NEWARK, N.J. -- General manager Tom Fitzgerald is looking for a new coach for the New Jersey Devils and interim skipper Travis Green remains in the running for the job.

Speaking three days after the Devils ended a disappointing season by missing the playoffs, Fitzgerald said he hopes to have a full-time coach in place for the NHL draft in late June.

"Travis is well aware of my intentions," Fitzgerald said Thursday. "I owe it to the organization to make sure I was following the coaching world with who I believe would be the perfect coach for this group moving forward for what's available out there."

Fitzgerald wants his coach to be a person who can communicate with his players while holding them accountable.

Green checks many of those boxes, including being a no-nonsense coach, Fitzgerald said. He said there are other coaches to be considered and others might become available, possibly after the first round of the postseason.

A year after posting a franchise-record 112 points and winning a first-round playoff series with the Rangers, the young Devils took a major step back this season, finishing seventh in the Metropolitan Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference. They went 38-39-5 for 81 points. Their goals against went from 226 in 2022-23 to 283. Their goals for, goals-against differential went from plus-65 to minus-19.

They didn't win more than three games in a row.

It led to the firing of Lindy Ruff in March and the promotion of Green from associate head coach to interim coach. New Jersey was 30-27-4 when Ruff was relieved. Green went 8-12-1, losing eight times by a goal if open-net scores were not counted, he said.

Green said he has talked with Fitzgerald briefly since the season ended and the two will talk more in the coming weeks.

"I want to be the head coach of the New Jersey Devils," said Green, who previously was the head coach in Vancouver from 2017 through the early part of the 2021-22 season.

Green said he learned a lot during his 21-game stint and he thinks he will be able to do more if he can take the team through a training camp in September.

"It's an exciting, exciting group and I think the future is bright," Green said.

The Devils are young and they are loaded with skilled players up front with Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Dawson Mercer, Timo Meier and Alexander Holtz. The back end missed star defenseman Dougie Hamilton most of the season with a pectoral injury, forcing prospects Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec to play more than expected.

Fitzgerald said owners Josh Harris and David Blitzer have given him the autonomy to make the necessary changes.

"I know exactly what this team needs," Fitzgerald said. "I know exactly what these individuals need. I know what they want and they crave. They've been craving."

What's obvious was that the Devils missed the mark this season, maybe because opponents learned how to deal with their speed. Struggling on defense and in goal didn't help.

"We expected more," defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler said. "We had big goals at the start of the year, especially after last year. But in sports you win or lose and this year we didn't reach our expectations. We have a lot to learn, but I think we have a big future in front of us."

World Cup winner Emiliano Martínez produced more shootout heroics against French opposition, saving twice to help Aston Villa beat Lille 4-3 on penalties to reach the Europa Conference League semifinals in France on Thursday.

Martínez denied Nabil Bentaleb and, with the final kick, Benjamin André, to give Villa victory after the quarterfinal tie had finished 3-3 on aggregate following extra time. The Villa goalkeeper. who was booked during regulation time for time wasting, was also shown a second yellow card in the shootout for his disruptive antics but was allowed to continue as cautions do not carry over into penalties.

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Martínez had been booed throughout the contest by Lille fans, as a result of his actions that made him the center of attention in the 2022 World Cup final shootout.

The 31-year-old saved one France penalty and also earned a yellow card for his attempts to distract the opposition takers as Argentina lifted the trophy for the third time in Qatar, earning himself hero status in Argentina and the role of villain in France.

After a 2-1 win in the first leg of the quarterfinal last week, Lille looked to be heading for the last four when goals from Yusuf Yazici and André in either half put them 3-2 up on aggregate.

But Matty Cash pulled Villa level over the tie with three minutes of regulation time remaining. Cash, Youri Tielemans, Ollie Watkins and Douglas Luiz then all scored in the shootout to, along with Martínez's saves, take Villa to their first European semifinal since 1982.

ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. -- Josh Allen said Thursday that he can't thank Stefon Diggs enough for "for when he came in and how hard he worked and what he taught me along the years."

