...and so the Sharks pick up a goalie after letting Niemi go to the Stars. Martin Jones, I don't remember seeing this guy play at all but my die hard Sharks friends say it was a good trade.

...and there it is. Arizona Coyotes move to Las Vegas (pending). We'll have to wait and see if this falls through but I kind of doubt it.

http://nypost.com/2015/06/30/arizona-coyotes-to-move-to-las-vegas-under-new-owner/

Interesting, though it still remains unconfirmed. Their 'sources' also claim the NHL is "eyeing" franchises in Toronto and Seattle (Oh really?). Still a full year before this would take effect so we will see. When did they start referring to the team as the Arizona Coyotes though, rather than Phoenix? I guess it is because it is different, so our ears/eyes aren't used to it, but I am not thinking that is an improvement. I don't think any State name really works at all in fact, teams are based out of a city after all. Florida is the only other professional one that immediately comes to mind, and even then makes little sense since they have two teams.

Seems like this move is changing the potted plant from one area of the balcony to the other. It is not growing, so maybe they had better evaluate the conditions instead. I wouldn't be too surprised if they did do this move though in the end, because if it it fails Bettman will always just have the poor Coyotes starting point to blame, and it would be even harder to make a go of a team in Vegas starting from scratch. Still, just want to see the NHL eat their words on Phoenix - though that will never happen.

Update: the NHL and the team's owner denying any basis to the Post's story

Sharks sign Paul Martin and resign Brenden Dillon. Not bad considering Sharks D is pretty thin. Some say Martin is old but I think he has more years left in him rather than Scott Hannan and a more steady D-man.

Yeah Bartkowski is gone (to Vancouver)!!! Kessel to Shitsburgh? I guess it's nice to have yet another player I dislike go there. I look at free agency more like where the players I dislike are going. It's nice when they all end up on the same teams. Prust to Vancouver as well, can't stand him. Although I dislike Rinaldo and the B's got him? Why?!

Don't dislike Green but he's heading to Detroit. I think the B's need someone to play with Krejci badly. He's wingless really. Unless he's a 20 goal scorer though and the free agents are thin, forget it.

Bruins can forget this season. Everyone in their division except Toronto is improving vastly and even they got Babcock.

I would have loved Bieksa but I'm happy with Martin. Desperation move from DW considering all the activity within the division.

here's the listing so far for free agent signings:

http://www.nhl.com/ice/news.htm?id=773253&navid=nhl:topheads

Sad to see Prusty go. I suppose he'll get bored in Vancouver, retired early and come back to Maripier

It is unfortunate Prust is leaving. Every team, and especially the Habs, need a player like that, and we have been lacking more seasons than not in that department.

Kessel is one of those players that made it just too easy to hate the Leafs. I can't reallly see him fitting in in Pittsburgh either.

TJ Oshie traded to Caps for Troy Brouwer, goalie Pheonix Copley and a third-round pick in the 2016 NHL Draft.

Martin St. Louis retires. Sad but I think it was time for him to retire anyway.

Prust leaving is a bummer. Hope Kassian can get us more goals but Habs really need him for his size.

St. Louis is one of those players I was always hoping to see in Montreal, and think he would have fit in really well (with some size behind him) and thrived with the speed and play of the team, especially in the Koivu days. It is probably a good time for him to step down though. There is just no sense in this league going through all it takes for the season if you've reached a point where you aren't in it anymore and have made the money to retire easily anyways (and with the wages now, they pretty much all do that within a few years - assuming sensible financial planning).

Bruins sign Matt Irwin. I'm kinda bummed Sharks didn't.

It looks like it is official. Seattle and Vegas

http://thehockeywriters.com/seattle-las-vegas-nhl-expansion-draft-rosters/

Las Vegas Aces - colors could have been better


Seattle Kraken - really...Kraken...wtf. I like the barbershop pole look but again, the colors don't say Seattle to me.

As near as I can tell that is just a speculative mockup combined with their theoretical draft picking procedure, Bert. Not saying it won't happen, but I wouldn't judge anything from those other than hypotheticals. You can even seen on the HW article that "the NHL will begin to field expansion bids," in other words, nothing is definite.

