Tag: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Jets lose Connor for next 6-8 weeks with lower body injury; Blues fire Berube, Bannister named as interim coach; plus more NHL news

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Winnipeg Jets forward Kyle Connor is helped off the ice after injuring his knee against the Anaheim Ducks on Sun Dec 3, 2023 at the Honda Center in Anaheim (photo grab from nhl.com)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 Kyle Connor the forward for the Winnipeg Jets who was placed on the injured reserve list on Wednesday due to a knee injury he sustained in collision with the Anaheim Ducks forward Ryan Strome on Sunday. The Jets won the contest 4-2 and was without Connor on Tuesday night in San Jose Connor’s first game out in a 2-1 loss. Connor is expected out for the next 6-8 weeks.

#2 The St Louis Blues fired head coach Craig Berube on Tuesday and was replaced by interim coach Drew Bannister. Bannister will be behind the bench in his Blues head coaching debut on Thursday night when the Blues host the Ottawa Senators at Enterprise Arena in St Louis. Berube had lost his fourth straight game on Tuesday night to the Detroit Red Wings 6-4. The Blues are sixth in the NHL Central and 26th in goals per game (2.82).

#3 NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman appeared on ESPN and took questions from fans one who asked about the Washington Capitals moving to Alexander Virginia. Bettman said that no NHL teams are moving but the Alexander move which would be four miles from where the Caps play now would present a new technology experience “that could very special.” Also Bettman was asked about expansion and mentioned  “Atlanta, Quebec City, Houston, Salt Lake City,” however Bettman said things are working just fine with the 32 teams that the NHL has right now. It would be a Board of Governors decision down the road.

#4 Forbes came out with 2023 evaluations of the teams and the league could get giant money to get an expansion franchise and the Phoenix Coyotes are looking to get a better place from where they are now in Tucson.

#5 The San Jose Sharks who were predicted to have the worst record in NHL history looks like they’ve broke out of any kind of slump they might have been in. They improved winning three out of six on their last road trip returned home on Tuesday and edged out the Winnipeg Jets 2-1. What are some of the improvements they you can point to that has put the Sharks on track these last seven games.

Join Len for the NHL podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Robinson traded to Buffalo from Columbus; Toronto’s Klingberg hip surgery out for season; plus more NHL news

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Eric Robinson forward was traded from the Columbus Blue Jackets to the Buffalo Sabres for a 2025 seventh round draft pick Wed Dec 6, 2023. Here is Robinson skating against the Ottawa Senators on Sun Apr 2, 2023. (AP News photo)

On the NHL podcast with Len:

#1 Forward Eric Robinson was acquired by the Buffalo Sabres from the Columbus Blue Jackets Wednesday. The Blue Jackets in turn received a seventh round 2025 draft pick from the Sabres in the exchange. Robinson has one goal, three assists and seven points this season. Robinson played in 72 games last season for the Blue Jackets.

#2 Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman John Klingberg will be out for the rest of the season due to hip surgery. Klingberg went on long term injured reserve on Nov 23 and will have hip surgery with an expected five to six months recovery time. Klingberg last played on Nov 11th in the Leafs 5-2 win over the Vancouver Canucks.

#3 Former New York Rangers and current Detroit Red Wing Patrick Kane will see action against the San Jose Sharks at 4:00pm PT tonight at Little Caesar’s Pizza Arena in Detroit. Kane had been out since Jun 1 after having resurfacing surgery. This will be Kane’s first game as a Red Wing his last game was with the Rangers in game 7 of the 2023 Eastern Conference first round on May 1st.

#4 The NHL has announced that they will be the first sports league to hold an event at the Sphere in Las Vegas. The 2024 NHL Draft will be held at the Sphere on Jun 28 and 29. The Sphere holds 18,600 in the globe changing like arena. It’s know for it’s LED displays and state of the art video displays on it’s globe like surface.

#5 The NHL announced this week that it will be growing it’s salary cap from $83.5 million to $87.7 million an increase of $4.2 million. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman who is expected to address the media on the subject will give a fuller picture of the projections. One of the key reasons for the raise is the league has gained profit revenue to the tune of $3.3 billion.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com