At one point during his two-year absence, Rick Tocchet lost track of the Coyotes, according to an Associated Press report. ?I?d be remiss and lying if I said I watched every game for two years,? Tocchet said during an interview at the team?s practice facility. ?I didn?t. I went through some stretches where I just kind of lost touch with the game, I?ll be honest with you.? After dealing with legal issues arising from his involvement in illegal gambling, Tocchet is back on the Coyotes? staff, assisting longtime friend Wayne Gretzky.

Palace Sports & Entertainment and OK Hockey LLC, an entity controlled by Oren Koules, announced today that they have entered into a definitive purchase agreement whereby OK Hockey LLC would acquire the Tampa Bay Lightning, the leasehold rights to the St. Pete Times Forum, and approximately 5.5 acres of land in Tampa?s Channelside District from Palace Sports & Entertainment. Completion of the transaction, which is expected to close within the next 105 days, is contingent on customary closing conditions and final approval from the National Hockey League. ?We are pleased to move forward with Oren Koules and OK Hockey LLC as the next owner of the Tampa Bay Lightning, ? said Tom Wilson, President and CEO of Palace Sports & Entertainment. ?Oren is a passionate hockey man who cares deeply about the franchise and the Tampa Bay community. We look forward to a smooth transition and a terrific future as he assumes control of the Lightning.? Oren Koules, Manager of OK Hockey LLC stated, ?We are happy that we are able to take this next significant step towards ownership of the Lightning. We are very excited about today?s announcement and look forward to the day when we can make a difference for the Lightning and its fans.? Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP acted as legal adviser to OK Hockey LLC. Galatioto Sports Partners LLC acted as Palace Sports & Entertainment?s financial adviser, and Dykema Gossett PLLC acted as its legal adviser.

Two Montreal Canadiens were arrested outside a Tampa nightclub on Sunday night. Defenseman Ryan O'Byrne and right wing Tom Kostopoulos were named in the local police report, according to the Associated Press. O'Byrne was charged with felony grand theft for stealing a woman's purse and Kostopoulos was charged with restraining an officer.

Police say two Canadiens' players have been arrested outside a Tampa nightclub, according to an Associated Press report. Ryan O'Byrne has been accused of stealing a woman's purse, and Thomas Kostopoulos has been charged with resisting an officer, a Tampa police report stated.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who attended Phoenix's overtime win against Colorado on Monday, said beforehand that Rick Tocchet is on track to resume his position as an assistant coach with the Coyotes on Thursday, according to an ESPN News report. Tocchet is currently on two years' probation after pleading guilty to promoting gambling and conspiracy to promote gambling.