"This year, first and foremost, we'll discuss where we are with the Phoenix Coyotes and how we're working with [the Ice Edge Holdings group] closely to close that transaction, hopefully in the next several months." -- NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly
"This year, first and foremost, we'll discuss where we are with the Phoenix Coyotes and how we're working with [the Ice Edge Holdings group] closely to close that transaction, hopefully in the next several months," said NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly, who discussed meeting plans during an appearance on the NHL Live! radio show Monday.
On Friday, the League announced the Ice Edge Holdings investment group had signed a letter of intent to purchase the team with the goal of keeping it in suburban Glendale, Ariz., over the long term. Ice Edge is a group of eight Canadian and American investors with five majority owners -- Daryl Jones, Anthony LeBlanc, John Breslow, Keith McCullough and Todd Jordan.
"We'll also discuss concussions and head hits and the things the League has done, historically, with the management treatment of concussions." Daly added. "We've tried to stay ahead of the curve and I think the League should be congratulated with the time and resources we've put into the issues of player health and safety.
"(Senior Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations) Colin (Campbell) will then tee it up for the Board on some of the things the general managers will be looking at in their meeting in March. That will include issues with hits to the head."
In addition to League matters, there will be plenty of Olympic discussion as Team USA General Manager Brian Burke and his advisory staff -- David Poile, Don Waddell, Dean Lombardi, Ray Shero and Paul Holmgren -- will be on hand to possibly finalize their 23-man roster.
The American team won't be officially announced until Jan. 1 at the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic in Fenway Park, but Burke admitted last week his intentions to make those final roster cuts in Pebble Beach.
"We've been rating all the American players," Burke told the media Dec. 7. "Our last meeting was in Toronto at the NHL General Manager's meetings (Nov. 11-12) and we'll meet again Pebble Beach (Dec. 15-16). At that point, we hope to be down to 2-3 decisions as far as our roster -- if any at all. The ideal world is, after meeting in Pebble Beach, we've got our team picked and then we'll go to Fenway Park (on Jan. 1 for the 2010 Bridgestone NHL Winter Classic) to announce it."
Contact Mike Morreale at mmorreale@nhl.com
