In Las Vegas, Ben Gotz noted Golden Knights Owner Bill Foley "penned a letter thanking the team’s fans" yesterday, a week after the franchise’s second season ended with a first-round playoff exit. Foley wrote, “The energy at The Fortress is second to none and teams and players around the league have taken notice. Because of you, Las Vegas has become a hockey town. I am continually amazed by the number of Golden Knights jerseys, license plates and car decals I see throughout the city on a daily basis" (REVIEWJOURNAL.com, 4/30).
STEADYING THE SHIP: In Chicago, Jason Lieser wrote Blackhawks GM & Senior VP Stan Bowman is "among the most derided figures on the Chicago sports landscape, the scapegoat for the collapse of a dynasty that brought home three Stanley Cups." However, Bowman "isn’t fretful about job security" after missing the playoffs the last two years, "nor does he think a splashy summer in free agency is totally necessary." He "doesn’t bother rehashing everything that transpired" during the Blackhawks' fall "because he knew it was coming one way or another" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/27).
READY FOR ACTION: SPORTSNET.ca's Mark Spector wrote it "would be a grave mistake" for the Oilers "not to have the new GM in place in time for the draft" next month. Interviews for a new GM "are concluded," and with the draft set for June 21, unless the new hire is "forbidden by his old organization from making the move before draft day -- which is almost unheard of -- the Oilers need him in place to make a dent in their cap woes come June, so they can go after a couple of mid-range free agents in July" (SPORTSNET.ca, 4/29).
