NHL News: Preseason Schedule, Ducks, and Coyotes
Ryan Gagne
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Today’s NHL news follows up on the latest regarding, including the NHL announcing the preseason schedule, Matt Dumba, Tom Wilson, Alex Stalock, and the Arizona Coyotes.
Whether you are into the latest trade buzz, signing news, and more, stick with The Daily Goal Horn.
NHL announces preseason schedule for 2023-24
Although we are still over 60 days away from the opening night of the 2023-24 season, hockey fans across the globe won’t have to wait that long to see some of their favorite players back in uniform. On Tuesday, the NHL announced the preseason schedule, which kicks off in Australia on Sept. 23, 2023.
After the global series games, most NHL teams in North America will kick-start their schedules with several split-squad matchups. Additionally, for Canadian fans, the Kraft Hockeyville games will take place on Sept. 27 (West Lorne, Ontario) and Oct. 1 (Sydney, Nova Scotia).
Meanwhile, NHL contests will occur at several neutral sites in cities like Cedar Park, TX; Independence, MO; Orlando, FL; Palm Desert, CA; Salt Lake City, UT; San Diego, CA; Tucson, AZ; and Wichita, TX. For more details on the preseason games, visit www.nhl.com/schedule.
Veteran defenseman Matt Dumba signs in Arizona
After ten seasons with the Minnesota Wild, 29-year-old Matt Dumba has relocated to the desert, agreeing to a one-year deal with the Arizona Coyotes. Despite being one of the Wild’s most reliable players, the team opted to go in a different direction this summer and let Dumba test free agency. According to the player, the Coyotes inquired early in free agency about his interest in joining the team.
Ultimately, after over a month on the market, Dumba got a solid offer from the Coyotes for $3.9 million. Even though the Coyotes finished with the sixth worse record in the league in 2022-23, they have been busy this offseason retooling the lineup. Besides recently signing their top prospect Logan Cooley, general manager Bill Armstrong has acquired Jason Zucker and Alex Kerfoot.
Although the franchise is still looking for a new arena to call home, the on-ice product has gotten a little more challenging to play against in a competitive Western Conference.
Arizona Coyotes continue seeking opportunities to build an NHL arena
According to a report published on Sportsnet.com, the Coyotes continue their quest to build a new home for the start of the 2026-27 season. Although the supporters of their relocation do not want to hear this news, it appears the ownership group is interested in acquiring land in Mesa and areas around Phoenix and Scottsdale.
Recently, the team lost a vote in Tempe to build a new sports complex and several other amenities like a hotel, casino, and mall, leaving their future in the desert in grave danger. Even though the team has yet to win the Stanley Cup since being established in 1996, the growth of hockey in the southwest would have never been possible without the Coyotes coming to the area.
Netminder Alex Stalock is the newest Anaheim Duck
As a finalist for the Bill Masterton Trophy last year, Alex Stalock battled a significant health scare after contracting COVID-19. However, he made it through the ordeal and had a decent campaign (9-15-2) on a Chicago Blackhawks team that ended up winning the Connor Bedard sweepstakes at the end of the year.
Now the 36-year-old will dress with the Anaheim Ducks in 2023-24 after recently agreeing to a one-year deal worth $800,000. Although the Ducks will be his fourth different team in the past four seasons, Stalock is happy to be still playing professional hockey and is looking to contribute on a young Ducks team.