Allen said Diggs "meant a lot" to him since the Bills traded for the star wide receiver in 2020. The quarterback also noted multiple times that the trade opens opportunities for other players to step up.

"It's definitely hard to part ways with a guy that's been very instrumental in our success here over the last four years," Allen said. "... Obviously, I wish we can keep everybody. You know, we've made a lot of changes this offseason, lost a lot of veteran leadership, Stef being one of them. I guess that's the nature of the business. And going into Year 7 now, it's just kind of is what it is. I don't get paid to make changes on the team. I get paid to be the best quarterback that I can be and try to lead the guys on this team."

Allen also said his lasting memory of Diggs will "be the receiver that helped me become the quarterback that I am today, and I'll always thank him for that."

The quarterback shared his first public comments on Buffalo trading Diggs to the Houston Texans in a news conference after the team commenced offseason activities this week. Allen was aware from offseason conversations with general manager Brandon Beane that trading Diggs was a possibility before the move took place on the morning of April 3.

Allen texted his former top target after the trade and got a text in return. Allen said he was "just thanking him for everything that he did for me and always have a spot in my heart for him. And I'll always love that guy like a brother. And I wish him nothing but the best."

Over the four years the duo was together, Diggs, 30, led the NFL in receptions and was fourth in receiving yards and tied for fourth in receiving touchdowns. He has recorded four consecutive seasons with 100 receptions, tied for the second-longest streak in NFL history (Antonio Brown).

When asked what specifically he learned from Diggs -- who was a three-time captain with the Bills -- Allen cited "the concepts that we were able to put in, the concepts that we're able to run with him, his mentality, the way that he attacked each and every practice, it was very infectious, especially for the young guys seeing that."

Diggs' time in Buffalo ended after a season marked by ups and downs. It started with the receiver's absence from the first day of mandatory minicamp in 2023, which was later clarified by coach Sean McDermott as "excused'' and included multiple public reassurances from the receiver that he wanted to remain with the Bills until retirement. It also included comments from his brother, Dallas Cowboys cornerback Trevon Diggs, on social media focusing on getting his brother out of Buffalo, and Stefon Diggs making his own cryptic social media posts in the offseason. On the field, that was all coupled with a downturn in production in the second half of the season.

Allen said he couldn't explain why the notion of Diggs being unhappy seemed to linger and that "it's something you may have to ask him at some point." The quarterback turned to the opportunity that exists for the remaining and new players.

McDermott also gave his first comments on trading Diggs, noting that he "really enjoyed" his time with the receiver and adding, "We'll miss him. You never replace a player like Stef Diggs and we wish him well. Stef and his family. Hard to move on from a player like that and now we go back to looking at our roster and excited for the opportunity that we have in that room for guys to step up."

Entering his seventh year, Allen is one of two remaining team captains from last season of the eight selected (Von Miller being the other). Both Allen and McDermott noted the focus for the quarterback this season in continuing to grow as a leader, something he is "very excited about."

"As a franchise quarterback, guys that get to their second contract ... you're not getting paid just to be the quarterback. You're getting paid to be the best leader that you can be, the best quarterback obviously comes with that," Allen said when asked what he learned from his relationship with Diggs.

"So, leadership looks like a lot of different things. You wear many hats in this building and sometimes it's not the easiest thing and especially when I feel like I'm one of the guys, and sometimes I have to remind myself that you're looked at a little bit differently. Guys are relying on you a little bit more and understanding that but trusting coaching staff, trusting your teammates around you and having that type of humility, where it's like you're able to say when and where you're wrong.

"And I think that's what we've learned over the last few years, not just with [Diggs], but with other receivers and with other players as well," Allen said. "It's everybody's got a different type of relationship, everybody has something different that makes them tick. And then again I think we're using this time right now to utilize and find what does make these guys tick, what is their reason for playing this game?"

The NHL is moving the team now formerly known as the Arizona Coyotes to Utah to begin play as a new franchise next season, the league announced Thursday.

Ryan and Ashley Smith of Smith Entertainment Group bought the team and its existing hockey assets for $1.2 billion from Alex Meruelo, sources told ESPN. Meruelo had owned the Coyotes since buying the franchise for $300 million in 2019, but the league lost patience in his ability to find a long-term arena solution in Arizona and facilitated a sale.

