Barroway deal to take control of Coyotes still on track
GLENDALE, Ariz. -- It's a new month. It must be time for an out-of-town media outlet to don the blindfold and play pin the Coyotes on the North American map.
Where are they headed now? Winnipeg? Quebec? Seattle? Las Vegas? Stockholm?
Coyotes ownership is resigned to the fact that until it passes the five-year window to exercise that out clause without, you know, exercising it, there will be speculation about the franchise's future in the Valley as well as skepticism surrounding its financial viability.
The latest story comes from the Globe and Mail, which reports that the IceArizona ownership group had to sell a majority stake in the team to Andrew Barroway because it couldn't afford its loan payments. The same report also speculates that Barroway could be buying 55 percent, not 51.
Multiple NHL sources have said that is incorrect. Barroway's stake will indeed be 51 percent as previously reported. As for the notion that IceArizona couldn't make its payments?
"It isn't accurate," Coyotes CEO Anthony LeBlanc said. "But why let the truth get in the way?"
1st the false Globe article. Then this after hunting. Ontario showing me the love. @ArizonaCoyotes pic.twitter.com/M2FfuajauU
— George Gosbee (@Goz100) November 6, 2014
There hasn't been a lot to report on the Barroway deal recently. Originally, it was supposed to close before the end of October, but legal issues have delayed the process as they often do.
There is a strong chance the deal could close within the next two weeks, but if it does not, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman might choose to wait until the Board of Governors meetings on Dec. 8-9 in Boca Raton, Fla.
COYOTES AT DUCKS
When: Friday, 8 p.m.
Where: Honda Center, Anaheim, Calif.
TV: FOX Sports Arizona
Records: Anaheim 10-3-1; Arizona 5-6-1
Injuries: Ducks Fs Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry missed Wednesday's game against the Islanders with the flu but Getzlaf practiced Thursday while Perry is day to day. G John Gibson (groin), D Ben Lovejoy (finger), F Kyle Palmieri (ankle), D Mark Fistric (back) will not play. Coyotes F David Moss (upper body) is week to week.
Quick facts: Anaheim leads the NHL with 21 points... The Ducks major offseason acquisition was C Ryan Kesler, acquired from Vancouver for C Nick Bonino, D Luca Sbisa and Anaheim's first-round and third-round picks in the 2014 NHL Draft (Nos. 24 and 85). Kesler has three goals and nine points in 14 games. ... Frederik Andersen (leg tightness) went through another full practice with no issues and will start in goal. He hasn't played since Halloween ... Mike Smith will start in goal for the Coyotes.
The flu bug hit Anaheim hard on Wednesday. Star forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry both missed the game against the New York Islanders and local media reported that other players were showing symptoms at Thursday's practice.
"You've got to get your (flu) shot," Coyotes defenseman Keith Yandle scolded. "I got it, but I think when you have kids, you're supposed to get it."
Forward Lauri Korpikoski joked that he might wear a medical mask during the game to keep the germs from spreading, and goalie Mike Smith approved the idea of hand sanitizer on top of his net, right next to his water bottle.
"Hopefully they'll stay away from my crease," Smith quipped. "It's tough to go through a whole season and not have a couple guys come down with the flu. Hopefully, it doesn't come any time soon."
Following a win over Toronto on Tuesday, the Coyotes aren't likely to make any lineup changes Friday in Anaheim. That means recently recalled defenseman Brandon Gormley will pair with Michael Stone again while David Schlemko and Chris Summers sit.
The Coyotes continue to carry eight defenseman, and coach Dave Tippett noted that they did it at times last season.
"We're fine with it," Tippett said. "We're going to give Gormley a good look here. He was all right the other night and with the back-to-back games, he'll get more time this weekend.
"Look at how many teams around the league right now are going through struggles with injuries on defense. We have good depth in that position. We need to get Gormley up and running."
The Coyotes' top two parings -- Oliver Ekman-Larsson with Zbynek Michalek and Keith Yandle with Connor Murphy -- logged heavy minutes against the Leafs, but Tippett said that was a product of game situations.
"I think you'll see that balance out a little more with the back-to-back games and as Gormley gets more comfortable with whoever is in there."
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