaplan of ESPN was there and reported on the highlights, including one particularly chilling Olympic answer.

One: [IOC President] Thomas Bach said if you don’t go to Korea, you can’t come to Beijing. Well, OK. Thank you. The second is, if the Winter Olympics comes back to North America, I’m not saying we’d go, but it’s a different equation.

Gary BettmanThe mention of Beijing of course refers to the 2022 Olympics set to be held in China, a Games that there is no guarantee the NHL will return for. There is clearly a desire from the players to go to the international tournament, as stars from Alex Ovechkin to Connor McDavid to Drew Doughty have all expressed their disappointment this year. Not every player gets many chances to represent his country at a tournament as highly-regarded as the Olympics, but perhaps the NHL is trying to change that. Bettman brought up the World Cup, a NHL-NHLPA owned event that had a so-so reception from the hockey world last fall. The league wants to hold that tournament every four years, which would essentially replace the Olympics in some sense.

It is interesting that Bettman mentioned the North American factor, as just today Calgary mayor Naheed Nenshi spoke to reporters including Donna Spencer of the Canadian Press about the city’s potential 2026 bid.

It’s council’s choice, it’s Calgary’s choice, but if we choose to bid, we’ll win. The question is, is it right for Calgary right now? If it’s right for Calgary, then we will go all guns in. I think that we will have an incredibly powerful bid and I think we’ll win.

The return of the Winter Olympics to Canadian soil would surely come with public outcry for the league to return, and Bettman has obviously already had discussions about that exact scenario. There is by no means a guarantee that Calgary submits a bid (in fact, today’s comments may lean towards them abandoning the project) but it is nice to hear that the league admits it would be a different situation should they come back to North America.

Interestingly, the current President of the IIHF Rene Fasel also announced that he will retire from his position in 2020 when his term is up. While there is no indication that would change anything between them, the IOC and the NHL, it could spark at least some more dialogue on how to get the best players in the world back competing.

Much of the Olympic and World Cup talk though revolves around what will happen in 2019 when both the NHL and NHLPA have opt-outs from the current CBA. That would cancel the agreement in 2020, meaning a possible work stoppage is again on the horizon. Bettman talked about how he hates work stoppages, but would do whatever is needed to secure a solid future for the game. With a dispute over escrow becoming the main talking point between the two sides, the next two years should be filled with hard-nosed negotiations and media mud-slinging. For fans of a sport that’s seen a season and a half already lost to work stoppages in the last 15 years, the possibility of another one is a crippling thought.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Seattle Councilmember Suggests NHL Hockey In 2020

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With the NHL’s expansion into Las Vegas so far going about as well as anyone could have hoped, with the team succeeding both on the ice and in the ticket booth many eyes are looking for the next landing spot around North America. Seattle has long been expected to be a player for an expansion franchise, and with this fall’s proposal for a $600MM arena being voted on next month we could expect an answer soon. That plan always had 2020 as a potential opening for the arena, and today, according to Chris Daniels of King 5 News, a member of Seattle City Council suggested that 2020 could even be the NHL timeline.

I just want to flag, that I’m struggling during budget season to keep up with the complexity of (the deal), and I have tried to dig into it, but I gotta say the budget is taking all of my attention. I’m feeling very squeezed on the timeline, that we’re supposed to vote this out of.

I recognize that it is driven by a construction timeline designed to deliver an NHL team in 2020, the fall of 2020.

Obviously even this suggestion doesn’t guarantee NHL hockey in Seattle to start the 2020-21 season. Far from it in fact, as the vote approving the proposal hasn’t even happened yet, and Daniels is quick to point out that the NHL and Oak View Group—the financial group led by former Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment CEO Tim Leiweke and billionaire David Bonderman responsible for the proposal—have not made a promise to bring professional hockey to Seattle.

It is also important to note that even if Seattle does approve the proposal, complete construction and get an NHL franchise, it will not necessarily be through expansion. Though obviously it would be ideal to have all 31 current franchises financially stable, that’s not necessarily the situation the NHL finds itself in. The New York Islanders are locked in a battle for a new home, waiting on the outcome of their own proposal, while the Calgary Flames have had a very public spat with mayor Naheed Nenshi over their next home. There are also always doubts in Arizona and Carolina, where teams struggle to sell tickets and have had ownership issues in the past. Relocation is not imminent, but could become a viable strategy for Seattle by the time they’re ready to buy a franchise.

For now, the Seattle City Council is focused on resolving the proposal matter before the end of the year, and will be a very interesting situation to monitor over the next few months.

