Joe Louis Arena in Detroit will be open all day for Red Wings fans, and the entire hockey community, to pay their respects to "Mr. Hockey," Gordie Howe.
Groups lined up around the corner long before the arena doors opened, but it wasn't just fans who arrived early. Wayne Gretzky, Scotty Bowman, Steve Yzerman, Ken Holland, Jeff Blashill, and Al Kaline were among some of the first to file through the receiving line, and to impart condolences on Mark, Marty, and the entire Howe family.
(Photo courtesy: Getty)
Inside the building, Howe's No. 9, and the four championship banners he helped the Red Wings win hung over Mr. Hockey's closed casket.
NHL.com historian Dave Stubbs described the scene as breathtaking, calling it every bit the equal of memorial services for Maurice "Rocket" Richard and Jean Beliveau.
Guests lined up inside are receiving this visitation program:
Assistant coach Rick Bowness has reportedly re-upped with the Lightning, according to ESPN's Pierre LeBrun. This news comes in indirect response to Randy Carlyle apparently being on the verge of taking the Anaheim Ducks head coaching job, a role Sportsnet's Elliotte Friedman indicated Bowness was in "deep" consideration for.
Bowness has been a staple behind NHL benches for the better part of three decades, but sparingly in a lead capacity. He owns 123 wins in 463 games on his head coaching record - predominantly in spot opportunities over parts of nine seasons.
The raising of the Stanley Cup officially triggers the NHL's offseason, with all 30 teams expected to engage in some measure of roster management over the summer months.
The first circle on the summer calendar is Wednesday, June 15, with the first buyout window opening 48 hours after the Final and remaining so until June 30.
As a refresher, and according to General Fanager, "a buyout is paid over twice the number of years remaining on the player's contract, at a rate of one-third of the total salary remaining for players under 26, and at a rate of two-thirds of the total salary remaining for players 26 and older."
Here's a look at five players whose contract could be bought out over the next couple weeks.
Owed $7.5 million in 2016-17, the 32-year-old recorded only 18 goals and 23 assists in 74 games this past season, his lowest output in years.
If Vanek is bought out by the club, a $6.5 million cap hit would shrink to $1.5 million next season, but the Wild would be on the hook for $2.5 million the following year.
With youth and depth at a premium in today's NHL, and with Vanek's best days seemingly behind him, the business side of the game suggests the Wild would be well served by using that money elsewhere.
It was clear from the start that Cowen was not part of Toronto's plan, and, at age 25, the Maple Leafs would only be on the hook for $1.5 million over two years.
Small price to pay for a club flush with cash and in need of roster spots for younger players that fit in the Shanaplan and all the cap space available to reel in big fish in free agency.
As such, the ninth overall pick from the 2009 NHL Draft is likely headed for the open market, and the possibility of resurrecting his career on a team of his choosing, should multiple opportunities be presented.
R.J. Umberger, Philadelphia Flyers
This seems like a formality, as R.J. Umberger openly admitted he expects the Philadelphia Flyers to buy him out following an injury-riddled and unproductive season.
Slated to make $4.5 million in salary on the one year remaining on his deal, it'll cost the Flyers $3 million over two years to buy him out, but general manager Ron Hextall would have that same amount in available cap space next season to help improve a team that gave the Presidents' Trophy-winning Washington Capitals a decent fight in the opening round of the playoffs.
Bryan Bickell, Chicago Blackhawks
Awarded a four-year, $16-million contract after Chicago's 2013 Stanley Cup win, Bryan Bickell's contract has proven to be an anchor for the Blackhawks, and no other team has bit on the chance to snag him off the waiver wire.
Chicago remains a team with championship aspirations, and is always right up at the salary cap ceiling. Shedding Bickell's deal would open $3 million in available cap space for 2016-17, money that can be used on a cheaper and more productive player.
The market simply isn't there in terms of a trade, and Chicago will likely want to do everything possible to rebound from a disappointing first-round playoff loss.
