Cities across North America are reaching out to the NHL to pitch themselves as potential hosts for neutral-site playoff games, according to deputy commissioner Bill Daly. Among the reported possible locations for neutral-site games, which would most likely be held sans fans, are Manchester, New Hampshire; Grand Forks, North Dakota; and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. As of now, the NHL’s stated objective if it is able to restart the 2019-20 campaign is to finish out the regular season and hold a playoff tournament. Daly said the league hasn’t established a concrete “drop-dead date” as to when the 2019-20 campaign must be canceled, and is still “hopeful” a way can be found to salvage the remainder of the season. Hopefully, they’ll be able to pull this off, but the safety of the players and other people involved remains paramount.
The Arizona Coyotes have signed Boston University defenseman Cameron Crotty to a three-year, entry-level contract. The 20-year-old was selected by Arizona in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft. (Five For Howling)
The Ottawa Senators signed forward Mark Kastelic to a three-year, entry-level. Kastelic was selected in the fifth round (125th overall) in 2019 and played for the WHL’s Calgary Hitmen. (Silver Seven Sens)
The Chicago Blackhawks have inked forward Michal Teply to a three-year, entry-level contract. Teply was selected in the fourth round (105th overall) of the 2019 draft. He put up 63 points in 53 games for the WHL’s Winnipeg Ice this season. (Second City Hockey)
Kurtis MacDermid signed a two-year, two-way contract extension with the Los Angeles Kings. The 26-year-old defenseman played 45 in a career-high for the Kings this season. (Los Angeles Times)
The Kings also signed defenseman Cole Hults to a two-year, entry-level contract. Hults, who played three years at Penn State, was taken in the fifth round (134th overall) of the 2017 draft. (Black Shoe Diaries)
RIPs go out to former WHA and NHL player and long-time coach Tom Webster and former Chicago Blackhawks defenseman Pat Stapleton. The hockey world will miss both.
And adding one more to that sad list, Colby Cave of the Edmonton Oilers died Saturday morning after suffering a brain bleed earlier in the week. He was just 25-years-old.