Shea Theodore Officially Recalled By Vegas Golden Knights

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The wait is over for Shea Theodore, who has finally been recalled by the Vegas Golden Knights. After both Jason Garrison and Griffin Reinhart have cleared waivers in recent days, the team now has enough roster flexibility to call up Theodore, who was expected to be one of the key members of the expansion team this year.

Shea TheodoreAcquired from the Anaheim Ducks during the expansion process in exchange for taking Clayton Stoner and his contract off their hands, Theodore was considered the prize of the draft. The blue-chip defense prospect had spent 53 games in the NHL to that point and looked ready to become a top contributor in the league. Still, even with his high-end potential the team sent him to the AHL to start the year because of his status as waiver-exempt.

As the team kept winning—Vegas is now 8-1 to start the year—it was harder to justify removing anyone from the roster, and there just wasn’t room for the defenseman to make his mark. Patiently he waited in the AHL playing for the Chicago Wolves, where he dominated to the tune of 11 points in eight games. It was clear his time was coming, just as soon as GM George McPhee felt comfortable trying to sneak Reinhart through waivers.

With Stoner on injured reserve, and now Reinhart and Garrison in the minor leagues the Golden Knights are down to just eight defensemen on the roster, a number that is far less unusual than when they were carrying ten earlier in the year. Even though he’s the newest member, Theodore will likely go straight into the lineup and could even start logging important minutes right away. Though he’s not as polished as some of the other options the Golden Knights have, his dynamic offensive skill and excellent skating ability should make him one of the most exciting players in Vegas right from the start.

For a team that was expected to struggle this season, it’s an awfully good start to the year. They’ll now insert another good young player into a lineup that has shown it’s more than just cast-offs and wash-ups. The Golden Knights will take on the New York Islanders tonight in the first game of a grueling six-game road trip.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Vegas Expected To Promote Shea Theodore

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One positive of all the recent Vegas Golden Knights waiver moves is likely to come out of everything. And that’s TSN’s Bob McKenzie’s report that with veteran defenseman Jason Garrison having cleared waivers today and the team placing defenseman Griffin Reinhart on waivers today, the Golden Knights are expected to recall top prospect defenseman Shea Theodore from Chicago of the AHL today and have him join the team for Monday’s game against the New York Islanders.

Theodore is the 22-year-old prize of Vegas’ expansion draft this summer when they got the 2013 first-round pick from Anaheim in an expansion draft trade in exchange for selecting Clayton Stoner and his pricey contract. Theodore was a key contributor for the Anaheim Ducks last year, especially during their playoff run, putting up nine points in 34 regular season games, but also eight points in 14 playoff games.

While he was one of the team’s top defenders in training camp, the Golden Knights sent Theodore, who is waiver eligible, to the Wolves, while the team sorted out its roster. The blueliner didn’t disappoint while waiting in Chicago, dominating in the AHL. He put up five goals and six assists in eight games and looks ready to take a major role on the Golden Knights 8-1 team.

As for Garrison, who cleared waivers today, the 32-year-old defender has been assigned to Chicago and is expected to play for the Wolves on Monday, according to Las Vegas Review-Journal’s Steve Carp.

 

Washington Tried To Make Expansion Draft Trade

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One of the smaller notes in Elliotte Friedman’s outstanding “31 Thoughts” column this week, surrounds the Washington Capitals’ continued search for defensemen. The Capitals lost several players through various means this summer, and when Matt Niskanen went down to a hand injury early in the season the lack of depth started to show. Last night the team had to rely on John Carlson to play more than 27 minutes, while limiting Taylor Chorney, Christian Djoos and Madison Bowey to fewer than 15 each. With no word on how long Niskanen will be out, an upgrade seems inevitable.

"<strongWhile Kevin Shattenkirk and Karl Alzner left through free agency, it was obviously why Washington had let them go. The team simply didn’t have the cap space to fit them in, or likely the desire to give them the term they wanted—remember, the four-year deal Shattenkirk signed in New York was shorter than what he likely would have demanded elsewhere. The most interesting name that is no longer with the team is Nate Schmidt, who was lost in the expansion draft to the Vegas Golden Knights. Schmidt played just 60 games for the Capitals last season, but was the easy choice to replace the outgoing veterans in Washington’s top-four. Something Friedman mentioned on NHL Network on Monday night, and now again in the Sportsnet column, is that Washington tried to make a trade at the expansion draft concerning Schmidt and Philipp Grubauer.

While losing Grubauer wouldn’t have been a perfect outcome of the expansion draft, replacing a backup goaltender is a lot easier than finding defensive depth. Though Schmidt was a restricted free agent, he ended up signing for just $2.25MM per season and likely could have been fit into the tight Washington cap situation (especially given their willingness to trade Marcus Johansson to clear room).

