NHL commissioner Gary Bettman says it?s ?regrettable? that the league suspended Henry Samueli as owner of the Ducks after he pleaded guilty last year to lying to investigators in a stock option backdating probe, according to an Associated Press report on Friday. A federal judge vacated Samueli?s guilty plea earlier this week after the judge found no evidence of wrongdoing.

National Hockey League Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly issued the following statement today regarding the proposed sale of the Phoenix Coyotes to Ice Edge Holdings: "The NHL and Ice Edge Holdings announced today that they have entered into a Letter of Intent to proceed in attempting to document and close a proposed transaction pursuant to which Ice Edge would purchase the Phoenix Coyotes' franchise. While much remains to be done, the NHL looks forward to working closely with Ice Edge to bring the sale to conclusion as expeditiously as possible. Ice Edge has committed to keep the Coyotes in Glendale, Arizona."

Quebec?s premier is confident the NHL wants to bring a team back to Quebec City. Jean Charest told The Canadian Press on Thursday that he discussed the issue with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman at the Montreal Canadiens? 100th anniversary game on Friday. The premier said Bettman seemed sincerely interested in bringing pro hockey back to the provincial capital a decade and a half after the Nordiques left to become the Colorado Avalanche.