Red Wings Owner Chris Ilitch said that Exec VP & GM Ken Holland has "total support" despite this season seeing the end of the club's streak of 25 consecutive appearances in the playoffs. In Detroit, Ted Kulfan notes Holland has been GM since '97 and has "one more year left on his contract" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/12). Also in Detroit, John Niyo notes as the Red Wings get ready to move into Little Caesars Arena, they "need to move away" from "short-sighted decisions from management ... [that] have left the franchise grappling with salary-cap limitations" (DETROIT NEWS, 4/12).
FIT FOR THE KINGS: In L.A., Helene Elliott notes for AEG, the Kings' parent company, a second non-playoff finish in three seasons -- and the belief GM Dean Lombardi and coach Darryl Sutter "weren’t getting enough out of a talented roster -- provided enough reason to fire the key figures in the most successful era of the Kings’ 50-year existence." AEG President & CEO Dan Beckerman: "We’re in a results-driven business. Our fans demand it. Our players demand it. Our ownership demands it" (L.A. TIMES, 4/12). In California, Elliott Teaford reports Kings Senior VP/Hockey Operations & Legal Affairs Jeff Solomon is "expected to stay in his current job" (Torrance DAILY BREEZE, 4/12).
TRENDING UPWARD: In Columbus, Allison Ward notes the Blue Jackets already have "renewed for next season more than" 90% of tickets sold this year, with 12% of those buyers having "upgraded their plan size." Blue Jackets Dir of Communications Karen Davis said that the team also has "sold more new season-ticket plans for next season than it did by opening day of the current season." Davis also noted that the club had 12 sellouts this season compared with four in '15-16 (COLUMBUS DISPATCH, 4/12).
SHOW ME A HERO: In Phoenix, Dan Bickley writes the Coyotes "badly need stability and dynamic leadership." They "need to replace" President & CEO Anthony LeBlanc as the "team’s mouthpiece, finding someone who strikes the right tone in the community." They "need a team president like" the D-backs’ Derrick Hall, who can "tie all the pieces together." The team’s payroll is "laughable and the marketing efforts are almost non-existent." Their arena situation "isn’t much better," as "it’s becoming apparent that Suns Owner Robert Sarver has no desire to share a multi-purpose facility" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/12).