Andrew Ference, Edmonton Oilers
The Edmonton Oilers are tracking younger and maybe, finally, better, meaning a player like Andrew Ference will likely be on the outside looking in only three years after being signed to a $13-million deal and being named captain.
He'd have to be fully recovered from the hip surgery he underwent back in January, but the buy out would free up $2,166,667 in available cap space for the upcoming season, money that could be spent improving the blue line or luring a big name free agent to the league's most northern destination.
Plus, with Ference off the books, it'll make it easier to anoint Connor McDavid as the new captain sooner rather than later.
Buyout candidates, updates on the Sharks, Flames and more in today’s NHL rumor mill. Buyout candidates. SPORTSNET: Luke Fox lists Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Jared Cowen, Chicago Blackhawks left wing Bryan Bickell, Dallas Stars goalies Kari Lehtonen or Antti Niemi, Edmonton Oilers blueliner Andrew Ference, Florida Panthers center Dave Bolland, Los Angeles Kings winger Dustin […]
Wrapping up the Stanley Cup Final news, latest coaching hires & more in this morning’s collections of NHL headlines. Stanley Cup Final wrap-up. NHL.COM: The Penguins Stanley Cup parade is set for Wednesday in downtown Pittsburgh. NBC SPORTS/PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE: Penguins defenseman Kris Letang underwent surgery prior to the start of the Stanley Cup Final to […]
DETROIT - Hockey fans will have a chance to pay their last respects to NHL legend Gordie Howe today.
The Hall of Famer died Friday at age 88.
Howe's visitation runs from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. — in a nod to his No. 9 jersey — at Detroit's Joe Lo...
DETROIT - Gordie Howe's family is opening the doors of Joe Louis Arena, allowing his adoring fans of their father to pay respects.
The home of the Detroit Red Wings, the team the Hall of Famer played for during much of his career, was to open...
The Anaheim Ducks will have a familiar face behind the bench next season.
The club will reportedly announce the return of Randy Carlyle as head coach as early as Tuesday, according to Darren Dreger of TSN.
ESPN's John Buccigross also reported all other candidates are being told Carlyle is indeed the man being tabbed for the job by Ducks general manager Bob Murray.
This would be Carlyle's second stint as Anaheim's bench boss following a six-year run from 2005-11. He guided the team to a regular-season record of 230-155-49 in 434 games, as well as its only Stanley Cup championship in 2007.
Most recently, Carlyle coached the Toronto Maple Leafs for parts of four seasons, leading the team to its only playoff appearance since the 2005 lockout.
Altogether, Carlyle brings 704 games of regular-season coaching experience to the table, with six playoff appearances and one Cup in ten season as a ahead coach.
After a night of celebrating following their Game 6 win over the San Jose Sharks, the Penguins made the trek from California to Pennsylvania with an extra passenger on board.
Captain and Conn Smythe Trophy winner Sidney Crosby emerged from the team plane with the Stanley Cup as family, friends and fans waited to catch a glimpse of quite possibly the greatest trophy in sports and the team that claimed it.
As the Calgary Flames draw closer to a decision in regards to their next head coach, the list of possible candidates is beginning to get clearer.
One of the finalists for the job is reported to be Vancouver Canucks assistant Glen Gulutzan, according to Ben Kuzma of The Province.
Veteran head coach Randy Carlye was believed to be deep in the mix for the job left vacant since the firing of Bob Hartley last month, but TSN's Darren Dreger suggests Gulutzan's chances of landing the Calgary gig may have improved after a report emerged Monday stating the Anaheim Ducks are set to announce the hiring of Carlyle as early as Tuesday.
Gulutzan has been with the Canucks for the past three seasons, joining the club following a two-season stint as head coach of the Dallas Stars.
In 130 games behind the Stars' bench, Gulutzan guided Dallas to a record of 64-57-9 while failing to qualify for the playoffs in both 2012 and 2013.
