Nonsense in Arizona

To me, the NHL’s position on the Phoenix Coyotes has never been as preposterous as some would believe.

It wants a team in that large U.S. market, or more specifically, believes that a successful, efficiently run club would do just fine and be of benefit to the league.

You and I and the NHLPA may not agree, but it’s not a preposterous position.

That said, the latest NHL maneuver, to buy the Coyotes itself, try to sell them to a third party or relocate the team for (hopefully) a profit is such an extreme manipulation of the process that it exposes the NHL to the three most damaging charges its harshest critics would hurl in its direction, such as:

1. The NHL is willing to do anything to stop Phoenix moving to Canada, but wasn’t willing to do the same thing when Winnipeg and Quebec City were pulling up stakes and heading south.

Why didn’t the Bettman administration buy the Jets or the Nordiques to make sure they wouldn’t move? Why was the league less worried about decreasing the number of Canadian teams to six from eight than it is about maintaining a position in a large market that appears to have a limited appetite for the sport?

“The fact is, the biggest litmus test ultimately was nobody wanted to own a team there. And when the marketplace decides that it doesn’t want to own a team there, it has no future,” said Bettman back in ’96 when the Jets were leaving Manitoba.

To those who would accuse Bettman of being anti-Canadian, this is useful stuff.

2. It makes the league appear to be carrying water for the Maple Leafs, acting as the burly security guard blocking the door at a swanky club so the Leafs can dine on sushi inside without having to deal with the riff-raff.

It’s like 1991 all over again, with Hamilton suspiciously rejected while smoke-and-mirror expansion bids from Ottawa and Tampa Bay were accepted. Hamilton at least had an arena, and its interesting now that one of the reasons the NHL is carting out to explain the difference between the Phoenix situation and that of Quebec City and Winnipeg is that there’s a state-of-the-art arena in the desert built largely at taxpayers expense and the league has a responsibility to that. Well, so did Hamilton.

Then and now, it appears, at least, that the NHL will do anything – anything – to protect the Leafs’ turf.

3. The sense that this is an ABB (Anybody But Balsillie) exercise grows. Its sort of like when Ken Dryden went out to search for a new GM for the Leafs and discovered himself. The NHL, faced with a situation in which Balsillie might be the only bid, suddenly believes it should own the team itself.

Imagine the potential conflicts if the league is successful and operates the team for the 2009-2010 season. Say Shane Doan decides to club Mike Modano, and after a hearing the league rules that Doan shouldn’t be suspended. Or imagine a disputed Coyotes goal late in a game that is reviewed back in Toronto and is ruled legal and decides the match. Or lets say the Coyotes are suddenly able to swing a lopsided trade with the Minnesota Wild, owned by Bettman loyalist Craig Leipold.

All these legal and financial gymnastics just to keep Balsillie out. Just more ammunition for Bettman’s critics.

Comments

[Mike Ritchie]

I wouldn't doubt that the NHL wants to protect the Leaf's turf. After all, the more money the Leafs make, the more they can contribute to the revenue sharing program to keep the rest of the league afloat.

Then again, another Ontario team would most likely increase that revenue stream even better. Add in an NHL approved expansion with exhorbitant fees means dough re mi for the league.

Look to the dollars.

[Peter White]

Spot on Damien. The Leafs can continue with their "Profit before Pride" team motto, and we are left with a second rate team. Only in Toronto...Pity

[Mike E]

It took the NHL so long so to gain any respect from US sports fans. Now it's squandering everything it's built up on this farce. I don't think it will come out of this without looking like a monkey house.

[Jim]

If the Bet Man gets his way, the 29 member boys club will ante 1 to 2 million p.a. each ad infinitum if Jobing.com arena has any management smarts plus the 140MM from the NHL - same guys. I bet Tampa, Florida, Carolina & the rest will give Gary a real pat on the back for the way he's handled this one! Gary if that lease ever gets out of bankrupcy court, you are dumber than anyone could imagine.

[bear]

I can't imagine, when you look at the history of NHL franchisee's, why Balsille has become such a prejudiced and repeated target. Further, his bid is 33% higher than the NHL bid. What kind of an auction would honour the lesser bid, with the added flaw of enormous conflict of interest, audacious and vicious misconduct inflicting the league's profile in Canada and our relationship internationally with the game and the league, and with the further abuse of slandering the incredibly talented Canadian businessman with the temerity of a racist southern 30's lynch mob.

