- David Giambusso of the Star-Ledger: Officials are saying that Jeff Vanderbeek could sell the New Jersey Devils or take a small role, and it could happen as early as today. Devils GM Lou Lamoriello would not say anything about the situation. Some with close knowledge of the situation said the sale could take place in the next couple days and certainly within the next couple of months. Vanderbeek would be bought out or hold a minority stake. There are three groups that are said to be interested in purchasing the team. Reports may not be true the NHL is about to takeover the team. The lease with Newark and the Prudential Center Arena are likely to remain intact.
- CBC: The NHL will hold four outdoor games in January and two in March.
“If you’re looking at it on a national basis, obviously we’re doing more,” commissioner Gary Bettman said Thursday at Yankee Stadium, which will host two games in January. “But for teams and markets that want to host this (event), for fans that want to attend, we can’t do enough of them.”
Games will be played at Los Angeles’ Dodger Stadium, Chicago’s Soldier Field, Yankee Stadium (two games), the Heritage Classic in Vancouver and the Winter Classic in Ann Arbor, Mich.
“The reason we’re doing more outdoor games is really what it’s now doing locally,” Bettman said. “This is an incomparable event and what happens is fans get connected to the game in ways they never imagined, we get new fans who, for the first time, will come and be a part of this. This is a fan-oriented, fan-driven event, and that’s why we’re doing so many games so we can bring it to more fans.”
- Shawn Mitchell: Forward Jody Shelly has retired from the NHL and will take a job with the Blue Jackets.
- Mike Heika of the Dallas Morning News: After a successful first NHL season, Stars defenseman Brenden Dillon could find himself in a variety of spots this season. He could be reunited with Stephane Robidas, used as support for the 39-year old Sergei Gonchar or with Trevor Daley which could become their future shutdown pair.