Professional hockey will be coming to Las Vegas as the NHL announced on Wednesday that it has granted an expansion franchise to the city.
The franchise, which will begin play in 2017-18 as a member of the Pacific Division, received a unanimous vote by the league’s Board of Governors in Las Vegas on Wednesday.
With the announcement, the NHL became the first of the four North American professional sports leagues to land a team in Las Vegas.
“In the fall of 2017, when we celebrate the 100th birthday of the NHL, we will do so as a league of 31 teams,” NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said. “We are pleased to welcome (Las Vegas principal owner) Bill Foley and the city of Las Vegas to the league and are truly excited that an NHL franchise will be the first major professional sports team in this vibrant, growing, global destination city.”
The Las Vegas franchise will pay a $500 million expansion fee, a significant higher cost than the $80 million paid by the Nashville Predators (1998-99), Atlanta Thrashers (1999-2000), Columbus Blue Jackets and Minnesota Wild (2001-02) when they entered the league.
“On behalf of the Las Vegas Founding 75, our 14,000 season-ticket holders and the entire Las Vegas community, I would like to thank Commissioner Bettman, the NHL staff and the team owners for their support during this process and the confidence they have placed in Las Vegas by awarding this franchise,” Foley said.
“I also would like to thank everyone who supported us through this incredible journey. As I’ve said many times over the past year, Las Vegas is a hockey town and we look forward to cheering on our home team.”
Quebec City saw its application for expansion deferred on Wednesday, with the Board of Governors citing a geographic imbalance, the lack of strength of the Canadian dollar and the league’s wish not to add multiple teams at this time.
Coyotes sign Goligoski to 5-year deal
The Arizona Coyotes signed former Dallas Stars defenseman Alex Goligoski to a five-year contract on Wednesday.
Terms were not disclosed, but a source told ESPN that the average annual salary of the deal is $5.475 million.
The Coyotes acquired the negotiating rights to the 30-year-old Goligoski in a trade last week with the Stars for a fifth-round pick in this week’s NHL draft. Dallas tried to re-sign Goligoski but failed to agree to terms.
The Coyotes had until July 1 to discuss a new contract with Goligoski. If the two sides had failed to reach an agreement by then, Goligoski would have become an unrestricted free agent.
“We are thrilled to sign Alex to a long-term contract,” John Chayka, the Coyotes’ 27-year-old new general manager, said in a statement. “Alex is a great skater and a smart, efficient defenseman who moves the puck well and makes his teammates better. He will help solidify our defense and support the growth of our young players. He will be a great addition to our team and we welcome him and his wife Amanda to the pack.”
The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Goligoski played in all 82 games for the Stars in 2015-16, recording 37 points (five goals, 32 assists) and 34 penalty minutes. He ranked seventh on the team in scoring, second with a plus-21 rating, second in time-on-ice/game (23:50) and second among Stars’ defensemen in points. His plus-21 rating ranked tied for seventh-highest among NHL defensemen.
“I am very happy to join the Coyotes,” Goligoski said. “Arizona is a great place to live and play and I’m excited to join an up and coming team that has a ton of talent and a very bright future.”
Goligoski also registered four goals, three assists and six penalty minutes in 13 postseason games with the Stars. He led Dallas defensemen in postseason goals and points.
The Grand Rapids, Minnesota, native has collected 277 points (55 goals, 222 assists) and 200 penalty minutes in 562 career NHL games with the Stars and Pittsburgh Penguins. Goligoski was originally drafted by the Penguins in the second round (61st overall) of the 2004 draft.