As Friedman and others have written, while Vegas continues to shop some of their defensemen a market has yet to materialize. It’s hard to find takers for players like Jason Garrison and Brayden McNabb when they aren’t playing, as teams try to wait out the Golden Knights and snatch someone off waivers. While the Capitals would love to play that game as well, claiming any veteran off waivers is almost impossible for them. As they stand, they’re pushed right up to the cap even carrying nine players that earn less than $1MM. Their move will have to come in trade, with salary headed the other way.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Vegas Golden Knights Roster Maneuvers Paying Off

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When the Vegas Golden Knights sent Vadim Shipachyov, Alex Tuch and Shea Theodore down to the minor leagues just prior to the season, many believed it was only a paper transaction to give them a few more days of trade negotiation. When none of the three were back up for the opener, people started to scratch their head and wonder what the front office was doing. It seemed counter-intuitive for a team that wanted to make a good first impression on a fan base.

But after five games that impression has been made. The Golden Knights are 4-1, with Shipachyov and Tuch only having to wait a few games before making their debut. Both came in the Golden Knights’ most recent match, when each recorded their first NHL goals. While there were reports that Shipachyov was upset about the temporary demotion, everything seems to be sorted out now and he’s up where he belongs.

Shea TheodoreThe interesting story comes with Theodore, who remains in the minor leagues. The 22-year old defenseman was one of the top prizes of the expansion draft process, coming by trade from the Anaheim Ducks in order to take Clayton Stoner’s contract off their hands. Theodore has tremendous upside and is one of only a handful of players expected to be around long term in Sin City. But that term hasn’t even begun yet, as he instead has suited up for three games in a Chicago Wolves sweater.

Theodore has shown that he’s too good for the AHL in the early going, scoring seven points in three games—remember, he’s a defenseman—while logging big minutes in all situations. While that makes many fans scratch their head on why he’s not up with the big club, it actually could pay off in the long run.

Theodore is in the final year of his entry-level contract, and will head into offseason negotiations without a full season under his belt. The longer the Golden Knights keep him in the minor leagues while still winning games, the more money they could save in contract talks. While it’s entirely likely that Theodore’s side will end up asking for a short term deal to prove his worth, there is also a very real possibility that if given substantial minutes over the entire 2017-18 season he could have demanded a long-term deal with a big cap hit. The Golden Knights know what his potential is, and right now are betting that he won’t stagnate at all by spending some more time in the minors.

If the team continues to play well, holding onto the nine defensemen currently on the roster may not be the worst solution. They obviously don’t want to lose any of them on waivers, and right now having Theodore in the minors is only doing positive things for the organization. Chicago gets a player that could be considered one of the biggest defensive weapons in the AHL, while a couple more dollars are knocked off his next deal. There is a tipping point where a relationship could be harmed, but GM George McPhee likely has a better handle on that than anyone else. For all the confusion that has surrounded the Golden Knights’ decisions in the early going, they seem to have the answer to every problem. If they keep winning, so be it.

Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images

Vegas Recalls Vadim Shipachyov, Will Make Debut Sunday

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The Vegas Golden Knights have finally recalled center Vadim Shipachyov today from the Chicago Wolves, tweeted Sportsnet’s Chris Johnston. In a corresponding move, Johnston tweets that Vegas has placed Erik Haula on injured reserve after a fight with Detroit’s Tomas Tatar last night.

For Shipachyov, it’s been a long wait to make his NHL debut. Considered to be a key signing by Vegas and quite possibly one of their best playmakers on the team, Shipachyov fell into a numbers crunch with the team’s extreme defensive depth of non-waiver eligible defensemen. In hopes of making a late trade, general manager George McPhee instead decided to option the Russian center to avoid having to place one of those defensemen on waivers and lose them. The 30-year-old has played his entire career in the KHL, putting up big numbers last season for St. Petersburg with 26 goals, 50 assists and 76 points, all career-highs. He signed a two-year deal with Vegas on May 4.

Instead, while he had been optioned to Chicago in the AHL, he never played for them, having stayed in Vegas. There were reports he was upset about the situation and his agents were looking for a way out of his contract situation. McPhee later said that he had no options, although that might be debateable, however, he said he spoke to Shipachyov’s camp and explained the situation better to the KHL veteran. Now, it looks like Shipachyov will make his debut Sunday at T-Mobile Arena against the Boston Bruins.

