CBC-Sports

Could Balsillie bring Gretzky home?

February 10, 2009 11:39 AM | Posted by   Cassie Campbell  

Balsillie could bring Gretzky home.

Now wouldn’t that be an ideal title on the front page of every single Canadian newspaper! I think so.

The NHL has admitted its involvement in helping a Phoenix Coyotes franchise deal with some financial difficulties as well as look for potential new backers/owners of the team. On a recent Phoenix telecast, league commissioner Gary Bettman mentioned that they are looking for new partners for Phoenix owner Jerry Moyes or even at a possible sale of the franchise.

The NHL hopes to resolve the situation in Phoenix by season’s end in order to be fair to the players, staff and fans.

So the question has to be asked: why-oh-why has a deal not been had with Research in Motion co-chief executive officer Jim Balsillie?

Nashville unlikely, potential in the desert

The arena lease in Phoenix pretty much dictates that the Coyotes will remain in Phoenix for quite some time unless a substantial amount of money is paid to the region. The NHL is currently attempting to renegotiate the lease for Jobing.com Arena with the city of Glendale, Ariz., to make it more attractive for potential buyers. However, the time needed to renegotiate such a deal may be attractive to Balsillie. It would give him time to build an arena (Western Ontario) or upgrade a current facility (Hamilton) for his new team.

With the Nashville Predators’ majority owner, David Freeman, speaking to a potential new partner in Calgary - investment banker Brett Wilson - the rumoured deal with Balsillie seems to be on the back burner, if non-existent.

The 27 per cent share belonging to William (Boots) Del Biaggio is still available and the courts, along with Freeman, are dealing with the asset. However, if Freeman wanted this deal with Balsillie, it would have been done long ago. This is no doubt a result of Freeman wanting to ensure the Predators stay in Nashville and that’s his right as the majority owner.

So, the big question: could Balsillie be the new owner of the Phoenix Coyotes?

He has the money and he definitely has the passion for the game of hockey. With that combination shouldn’t the NHL want him on board? I believe so.

Option to move to another city, or, country

It all will depend on the NHL’s flexibility to allow a new owner to help the franchise as it is in Phoenix, BUT if the team continues to struggle financially, there should be a clause in the contract that after a certain number of years, the team can move to a more suitable market.

I completely understand why the NHL doesn’t want to give up on a franchise in Phoenix - they don’t want to disappoint fans or make it seem that when a franchise struggles the quick solution is movement. But when all is said and done, and the city of Glendale continues to be unable to support a hockey franchise, new options are inevitable.

NHLPA boss, Paul Kelly, supports moving a franchise from a struggling U.S. market back to Canada, which therefore means the players do, too.

If the Phoenix Coyotes move back to Canada it would mean full circle for the franchise that started as the Winnipeg Jets. It would also mean full circle for Wayne Gretzky.

" Previous Post | Main
  •