Predators officials said that during their Stanley Cup Playoffs run, about $2.7M was generated for the city of Nashville through "ticket, merchandise and concession sales." In Nashville, Natalie Neysa Alund noted for the first time in franchise history, the team "sold out all 41 regular season home games and all 11 home playoff games." In addition, the Predators had the "most successful ticket sales season and the highest renewal rate to date" (TENNESSEAN.com, 6/15).
THE TIME HAS COME: In Pittsburgh, Joe Starkey wrote it will be "a mistake" if Penguins GM Jim Rutherford is not included in the "builders" category when the Hockey HOF Selection Committee votes on June 26. Rutherford belongs with the "great builders of his era." Starkey: "Maybe any era. And he belongs now." Rutherford is the only post-1967-expansion GM to win Stanley Cups with different teams. A mere eight GMs in league history have "won more championships than his three" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 6/15).
QUICK HOMECOMING: The Islanders announced they will open their preseason Sept. 17 by playing host to the Flyers at NYCB Live, "home of the newly refurbished Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum." In N.Y., Brett Cyrgalis notes the Islanders "haven’t been back to the Coliseum since they left for Brooklyn’s Barclays Center" after the '14-15 season. The Coliseum just underwent a $165M renovation by Forest City Ratner Chair & CEO Bruce Ratner. The NHL has "confirmed no regular-season games will be played this season at the downsized Coliseum, which now has a capacity of 13,900 for hockey games" (N.Y. POST, 6/16).