As for Haula, the 26-year-old wing has had a goal and an assist in four games. Claimed from the Minnesota Wild in the expansion draft, Haula had 15 goals and 26 points for the Wild last season and did score his lone goal last night against the Red Wings. The speedy wing had trouble getting minutes in Minnesota despite four years with the team and then chose to sign a three-year deal with Vegas, making him the Wild’s expansion selection.

Houston Rockets Owner Interested In NHL Franchise

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Could the NHL come to Houston? If Rockets owner Tilman Fertitta has his way, it would be. The newest NBA owner had his introductory press conference today. While the majority of the questions naturally pertained to the Rockets franchise, Fertitta was asked about the possibility of a NHL team coming to Houston.

“I would put an NHL team here tomorrow, but this one has got to work,” Fertitta said (via Alex Del Barrio of CBS Houston).  “Would I love to have the other dates in the building, do I want to see Toyota Center filled up 300 nights a year, definitely. So we’ll do whatever we can do, but whatever we do is going to make sense. But yes, Will we be aggressive? Yes. That’s my nature.”

“We’ve looked at many NHL teams over the years and it wasn’t a matter of not wanting to bring in somebody as whether they’d be a tenant or not, it’s just that the deals didn’t work,” said Rockets CEO Tad Brown. “Leslie (Alexander) was always looking forward to opportunities that could make the city better, the sports scene in the city better, and Toyota Center more effective and fill more dates. The NHL at the time, the teams that he looked and that we looked at, the numbers didn’t work, the CBA didn’t work, and it just didn’t work for the structure that we had in place.”

As Del Barrio writes, Houston has a long history of professional hockey. Gordie Howe once played for the Aeros of the WHA, while the unaffiliated Aeros of the AHL called Houston their home for nearly 20 years (that franchise ultimately moved to Des Moines, Iowa in 2013). Former Rockets owner Leslie Alexander famously purchased the Edmonton Oilers in the late 1990s, but he was unwilling to meet the clause that required the franchise to remain in Edmonton for another seven years. The city was also considered for an expansion franchise, but teams were ultimately awarded elsewhere.

Several months ago, our own Zach Leach asked if Houston was a viable location for a new franchise. Ultimately, more than 50-percent of you said that the city would be a great fit.

 

Snapshots: Brouwer, Kostin, LTIR

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With the addition of Jaromir Jagr to the Calgary Flames (which has still yet to actually be announced), there is something of a log jam for bottom-six wingers. Troy Brouwer, the most expensive one of the bunch, has now been rumored to be on his way out according to Rick Dhaliwal of News 1130 in Vancouver. While Dhaliwal makes it clear that nothing is imminent, a Brouwer trade would make sense for the Flames.

Last year, Calgary spent a second-round pick to acquire Curtis Lazar with the hope that he could develop into more than just a fourth-line player. Mark Jankowski, another first-round pick who the Flames have been waiting on impressed in camp and has earned a spot on the team. When added with Matt Stajan, Kris Versteeg and Freddie Hamilton the team clearly has enough bodies to handle a trade. Whether they swing a deal for Brouwer and his hefty salary ($4.5MM for each of the next three seasons) is still unclear, but Calgary is definitely a team to watch in the coming days.

  • Klim Kostin was on track to make the St. Louis Blues team out of camp but has suffered an injury according to Lou Korac of NHL.com. The young forward is set to miss 7-10 days and could start in the AHL to get his legs back under him before making an impact with the team. The Blues are without so many of their forwards to start the year that Kostin and other young players will likely have to play a role earlier than the team had wanted.
  • Speaking of the St. Louis Blues and young players, the team has announced an entry-level contract for Tanner Kaspick after spending some time with the club in camp this year. Kaspick is already back playing with his Brandon Wheat Kings of the WHL, where he has four points in four games. Kaspick was a fourth-round pick of the team in 2016 but has shown that there may be more upside to his game than originally thought. In 49 games with the Wheat Kings last year he registered 45 points, and should be given even more responsibility this season as the new captain.
  • Chris Johnston of Sportsnet asked Lou Lamoriello of the Toronto Maple Leafs if his team had been given any sort of decision from the league on the Joffrey Lupul situation, to which the GM said no. The league is set to decide whether Lupul and Chicago Blackhawks forward Marian Hossa can be placed on long-term injured reserve, a decision that should be made before long. If they are, both Toronto and Chicago could get more salary cap relief. The Blackhawks did place one player on LTIR today, moving defenseman Michal Rozsival there to free up another roster spot. Rozsival signed a contract last season in order to help the Blackhawks become expansion draft compliant, but did not pass his physical at the beginning of training camp.

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