NHL Franchise Notes: Lamoriello Leaving NJ For Beantown?

Lamoriello Considering Bruins Post?

While Devils President, CEO & GM Lou Lamoriello "denied it before," a Western Conference GM said last week that it is "his understanding that [Lamoriello] is seriously considering relocating to Boston, where he would take command of the [Bruins] entire operation," according to Larry Brooks of the N.Y. POST. Brooks: "The impetus for a move by Lamoriello ... has been provided by significant change in the structure of the [Devils'] ownership, which is looking to get out of the hockey business whenever practical, anyway. No longer does Lamoriello report to [Chair] Raymond Chambers; now [Lamoriello] reports to a Peter Simon, whose ascension to the post of team chairman was revealed only with the printing of the club's organization directory" (N.Y. POST, 4/20).

COYOTES: The Coyotes announced adjusted season-ticket prices and that full season-ticket accounts for '03-04 will automatically receive a three-year price freeze through '05-06 (Coyotes). In Phoenix, Bob McManaman notes season tickets "will increase slightly for next season," and adds the club had the lowest average ticket price in the NHL IN '02-03 at $31.38, based on tickets sold. Coyotes President Doug Moss said, "We want to set new trends, we want to be creative and we're going to experiment with things, because if you don't change, you can't grow. But you don't get price protection (on) too many things nowadays, and we think a three-year pricing freeze is a very nice commitment to our season ticket holders" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/22). McManaman reported Saturday that if the Coyotes land the '06 NHL All-Star Game, "season ticket holders will be guaranteed tickets for the event." The NHL will reserve about 8,000 seats for sponsors, players and families, "but the remaining seats will go first to those who have full season ticket accounts for" '03-04 (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/19).

SENATORS: The Senators arranged another $3.9M in bankruptcy protection financing to cover playoff costs, and the club's court-appointed monitor predicted the franchise may be sold by month's end (Mult., 4/18).