The Smiths, who also own the NBA's Utah Jazz, initially built a relationship with commissioner Gary Bettman because they wanted an expansion franchise. However, over the past several months, the conversation changed and Bettman approached the Smiths about becoming a solution for the Coyotes instead.

According to Smith, things pivoted fast.

"I mean, if you would've told me at the beginning of the year that this is where we'd be, I'd say you were crazy," Ryan Smith told ESPN. "It was more of: 'Can you guys pull this off? Can you really pull it off?' It looks like [the Coyotes'] situation's going to be a little longer than everyone anticipated, and [the NHL] kinda had an issue. So our response is very much like, we want to be part of the league. We think we bring a lot. We think we can add a lot. We think we can give back more than we take and help grow the sport.

"It's unprecedented. This is a different process. I don't think anyone's ever done it or seen it. But we're in. We're all-in. And I've a lot of faith in the people in Utah and how they show up for things."

The sale was approved at a virtual NHL board of governors meeting Thursday afternoon.

"As everyone knows, Utah is a vibrant and thriving state, and we are thrilled to be a part of it," Bettman said in a statement Thursday. "We are also delighted to welcome Ashley and Ryan Smith to the NHL family and know they will be great stewards of the game in Utah. We thank them for working so collaboratively with the league to resolve a complex situation in this unprecedented and beneficial way."

The Coyotes' final home game at Mullett Arena on Wednesday night was emotional, with players and staff members pouring onto the ice for photos after a win against the Edmonton Oilers.

"It's been a hard 20 to 25 years, not knowing where home is going to be," said Coyotes rookie Josh Doan, son of franchise legend Shane Doan.

Players were largely kept in the dark on relocation until last Friday, when general manager Bill Armstrong met the team on the road in Edmonton. Players and coaches demanded answers in a team meeting, according to sources, and left that night understanding the move was imminent.

The Coyotes' players, draft picks and hockey operations department will relocate to Utah, playing for a new yet-to-be-named franchise. Smith said there's a chance the team will play with a temporary name and logo for next season. SEG is using a branding agency and is canvassing the community for suggestions.

"It's OK if we take the full process and don't rush it, because we're going to have it forever," Smith told ESPN. "And look, it's not ideal for me. I would love to come in and have it all picked out and ready to go."

The Utah team will play at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City, a facility the Smiths own and which is also home to the Jazz. SEG said it will work on improvements over the summer to outfit the arena for hockey, including building a hockey-specific locker room. According to Smith, the Delta Center will have 12,000 unobstructed seats for hockey games next season and they will work to expand after that.

"First of all, [the NHL] wanted to know if the arena can fit 17,000-plus, and that's what we've been able to confirm," Smith told ESPN. "We've got some internal work to obviously do with our city and state, too. I mean, we got a lot more people coming in now, and so we need to build the infrastructure also up and around the arena. That's a really big focus of ours -- so the entrance of the arena just isn't that front door; it's the entertainment around it and that kind of a thing."

Smith already has government support from Utah Gov. Spencer Cox. A bill was passed in the Utah state Senate to help fund a renovated entertainment district downtown in anticipation of an NHL franchise.

Meruelo, meanwhile, received $1 billion in the sale, according to sources, and will maintain the name, intellectual property and historical records of the Coyotes -- which will now be considered an inactive franchise. Meruelo will have a five-year window in which he can try to build an arena and bring a team to Arizona, for an expected price tag of $1 billion.

The extra $200 million in this week's sale will be split among NHL teams.

"I agree with Commissioner Gary Bettman and the National Hockey League, that it is simply unfair to continue to have our players, coaches, hockey front office, and the NHL teams they compete against, spend several more years playing in an arena that is not suited for NHL hockey," Meruelo said in a statement released Thursday.

"This is not the end for NHL hockey in Arizona. I have negotiated the right to reactivate the team within the next five years, and have retained ownership of the beloved Coyotes name, brand and logo. I remain committed to this community and to building a first-class sports arena and entertainment district without seeking financial support from the public."

