In Denver, Mike Chambers wrote the Golden Knights are the "NHL's golden children" and have paved the way for the Raiders to "feel extraordinarily confident about their upcoming move" to Las Vegas. Chambers, who has been to every NHL market, wrote Vegas "can't be beaten for all its excitement and entertainment offerings." As for the quality of the on-ice product, it has been "good from Day One" (DENVER POST, 10/27).
BLAST FROM THE PAST: In Salt Lake City, Andy Larsen noted the Jazz "welcomed back" the '90s on Saturday night, bringing back the "purple mountain uniform look that defined them during the team's NBA Finals era." The Jazz also "debuted their new court with the old look: a purple ring, teal colors in the key and the snowflake basketball logo in the middle of the words 'Utah' and 'Jazz' on the baseline." Music from the '90s was "played throughout the night," and the team's TV broadcast, video board graphics and social media "all showed off the new package" (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 10/27).
SETTING THE BAR: Hawks Owner Tony Ressler said that there is a "timeline to when the team should be contending," but for '19-20, improving on last season's 29-53 finish "would characterize a successful season in his eyes." Ressler: "If we don't win more games this year than we did last year, if people don't appreciate that we have more talent than they thought we had, if we don't see progress in some of our younger players, I think we'd all be disappointed, [Hawks coach Lloyd Pierce] top of the list" (ATLANTA JOURNAL-CONSTITUTION, 10/27).
