- From Scott Burnside of ESPN.com on Auston Matthews in the Swiss League: Play has begun in the Swiss league but Auston Matthews has yet to play. He cannot skate for the ZSC Lions until he turns 18 years old on September 17th. Until then, Matthews is training with the team and learning former-NHL coach Marc Crawford’s systems. Crawford believes Matthews will be very successful, noting that he’s shows high-end skill, vision, and requests for additional video time to ensure he understands his defensive responsibilities.Matthews is projected to be selected first overall in the 2016 NHL Entry Draft.
- On Niklas Backstrom from Katie Brown of NHL.com: Brown wonders if Backstrom will be ready for the start of the season after undergoing arthroscopic hip surgery on May 27th. His recovery time was estimated at five months. Reports from GM Brian MacLellan state that Backstrom started skating again in July but that the team’s number one centreman could still miss training camp and more.
Brown speculates that, if Backstrom does miss time, Evgeny Kuznetsov might be the best option to fill on as Ovechkin’s pivot man.
- The expansion process is moving ahead for Quebec and Las Vegas, as per ESPN.com: Though the NHL won’t say this is the final stage in the expansion process, the AP reports that deputy commissioner Bill Daly calls the third stage the last formal stage. In this phase, the NHL will review the business plans and revenue projections for both teams. This final stage will end in September – if either or both franchises are successful here, the league and board of governors will vote on each.
The ESPN reports that 2017-18 is likely the earliest starting date for an expansion team.
- On Calgary’s new arena, from a Globe Editorial at The Globe and Mail: The Flames’ (and Stampeders’) owners are seeking as much as $700 million in various public funding measures for their $890 million proposal to build a new arena in downtown Calgary. The Globe and Mail reports that clearing the proposed site (formerly a toxic creosote wood-treatment plant) could cost $1.6 billion, which isn’t part of the arena projections. The editorial speculates that the ownership group was “emboldened” to request the cash after Oilers owner Daryl Katz secured public funds for his new arena. Prior to receiving the financial assistance, Katz hinted that the Oilers might move without public funds. The editorial muses that the Flames’ owners may use this negotiation tactic as well.
