The Golden Knights are "busy trying to get several facets of their operation" wrapped up, including finding homes for local TV, radio and an AHL minor-league affiliate, according to Steve Carp of the LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL. Talks are ongoing with two AHL clubs that are "not owned by NHL teams." Team GM George McPhee and Senior VP Murray Craven "hope to get that finalized soon." Craven "wouldn't disclose the identity of the potential affiliates." There are 12 AHL teams "independently owned, most of them in the Eastern Conference." As for TV and radio, Golden Knights President Kerry Bubolz said that there have been "discussions with networks about televising the Knights’ games, and several local radio stations have been contacted to gauge their interest." Bubolz: "We’re hoping to have our TV partner deal done by March." Carp notes FS Prime Ticket and FS West are "established on Cox Cable in Las Vegas and DirecTV." However, both RSNs already have NHL teams as "part of their inventory," as the Kings are on FS West and the Ducks are on Prime Ticket. But there is "precedent" for RSNs "bleeding into multiple TV markets." Bubolz added that the team is "looking to broadcast its games on AM and FM as well as in Spanish." There are currently 10 NHL teams with Spanish radio broadcasts. Bubolz: "We have a large Latino community, and we want to reach out to them, so it's important we find a quality Spanish station to broadcast our games" (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/23).
WAITING FOR THE SIGNAL: Carp also notes for next season, part of the "problem in putting together" the Golden Knights' schedule is the NHL "hasn't decided whether its players will participate" in the '18 PyeongChang Games, scheduled for Feb. 9-25. Bubolz: "Once the Olympics issue is decided, we'll have a much clearer picture on what the schedule can be expected to look like." Carp notes the team already has "sent preliminary date information to the NHL regarding the availability" of T-Mobile Arena for the '17-18 season (LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL, 12/23).
