BHN Daily Links: Ron Francis In Seattle, Archibald Signs

Another mid-July day filled with news in the NHL has come and gone. It’s an unusual treat for hockey fans that continued on Tuesday as free agent forward Josh Archibald signed a one-year deal with the Edmonton Oilers. If that wasn’t enough, Ron Francis is being reported as the first GM of the still unnamed Seattle expansion franchise. More on that in a minute. Here are the top stories from around the NHL on Wednesday, July 17th.

Ron Francis is coming back to the NHL. The former GM of the Carolina Hurricanes is slated to become the first GM of the expansion Seattle franchise. Speculation has been rampant for weeks now, but Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman confirmed the news on Tuesday. An announcement is pending later this week. (The Seattle Times)

Forward Josh Archibald scored 12 goals a season ago for the Arizona Coyotes, but the desert dogs failed to re-sign him. He has a new home now. Archibald inked a one-year deal worth $1 million with the Edmonton Oilers on Tuesday morning. (The Oilers Rig)

Remember Gloria? Well, the “Play Gloria!” rallying cry of the St. Louis Blues and their fans during the Stanley Cup Playoffs is now at the center of a lawsuit. The Philadelphia bar that inspired it all is looking for a little piece of the profit pie. (USA Today)

Ken Campbell of The Hockey News is not happy with some of the Stanley Cup celebrations he has seen from the St. Louis Blues this summer. The veteran scribe went on a Twitter rant earlier this week after dogs ate out of the Cup. (St. Louis Game Time)

Dylan Cozens, the seventh overall pick in June’s draft, has signed his three-year entry-level contract with the Buffalo Sabres. (The Buffalo News)