Bettman Denies Nolan’s Appeal

Owen Nolan must serve his full 11-game suspension after the San Jose Sharks’ appeal was denied Saturday.

NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman refused to reduce the ban Nolan received earlier this month for his hit on Grant Marshall of the Dallas Stars. Nolan, the Sharks’ second-leading scorer, won’t be eligible to return until San Jose’s game in Ottawa on March 1.

The Sharks appealed the suspension at a 2 1/2-hour hearing Friday in New York.

Nolan, Shark General Manager Dean Lombardi and team President Greg Jamison met with Bettman to argue that the punishment was too severe.

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Two days after Wayne Gretzky became the Phoenix Coyotes’ managing partner, General Manager Bobby Smith was fired. Cliff Fletcher replaced Smith.

The team announced two other key hirings, adding Pat Conacher as assistant head coach and Dave Draper as vice president of scouting and player personnel.

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Buffalo Sabre forward Dave Andreychuk, tied for the team lead with five power-play goals, will sit out a week with a right knee injury. An MRI exam came up negative.