In Detroit, Drew Sharp writes the Tigers' "window of championship opportunity has closed," and Owner Mike Ilitch throwing more money at their "problems no longer is the remedy." Now the "question going forward" is whether Ilitch "can accept" that fact. Ilitch "did his very best with this club." But there "comes a moment when a high payroll no longer pays dividends," and the Tigers "have reached that moment" (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 5/10).
WE'RE PLAYING BASKETBALL: In Philadelphia, John Smallwood wrote as the 76ers organization prepares for what will be a "critical offseason toward its future, it is good to see" that new President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo hired VP/Player Personnel Marc Eversley, who is a "basketball person." Eversley will have a "key role in talent evaluation and roster management." Another “basketball person” move Colangelo made last week "was promoting" Brandon Williams to VP/Basketball Administration. Colangelo said that it is "time for the Sixers to move to the next phase of rebuilding." Smallwood: "It’s good to see that he intends to do that using a front office balanced with both analytics and basketball people" (PHILLY.com, 5/6).
RAISE THE CAP: In Edmonton, Terry Jones notes the Oilers "have met their new season-seat sales cap" for their first season at Rogers Place. Oilers Chief Commercial Officer Stew MacDonald said that the organization "decided about a month ago to raise the cap to 15,000 seats, 1,000 more than what it was at Rexall Place." He said, "In just a few days they pretty much snapped up every available seat." Rogers Place seats "about 1,700 more for hockey than Rexall Place" (EDMONTON JOURNAL, 5/10).
BOARD MEETING: In Phoenix, Sarah McLellan notes the Coyotes are still working to complete their plan to move their AHL affiliate Springfield Falcons to Tucson, a proposal that "could receive approval" from the AHL BOG soon. The potential to have the minor-league squad "only a two-hour drive away is exciting" for Coyotes Exec VP/Hockey Operations and coach Dave Tippett. He said, "To have them so close where you can keep track of each other, you watch each other’s games every night, it’s a benefit that with our team on the East Coast we haven’t had." The AHL BOG "is scheduled to meet" today (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/10).
