NHL News: Power Plays, Devils, Kings, Coyotes, Wild, NHL Expansion and Hanzal

Martin Hanzal could get a call from the NHL department of player safety.
On Power plays …

John Shannon: Number of power plays through the first 50 games a season, comparing different seasons.

2016-17 362
2015-16 342
2014-15 377
2013-14 362
2012-13 454
2005-06 689

On the New Jersey Devils …

New Jersey Devils: The New Jersey Devils announced that forward Michael McLeod had arthroscopic surgery on a torn meniscus in his left knee and he’ll be out for four to six weeks.

On the Los Angles Kings …

Curtis Zupke of the LA Times: Kings forward Kyle Clifford will be out week-to-week with an upper-body injury. Clifford was injured after taking a hit from Calgary Flames defenseman Michael Stone.

Defenseman Alec Martinez (lower-body) practiced yesterday. Coach John Stevens wouldn’t say if Martinez is a possibility for this weekend or not.

2017 first round pick Gabe Valardi “continues to progress” from his back strain.

On the Arizona Coyotes …

Craig Morgan: Goaltender Antti Raanta left last night’s game early with a lower-body injury.

On the Minnesota Wild …

Michael Russo: Coach Bruce Bourdreau said that Nino Niederreiter and Charlie Coyle will miss Saturday’s game. He’s not sure about Marcus Foligno.

On NHL Expansion …

John Shannon of Sportsnet: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman said on Fox Sports West that having 32 teams in the league was not necessary, but added:

“Could it happen at some point? Yes. But it’s nothing we are focussed on right now.”

Houston at No. 4 and Seattle at No. 10 are the largest U.S. TV markets that don’t have an NHL team.

Tilman Fertitta, who owns the Houston Rockets and the Toyota Center paying $2.2 billion, has said he’ll be looking at bringing in an NHL team.

“I would put an NHL team here tomorrow, but this one has got to work,” said Fertitta. “Would I love to have the other dates in the building, do I want to see Toyota Center filled up 300 nights a year, definitely. So we’ll do whatever we can do, but whatever we do is going to make sense. But yes, Will we be aggressive? Yes. That’s my nature.”

Would think the next round of expansion would cost $700 million, up from the $500 million Vegas paid.

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