Confirmations now of "official" bids by both Quebecor (Quebec City) and Bill Foley (Las Vegas) made to the NHL. Of course, these remain 'business proposals' which purportedly the NHL management will then examine and consider. Oh yeah, sure, we will think about you wanting to give us that 500$ million. We'll let you know.

Bettman et al. behind the curtain:

As much as I would like to see the return of the Nordiques (and only in their original uniforms- which we all know would never happen thanks to marketing) I want to see the conferences evened out. Meaning I hope both expansion teams go to the west (hopefully Seattle and not fucking Las Vegas). It's completely unfair that western teams have a better chance of making the playoffs than the east.

EDIT: Wait just saw Bert's post! Really the fucking Aces? Kraken?! WTF? Who is picking these shitty names? Kraken uni's looks like they just copied the Senators third jersey (which I think they should use that and the Heritage Classic ones for regular uniforms- pretty nice!)

to be honest, I really don't care where the NHL expands to. It just sucks to have a team move to a city, and then that city push them away. As for the team names, Aces isn't bad. It's not like Thunder, their old IHL team and I think is better than the Wranglers of the ECHL. It makes sense but those jerseys need better colors to match the vibrance of Las Vegas. Kraken...well, there must be some kind of history with Seattle and the Kraken. Maybe there is some belief that there is a Kraken in the waters or something. The barbershop pattern is really a throw back. Ottawa, as you mentioned, has used it. Montreal had a red, white and blue stripped jersey as well. Yeah...Kraken...I don't care for it.

Those jersey mock ups are just from a fan. they came out a few years back.with a few other imaginary teams. Can't remember the rest of the teams.

1,1 milion for Semin, I think it's a good deal

The history with Russian players when they come to Montreal is really hit-and-miss. I don't think Semin will reach his past peak performance, but would be happily surprised to be wrong. But at 1.1m it is a decent signing. Not much risk, and a potential strong payoff if he decides to apply himself and flourishes under Montreal's quick game.

I saw somewhere that Semin is a good pickup for the Habs but not what they need. I wanted to look through the article but can't remember where it is.

Well the B's are 3-0 in preseason and looked really good in a come back against the Rangers tonight. Downside- first Seidenberg, now Chara our two aging top D men are down with injuries. Season hasn't even fucking started yet. This new d-man Colin Miller has a wicked slapshot though, heard he not only had the fastest slapshot but was the fastest skater in AHL last year.

I was hesitant about even watching the Bruins or hockey this season (since Lucic is gone and so many of my fave players have departed from the team I love) BUT some of these kids look like they might breath life into this team. My hockey jonesing is coming back damn it.

I am excited for the season start too. If only to get some hockey news that isn't about the implosion of various Kings' players, and the CF of off-ice behaviour we have seen with other 'star' players.

Say what you want about Subban, and yes, these guys do get paid boatloads of money, but this is a pretty amazing gesture. Publicity or image stunt or not, 10M$ is no small chunk of change, and I respect that. Considering that most players can afford such causes, but looking at what they spend their money on instead, does reflect something.

P.K. Subban donates $10M to Montreal Children's Hospital



Anyways, on to real hockey news. Not sure Patches is the right person to wear the 'C' for the team, but then, I guess there wasn't a whole lot of candidates. I still think the team could really use some veteran leadership at the head, to really bring them together and ring in some of the young hotshots - something they have been lacking for a while. But at least someone will have it this year, so that is an step forward from last.

Yeah I'm trying not to get as obsessed as I can be with hockey like in the past- where when the Bruins are playing nothing really matters except watching the game. My last year in school, so I need to do well- like study for an exam when need be- BUT last night's game made it hard. I mean I tune in it's 3-1 in the 3rd, the Bruins score make it 3-2, then tie it with 45 seconds to go in the game with the goalie pulled?! New overtime 3-3 then they actually win in a shoot out? It was like a guilty pleasure watching and reminded me of the B's of old. Too bad it's only pre-season.

For the most part I just not want to hear about football anymore. I hate the NFL. Dumbest sport ever, and of course everyone in Buffalo is going on an on about their Bills like they'll actually do something. LMFAO. Though I think the Sabres will be much improved.

Stupid Zack Kassian hit the only tree still standing in NDG. Can't beleive we lost Prust to this ass hole.