The Daily: ‘Blizzard’ Betting Favorite For Utah Name; Ruff Returns

The Utah Blizzard? That seems to be the top candidate to end up as the name of the team formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes. All that we know for sure is that the hockey fans in Salt Lake City and beyond are excited to have the NHL coming to Utah.

The new team’s ticket office has already accepted deposits on 20,000 partial and full season tickets for a team that has been playing in an arena that seats 4,500.

It’s been widely reported that owner Ryan Smith’s group has trademarked seven names, which are presumed to be the leading candidates

• Utah HC
• Utah Hockey Club
• Utah Blizzard
• Utah Fury
• Utah Outlaws
• Utah Venom
• Utah Yeti

The name “Blizzard” has been favored by bettors.  Smith said there will be a fan involvement used to help select the team name.

Utah NHL owner Ryan Smith (@RyanQualtrics) said the team will have an eight-mascot bracket to help name the franchise and that he has ways to make sure that AI bots don't interfere with the process. @PatMcAfeeShow continues his crusade to have them named the Soakers… pic.twitter.com/UevRDYiIQ8

— Greg Wyshynski (@wyshynski) April 22, 2024

Red Wings In Case You Missed It

• Detroit Hockey Now’s Prospect Report centers on Nate Danielson playing impressively well for the Portland team in the Western Hockey League.
• A Red Wings 2023 second-round draft pick is changing schools to continue his college hockey career.
• GM Steve Yzerman’s comments on officiating have caught the attention of the hockey community.

Red Wings Offseason

The Red Wings’ two most important offseason negotiations will be with restricted free agents Lucas Raymond and Moritz Seider. But Yzerman also has other restricted free agents, including Joe Veleno, Albert Johansson and Jonatan Berggren. He also has decisions to make on minor leaguers Jared McIsaac, Wyatt Newpower and goalie John Lethemon. McIsaac is an RFA, but do the Red Wings still consider him a prospect? Newpower and Lethemon will be unrestricted free agents.

Hockey Now Network

Boston: Even though the Boston Bruins lost Game 2, Jimmy Murphy writes that coach Jim Montgomery made the right call when he chose to use goalie Linus Ullmark.

Buffalo: Lindy Ruff is coming back to coach the Buffalo Sabres. We are not making this up. The Sabres wanted an experienced coach and they landed one.

Colorado: Evan Rawal writes that there is a “decent chance” that  Alexandar Georgiev, who struggled in Game 1 for the Colorado Avalanche, will be back in net for Game 2.

Florida: New day, different way for Matthew Tkachuk to be an impact player for the Florida Panthers in the postseason.

Montreal: Marc Dumont weighs in on whether J-F Houle is the right person to coach the Laval Rocket. Montreal Canadiens.

Nashville: The Predators need to have short memories after their woeful loss in Game 1. They have to quickly move on or the Nashville Predators stay in the postseason will be short.