The Coyotes had been playing at 5,000-seat Mullett Arena on Arizona State University's campus since the beginning of last season as Meruelo continued his quest to find a permanent home in Arizona. Meruelo has eyed a plot in the Phoenix area and intends to win a state-run land auction for it June 27. However, according to sources, the NHL grew skeptical of the timeline and decided it needed a better solution for next season. The league also convinced Meruelo that it wasn't fair to the players to continue playing at Mullett Arena for the foreseeable future.

"The NHL's belief in Arizona has never wavered," Bettman said in his statement. "We thank Alex Meruelo for his commitment to the franchise and Arizona, and we fully support his ongoing efforts to secure a new home in the desert for the Coyotes. We also want to acknowledge the loyal hockey fans of Arizona, who have supported their team with dedication for nearly three decades while growing the game."

When NHLPA executive director Marty Walsh was hired in 2023, finding a solution for the Coyotes was among his top priorities. The players' union, like the league, became frustrated when Meruelo blew by artificial deadlines to break ground on a new arena. While the league was losing money on the Coyotes, the players were too, as the two sides have a 50-50 split on hockey-related revenue.

Smith said he was conscious of how difficult the situation has been for players but is planning a warm welcome, including inviting players to get acclimated.

"We're here for them," Smith told ESPN. "We have an incredible Utah Jazz organization who are all on board. I've got Lauri Markkanen, our All-Star, who literally sent me a picture today with him with skates on. I've got Will Hardy, our head coach, saying, 'Whatever you need.' I got [team CEO] Danny Ainge saying, 'Hey, do you want me to come down and help you?'

"I mean, that's the organization that they're being a part of. We have this saying called 'One Utah,' and they're really gonna feel that."

Kentucky freshman guard Reed Sheppard will enter the 2024 NBA draft and forgo his remaining college eligibility, he told ESPN on Thursday.

"I'm going all-in," Sheppard said. "The opportunity I have is great. I've gotten really good feedback showing where I can be in the draft. I had an unbelievable year at Kentucky. It was such a fun year. It's not easy leaving the fans and the school I dreamed of playing at. I need to do what's best for me, and that's heading to the NBA."

Sheppard, the No. 7 prospect in ESPN's NBA draft projections, was named the SEC freshman of the year and second-team all-conference after averaging 12.5 points, 4.5 assists, 4.1 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game and shooting 52.1% from 3. No first-round pick from college has shot over 50% from 3 on similar volume since Glen Rice at Michigan in 1988-89.

"My teammates and coaches put confidence in me, telling me you need to shoot," Sheppard said. "I was fortunate to be able to get in the gym and work with [Kentucky assistant] coach John Welch every day. He's one of the best trainers you'll find."

Sheppard was a top-25 recruit and a McDonald's All American coming out of high school, but few expected him to emerge as a one-and-done lottery pick, especially after coming off the bench for most of the season.

Nevertheless, he captivated NBA scouts with his shooting prowess, playmaking acumen, defensive instincts, feel for the game, productivity and never-ending confidence, with a slew of exceptional performances in SEC play.

"I didn't know what to expect coming in," Sheppard said. "I wasn't going in with the expectations of what ultimately happened. I knew I was going to do whatever I could to help Kentucky win. If I needed to get the team water, I would get the team water. I was excited to be at my dream school. It's unbelievable the way it ended up. It's been a really fun journey so far."

Kentucky tied for the second-best record in the SEC at 13-5 and earned a No. 3 seed in the NCAA tournament. The Wildcats were upset in the first round by No. 14 seed Oakland, which set off a chain of events leading to coach John Calipari departing for Arkansas.

"The goal at Kentucky is to play for a national championship," Sheppard said. "I thought we had a good shot at it. Our team was special, and losing the way we did was hard. All the relationships we built and how close we were made this decision a lot harder."

Calipari was replaced by BYU's Mark Pope, who won a national championship as a player at Kentucky alongside Sheppard's father, Jeff. Reed Sheppard said he thought Pope was "going to do a great job."

