He ranked in the fourth percentile amongst NFL tackles' arm length. They make attempts like these to get under their skin.Įven before the interviews, people around the league held reservations against Skoronski because of his arm length. Coaches sometimes want to test players and their mental fortitude. The candidness of player interviews with NFL coaches is prominent around the league during the predraft process. Vivint Arena was not built for hockey, and SEG sources told KSL.com last fall that it would make more sense to build a new arena for a potential NHL team than to renovate the Jazz's home arena.įreedman pointed out that if Salt Lake CIty did win the bid to host the Winter Olympics again in the next decade then a new stadium might follow.Īnd that may just set the stage for the NHL, as well.RELATED: Wright envisions first-ballot HOF career as 'security' for Fields While it's definitely noteworthy that Bettman is meeting with Smith, it's not like Utah is NHL-ready at the moment. The Columbus Blue Jackets, Arizona Coyotes, and Florida Panthers have all dealt with recent financial hardships and have been linked to relocation rumors. The Ottawa Senators are for sale, but it appears there are investors interested who would keep the team in Canada. But it's not really something, at least right now, that's anywhere close to the front burner for us.' 'There continues to be a number of people, entities and cities expressing interest in having an NHL franchise where they don't have one, places like Atlanta, like Houston, like Quebec City. 'We're not in an expansion mode right now,' said Bettman after the league's annual general manager meetings.

However, Bettman said a couple weeks ago the league wasn't currently looking at expansion. 'I was told to keep his name on my radar, because he's interested in the NHL - and the NHL is very interested in him,' Freedman wrote. That franchise eventually was bought by Fenway, but that didn't signal the end of Smith's interest in the league.

Last August, the Smith Entertainment Group - the parent company of the Jazz, and which also holds ownership stakes in RSL, the Utah Royals, and Vivint Arena - added Arctos Sports Partner, a private equity firm, as a minority investor with the explicit intent on acquiring a new sports franchise.Īnd the wheels might just be turning on Smith's next venture.Īccording to Elliotte Freedman of Canada's SportsNet, Smith had dinner this week with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman following an NBA Board of Governors meeting in New York.Ĭould a potential partnership be brewing?įreedman said that Smith was rumored as a potential buyer when the Pittsburgh Penguins were for sale in 2021. SALT LAKE CITY - Utah Jazz owner Ryan Smith hasn't been shy about desire to bring in another sport to the state.

Enjoy Me by Logan Ryan Smith