In Seattle, Geoff Baker noted new Oilers coach Dave Tippett, who had been working as a senior advisor for NHL Seattle, knew this "might be his final crack at offers that began during the regular season and continued throughout the playoffs." NHL Seattle President & CEO Tod Leiweke told Tippett that he "could pursue coaching gigs, and Tippett had let him know it would either be this year or never." Tippett "insisted the extra year’s delay in launching the Seattle franchise ... had zero impact of his choice." But it is "safe to say the year’s delay probably didn’t help" keep him in Seattle (SEATTLE TIMES, 6/1).
OLD THREADS: In Chicago, Patrick Finley noted the Bears are "scheduled to unveil" their '19 throwback jersey at their fan fest Friday night, but a "major sports retailer might have beaten them to the punch." Dick’s Sporting Goods in Algonquin, Ill., is "selling two Nike 'On Field' jerseys," one of LB Khalil Mack and the other of QB Mitchell Trubisky. The jersey is a "throwback to 1936" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 6/2).
NO LAUGHING MATTER: In Boston, Peter Abraham wrote the Rays' attendance woes are "not anything to joke about anymore; it’s just grim." Manager Kevin Cash and his players "deserve a better market" (BOSTON GLOBE, 6/1).
