Artwork by Mark Penxa featuring Denis Herron

Had to share this great piece of art by Mark Penxa featuring Denis Herron in Scouts garb. There's lots more of Penxa's work to see here at his site.

Sam Mellinger of the Star Paints a Bleak Picture

Sam Mellinger of the Star has a depressingly realistic look at the chances for KC gaining an NBA or NHL team anytime soon. A couple of lines that stood out to me:

"...Anschutz Entertainment Group is set to lose exclusive negotiating rights on landing a team."

AEG apparently had a three year window with exclusive negotiating rights. But what does that mean - Who else would be negotiating?

And regarding the Penguins:

"Revisionist history says Kansas City was just used as leverage, but decision-makers with the Penguins had begun planning on what the franchise would look like in Kansas City."

Doesn't matter either way, but interesting.

Eddie Bush of Your 1938-39 Kansas City Greyhounds

All my best stuff is stolen from Puck Daddy or Uni Watch...

This gem comes from a link on Uni Watch. Jake Doyle has posted photos from a scrapbook that features all sorts of great hockey coverage and photos from 1938-39. I couldn't believe my eyes when I came across a shot of Scouts coach Eddie Bush in a Kansas City Greyhounds uniform. I knew Bush had played briefly for the Greyhounds, but wouldn't have expected to see a photo from his 25 game stint in KC 81 years ago. The Greyhounds were the American Hockey Association affiliate of the Detroit Red Wings. Bush had a long and winding minor league career, and two cups of coffee with the Red Wings, including eight games in 1938-39, probably soon after this photo was taken. He was back for 18 regular season games with the Red Wings in 1941-42, plus an eleven game run in the Stanley Cup playoffs. The Wings lost in the seventh game of the finals to Toronto. Bush, a defenseman, scored 7 points in his eleven playoff games, good for fourth best on the Red Wings. Scouts GM Sid Abel was Bush's teammate in Detroit, which probably was the basis for a relationship that led to Abel choosing Bush as the Scouts new coach after Bep Guidolin stepped down in January, 1976. It turned out to be Bush's only shot at coaching in the NHL after the Scouts went a woeful 1-23-8 after his hiring.

KSHB-TV Reports Three Dates Being Held For Preseason Game, McGannon Interview

According to KSHB-TV, Friday, September 24, Friday, October 1 and Saturday, October 2 are being held open at Sprint Center for a possible NHL preseason game this year.

The same article also says Paul McGannon is "optimistic that an NHL team could relocate to the metro as soon as next season." That guy certainly doesn't lack for optimism! You can watch KSHB's ten minute interview with McGannon here.

Where There's Smoke, There's Smoke

Plenty of chatter with no actual substance going on:

Mike Sunnucks of the Phoenix Business Journal contributed a piece to the Kansas City Business Journal with the earth-shattering news that the NHL wants to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix, but if they can't, Kansas City has an arena. Seriously though, it is news if he's correct that the NHL is determined to not run the Coyotes next season, even if it means new ownership would move the team. However, this doesn't mean anything for Kansas City unless there is a secret ownership group waiting in the wings.

The Star chimes in with a story about how an NBA preseason game has been announced for the Sprint Center this fall, but no NHL game as yet. Author Randy Covitz speculates that AEG may not want to schedule a preseason game in KC in case they can get their own team in place for next season.

Tony's Kansas City blog shows hockey ignorance by bemoaning the thought of the Coyotes moving to KC since they're "horrible;" the Coyotes are having a Cinderella season, sitting at 47-25-6 and having clinched a playoff spot. Even if they were horrible, beggars can't be choosers, Tony.