Morning Hits: Kings-Sharks time set, NHL awards, RSE has agreement to purchase Coyotes, Maloney re-signs
  • Pierre LeBrun: With the Penguins win, the Sharks and Kings will play on Sunday at 5 pm PT/8 pm ET.
  • Stephen Whyno: The NHL will hand out their year end awards the night before Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.
  • Bob McKenzie: A Canucks candidate for their head coaching position could be LA Kings assistant coach John Stevens.
  • Craig Morgan of Fox Sports Arizona: Multiple sources are saying that the NHL has an agreement with Renaissance Sports and Entertainment (RSE) to sell the Phoenix Coyotes. RSE is headed by George Gosbee and Anthony LeBlanc. Gosbee and LeBlance, along with Gary Bettman and Bill Daly, will meet with city officials on Tuesday in attempt to reach a deal. They’ll have a meeting with Glendale Mayor Jerry Weiers, then two meetings with three council members each.

    “Gary (Bettman) told us all along that if the league had three suitors for the team, they wouldn’t come to us until they had selected one that they felt was the best group,” Sherwood said. “That is exactly has happened.”

    RSE may be looking for between $13-$15 million from the city annually to manage the arena. If RSE isn’t able to reach an agreement with Glendale, there could be two other groups that are interested.

  • NHL.com: Coyotes GM Don Maloney signed a long-term contract extension.

    “We are very pleased that Don has agreed to sign a long-term contract extension with the Coyotes,” NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement issued by the team. “Since joining the team in 2007, Don has done an outstanding job managing his team and building a competitive roster that has produced on the ice, even given less than ideal circumstances off the ice. The NHL remains committed to securing the Coyotes’ future in Glendale under new ownership, and we believe Don’s long-term agreement evidences that he is equally committed.”