"Our families are very close. We've stayed in touch and always watched his teams at BYU," Sheppard said. "I know how smart he is as a coach and how offensive-minded his teams are. They run really good stuff, shoot a lot of 3s and are fun to watch. I think Kentucky will still be Kentucky when it's all over."

The NBA draft combine will be held May 13-19 in Chicago, and the NBA draft will be held in New York City on June 26-27.

Jonathan Givony is an NBA draft expert and the founder and co-owner of DraftExpress.com, a private scouting and analytics service used by NBA, NCAA and international teams.

LAS VEGAS -- Golden Knights coach Bruce Cassidy said he is still trying to figure out how to handle the goalie situation, whether to play both or to hand the bulk of the work to one over the other.

And then which one over the other?

Logan Thompson and Adin Hill each have compelling cases to be in the net when Vegas begins its Stanley Cup title defense. There also are equally compelling reasons why each should step aside while the other takes over.

Cassidy has split the starts down the stretch, and Thompson has been the better goaltender of late, but Hill's play in last year's postseason was a major reason the Knights now have a championship banner hanging in T-Mobile Arena.

"I think [Thompson's] mindset is good going into the playoffs," Cassidy said. "He hasn't played playoff hockey, so that's another animal. So, to say, 'OK, Logan, you're going to be the guy,' [but] he's never played, is that fair to him, especially after what Hilly did last year?

"If we just give it to Hilly and say, 'OK, have at it,' well, Logan's played pretty well recently and played more because he's been healthier. So is that the right way to go? You probably in some way, shape or form will see both guys. That's not because of poor play, either. That just might be the best way to go for where they're both at right now and how their seasons have gone."

Cassidy added the opponent won't factor much into which 27-year-old starts.

Thompson is used to fighting for everything he has accomplished in hockey, taking an unorthodox route to the NHL. In 2021, he became the first goalie from U Sports -- Canada's version of the NCAA -- to play in the league since 1994.

Thompson made the All-Star Game in 2022-23, his official rookie season, but lower-body injuries forced him out of the lineup for most of the season's second half. He entered this season as the backup, but with Hill's health issues, Thompson has taken advantage to help lead the Knights to the playoffs for the sixth time in seven years.

Over his past 11 games, Thompson has a 2.14 goals-against average with a .926 save percentage. Take away two games in which he allowed a combined 10 goals, and his save percentage rises to .949.

"Last year, individually, was frustrating missing the second half of the year and not being able to put the jersey back on," Thompson said. "So I'm just happy to be in the room and put the jersey on every day and a be part of it."

Cassidy said some of the credit has to go to the improved defensive play in front of Thompson as well as the fact the Knights are tied for third with fewest penalty minutes per game at 7.4. And, Cassidy said, Thompson is simply motivated to play in his first postseason.

"I think he's under control better maybe than at the start of the year," Cassidy said. "So that tells me probably his technique is solid."

Hill was the player the Knights turned to last postseason when Laurent Brossoit was injured in Game 3 of the second-round series against Edmonton. Not only did Hill keep Vegas alive, he went 11-4 with a .932 save percentage and 2.17 goals allowed per game.

His stellar play carried over to this season when Hill went 10-2-2 with a 1.87 GAA and .935 save percentage before suffering a lower-body injury.

He had a similar four-game stretch in January and February, posting 4-0 record with a 1.75 GAA and .947 percentage, but Hill has fought injuries and inconsistent play since then. Going back to Feb. 12, he is 5-9 with a 3.76 GAA and .876 save percentage entering Thursday night's regular-season finale against Anaheim.

"His numbers aren't as good the last 'X' amount of games than they were at the start," Cassidy said. "We can't hide from that. But his game doesn't look bad right now. Pucks are finding their way in, whether it's through some holes or some bounces or whatever. So he just has to stick with it mentally and get through those challenges because we know what he's capable of."

Hill, who acknowledged his play could be better, said he could draw on the success of last season's playoff experience.

Whether Hill gets another chance to repeat that postseason run or plays more of a secondary role will soon be determined.

"I've never really seen a team rotate goalies in the playoffs, so we'll see," Hill said. "I'll just take it day by day."