Indeed, at the end of the day, the conclusion will be that Balsille will play the game his way, and he will win. How? Very simple. A made in America concept that in this case now just requires some seed money, of which Jim has ample. Yup....."SUE THE BASTARDS!" How can he lose?

[Bradley]

I call for a viewer boycott of the NHL until Bettman is deposed.

And who should replace him?

Balsillie, of course. With his business sense and agressive, no nonsense attitude at the helm, the NHL will profit tenfold compared to what they have now.

[robguy]

Opinion - you are dead wrong. Fan opinion and action can matter. When the WHA tried to merge with the NHL, the Canadian teams voted a merger. The subsequent boycott of Molson products was one of the factors that helped teams like the Canadiens to change their vote the 2nd time around.

I do not understand the anti-Balsillie feeling - Hamlton was 'nice' for over 30 years - so was Quebec and Winnipeg and what did that get them? Now that you see hte NHL for what they really are, would you not try and be aggressive if it was your only hope?

[katgyrl]

excellent blog Damien.

I'd like to respond to this comment:

"One more thing, I am sick and tired of the treats of "I wont support the NHL or The Maple Leafs anymore" Please dont, I dont believe you supported them to begin with."

I'm completely confused as to how you would know how many thousands of strangers have lead their lives, in order to make this ridiculous declaration. I grew up in Winnipeg in the 60s & became a Leafs fan at that time, so you can imagine how thrilled I was when my parents decided to move to Toronto when I was a young teenager! I went to many games thanks to my best friends' father, who had season's tickets. These were some of the most exciting times of my life, cheering on my team in the famous Maple Leaf Gardens! I had official jerseys and lots of other Leafs ephemera, I spent most of my allowance on that stuff, also, being a straight female I had my regular crushes on this player or that, lol. I was right there with the Leafs, supporting them all the way, through my teens, 20s, 30s, and early 40s, until the last few years, where it became apparent that the league has no respect for the ordinary fan, and that Bettman holds us Canadians in utter contempt. With the most recent wrangling with Balsillie, I have lost all the steam I once had for the great game. Last year my husband and I decided it was time to throw in the NHL towel. You see, I have lived in Hamilton for the last 10 years, and I have seen this city prove twice over that they can support an NHL team; we sold out season's tickets within a couple of days, during two different drives to show we are prepared for the NHL. There is room in this region for more than just the Leafs & the Sabres - there are more than enough fans who would never go to Toronto or Buffalo for a game, but they are champing at the bit to go to a game right here in town they don't support the Leafs or the Sabres, those teams won't lose our money, they don't have it to begin with! Other regions support more than one major league team, it's hardly a precedent to be set. But I slightly digress - yes Mr "opinion" there are indeed people who have decided to not support the NHL and who have grown tired of the Leafs, they are being 100% truthful about this. They are not fair weather fans - some, such as myself, have been fans for 40 years! And they're well & truly done with it.

[James Cole]

I have a home in Hermosa, Beach CA. I'm down here right now. Neither ESPN, nor the LA Times or ANY other news cast has given this story 1 SECOND of press. Hockey means NOTHING in the Southern States. Why the NHL pretends it does, is a joke. I mean, ESPN will play pre-season high school football games down here before putting off season NHL news on its telecast. As Canadians, we think people care down here. They don't. At all. End of story. Move it to Hamilton.

[John]

Of course they need to protect the Maple Leafs! If they brought a team to Hamilton, the Leafs MIGHT actually have to get their act together and put together a half decent team that could make it to the playoffs! Can someone please explain to my why Balsillie is not of the right calibre to own an NHL franchise? I think Gary Bettman and the rest of the board should be made to explain this position!

[han bobo]

If canadians werent such a bunch of p***ies there would be an enormous backlash right now against the NHL and the 6 Canadian teams for not trying to bring another one back to Canada and putting pressure on the rest of the league to make it happen. This whole business of not liking Balsille is pathetic. Money talks and bullshit walks. The plain last fact of the matter is that glendale couldnt produce more than 2000 signatures of people to say they wanted to keep their friggin' hockey team for Judge Baum, but I'd bet any money that we could produce 100 000 signatures for the NHL to bring one to Hamilton. As for those retards who say the NHL should have the right to dictate who can and who cannot own the franchise-how is JB any worse than the crooks running MLSE at the moment. If JB is smart, if he loses the bid he should slap a character defamation suit against the NHL and its board of governwhores to the tune of 150 million and let those punks prove in court that he is the bad guy they claim he is.

