- Damian Cox via twitter: The Major of Glendale may have “let the cat out of the bag by saying” that there could only be 3 or 4 days left to get a deal done to save the Coyotes.
- Paul Friesen of the Winnipeg Sun: If the Phoenix Coyotes move to Winnipeg, goalie Ilya Bryzgalov likely won’t be heading there with them,
“You don’t want to go to Winnipeg, right?” Bryzgalov said after the Coyotes lost to Detroit, Wednesday night. “Not many people live there, not many Russian people there. Plus it’s cold. There’s no excitement except the hockey. No park, no entertaining for the families, for the kids. It’s going to be tough life for your family.”
“I’ve been there for just once, maybe twice, when I play in minors. It was really cold,” Bryzgalov said. “I used the tunnels between the buildings to get to the arena. Because it was minus 40-something. Real cold.”
He likely won’t even listen to contract offers from a new owner,
“Probably not. I better go to somewhere in Russia, KHL, to be honest. Because KHL is Russian people, it’s family, friends. Even as a cold place, I can speak to people in Russian language.”
- Tim Panaccio of CSNPhilly: If Chris Pronger is able to go for Game 5, it will be made at the morning skate today. He would play a limited role if he were to get back into the lineup. He’s been out since March 8th. Jeff Carter is out for Game 5.
- Tim Sassone via twitter: Coach Vigneault said that Roberto Luongo will start in net for Game 6 for the Canucks.
- Jerry DiPaola of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review: Sidney Crosby was not on the ice yesterday after 2 days on, “Some days, those (doctor-prescribed activities) are on the ice, some days they are off, and some days they are both,” Bylsma said. “He continues to keep going, but we need to see him progress further down the road before any kind of timetable (for a return) is talked about.” Bylsma won’t say won’t type of injury James Neal is dealing with.
- Jeremy Rutherford of the St. Louis Post Dispatch: A group including St. Louis Blues minority owner Tom Stillman are still trying to purchase the team despite having their bid rejected in April. The NHL and Blues chairman Dave Checketts rejected the bid. Sources say the offer was for slighty more than $100 million. Stillman has a 10% stake int he Blues, TowerBrook Capital Partners have 70% and SCP have 20%.
- Tim Sassone of the Daily Herald: After yesterday’s morning skate the Blackhawks found out that Brent Seabrook couldn’t play in Game 5. Noted by Sassone, “Judging from Quenneville’s comment and tone it sounded as if Seabrook didn’t pass the NHL-mandated baseline testing for players returning from concussions.”
- Katie Carrera of the Washington Post: It’s unknown when Capitals Mike Knuble will get back in the lineup. He practiced for 40 minutes yesterday and said afterwords he wasn’t sure if he could go for Game 5. He took a puck off the right hand in Game 3, and didn’t do much shooting at the practice.
- Brian McNally via twitter: Capitals defenseman Dennis Wideman hopes to be able to begin practicing with the team by the end of next week.
- Joe Haggerty of CSNNE: Bruins GM PeterChiarelli didn’t hold back on his assessment of Tomas Kaberle (comments made Wednesday),
“Has he been a disappointment? He hasn’t played up to the level that we expected,” said Chiarelli during a radio interview with 98.5 the Sports Hub’s Toucher and Rich Show. “There have been parts of his game where he hasn’t played in the playoffs for a while, and some of those habits have stuck with him. We expected better.”
- Kevin McGran of the Toronto Star: The Bruins power play is 7 for 77 in 27 games since acquiring Tomas Kaberle. The Maple Leafs would get a 2nd round pick if he re-signs with the Bruins, but he’s not worried about where he’ll play next year. “That’s obviously up to management after the season,” said Kaberle. “I’m just focusing on the games right now. I don’t even have it on my mind right now whether I sign here or where I’m going to sign July 1.”