In Salt Lake City, Jason Batacao wrote that Utah Hockey Club GM Bill Armstrong “might’ve leaked” the team’s upcoming name when speaking to a pool of reporters following the first round of the 2024 NHL Draft. Armstrong, when discussing the selection of F Tij Iginla said, “When we hit Pick No. 5, that’s when we knew. That’s when we knew he would be a Utah Yeti.” Armstrong “added more fuel to the fire” when he answered a follow-up question. Armstrong said he is “not allowed to pick the name.” He added, “I think the little kids in Utah vote about 25 times a day, so I think they got it” (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 6/29).
BIG LOSS FOR PENGUINS: SPORTSNET.ca’s Elliotte Friedman cites sources as saying that Penguins staff was notified last week that Fenway Sports Management co-head David Beeston “is stepping down” to join private equity firm Clearlake Capital. Beeston also serves as Penguins alternate governor. He played a “major role in Fenway’s Penguins purchase and in recruiting current President of Hockey Operations and GM Kyle Dubas” (
SPORTSNET.ca, 7/1).
WANTING A DIFFERENT OUTCOME: In Tampa, John Romano wrote the idea of LW Steven Stamkos playing his entire career in a Lightning uniform “may have seemed like a bit of a fantasy.” Now it “appears there is a poisoned apple” with GM Julien BriseBois’ fingerprints on it. BriseBois, in fact, “should be applauded” for being willing to put the franchise’s interests first. Still, Romano noted this “doesn’t feel right.” Maybe it is because “we were left with a false impression.” BriseBois “always gave the impression that the captain’s status was his top priority.” That “no longer seems true.” The team “dangled the possibility of Stamkos returning while working behind the scenes for a completely different outcome” (
TAMPA BAY TIMES, 6/30).