[Dan Woods]

Damien,

Although I am a former Torontonian, I don't really perceive that Betman is trying to protect the Leafs. More than anything, I think he is protecting The Kings, Ducks, Sharks and Canucks, who have a great fan base that is building nicely. If you look at this in a vertical manner instead of horizontal, you will notice only 4 teams are in the Pacific time zone. Arizona gives us a 5th geographical rivalry that will be very hard to replace if it is gone. Our Western Division Champions this year didn't have a single weekday home game start outside of the work day here. How does that grow the sport here? Imagine trying to get away with that back east. If the Coyotes must move, Las Vegas, Seattle or even Sacramento would be a better choice than Hamilton for the growth of the game across the continent. Hockey may be a tough sell in the desert but, its presence is helping it grow just fine out here at the beaches. If the league drops down to just four teams here the game will lose much of what it has worked to accomplish.

[Jabalong]

Damien, you're right on for the most part in what a ridiculous move in so many ways, though I would take exception with one assertion. While I think it's wrong in this instance, there isn't anything wrong with the league temporarily owning one of the teams. As someone else pointed out this happened with the Montreal Expos in baseball and it was fine.

[MAURICE VERHOEVE]

Where ARE the comments and response from the NHLPA?

[Sandy T.]

"Opinion" opines the NHL holds all the cards...

"You do not dictate to us we dictate to you, you are not in charge here JB, we are."

That's almost exactly what the NFL said to Al Davis once upon a time, and look how that worked out. The NHL brass doesn't want - can't afford - to let Balsillie in; because if he does get the franchise, the league knows - short of incorporating a brand new league made up of the other 29 teams - there's really no way they can stop him from moving the team.

[Scott]

You do realize it's not about protecting the Leafs' turf so much as just making sure Canada doesn't have another team.

[David D Smith]

Does the NHL ignore `what JB has contributed to the city of Waterloo? What have the Leaf's contributed to their fans-one free meaningless preseason game- while squeezing every last penny from their fans? After missing the playoffs for four straight seasons I want to watch a team with some top six forwards than one with none.
In my mind it is the NHL that has an integrity problem. How can the public believe anything Bettman and Daly say anymore? They continue to contradict themselves with every passing day.

[MAURICE VERHOEVE]

ALL NHL PLAYERS ARE SUBSIDIZING BAD MARKET CHOICES SUCH AS PHOENIX RESULTING IN LARGE TAKEBACKS OF THEIR SALARIES. WHY, THEREFORE, ARE THE NHLPA SITTING BACK AND SAYING NOTHING. WHY IS THE NHLPA NOT BACKING MR. BAISAILLE AND HAMILTON AS SURE BET , PROSPEROUS NHL MARKET GUAREENTEED ABSOLUTE SUCCESS THAT WILL RESULT IN MUCH MONEY AND PROSPERITY ALL AROUND??? TRULY, EVERYONE WOULD UNDOUBTABLT WIN, WIN, WIN. EVEN TORONTO WOULD GAIN MUCH IN THE ADDED MEDIA FRENZY CAUSED BY ALL THE NATURAL RIVARIES THAT SURROUND THEM WITH THE ADDITION OF HAMILTON. IT WOULD CAUSE POSITIVE RENEWAL FOR ALL THE LEAGUE.

[bobtow]

Like in every market the team should go to the highest bidder.Hockey is a sport but it is also a business. Bettman could put a rule that the team stays in Phenix for at least X number of years,with the help of the NHL if nessecary. Then if they can't be profitable, move it to the city of the buyers choice. A business should operate at a profit. This financing of white elephants is a waste of time and money.It must also be a drag on the players' morale

[Jeff Laidlaw]

The Leafs have been keeping viable professional hockey out of the GTA for what now, 42 or 43 years. Why do you think they would want to allow it now?

[Robert B]

I find it hilarious that fans want the Coyotes to come here. If there's any organization that's been run more ineptly than the Leafs recently, it's the Coyotes. No wonder they can't make any money out there--they haven't won a playoff series since they were the Jets. They haven't made the playoffs since 2002. Cheers to Toronto (Hamilton) trying to land the two worst-run franchises in the league.