NHL and Hockey Rumors for April 7, 2009

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was in Las Vegas Monday to promote the 2009 NHL Awards Ceremony, to be held at the Palms Resort & Casino for the next three years. Although Bettman said he is not opposed to expanding the NHL to Las Vegas, he admitted it would not happen anytime soon. "Some league will be here," Bettman said. "Somebody's going to be first, but the stadium/arena issues, I think until they resolve, will preclude any serious consideration." Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman said he believes either the NHL or the NBA will move a team to Las Vegas once the city finds a way to build an arena. Brochu's take: The whole Vegas expansion has certainly been taken off the front burner, as the arena deal with producer Jerry Bruckheimer has been called off, and the current economic situation has scared off investors. But I do think at some point they will have a team there. Source

The Detroit Red Wings have signed free agent forward Francis Pare to a two-year, entry-level contract. Pare played this season with Detroit's AHL affiliate, the Grand Rapids Griffins. Source

The Minnesota Wild have signed defenseman Marco Scandella to an entry-level contract. Scandella was the Wild's second round pick in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft. Source