CBC-Sports

Not everyone believes Phoenix is a viable hockey market

December 15, 2009 11:36 AM | Posted by   Scott Morrison  

When the NHL board of governors assemble Tuesday afternoon in Pebble Beach, Calif., for the first of two days of meetings, the hot topic will be the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes.

Last Friday, of course, the league announced that the Ice Edge Holdings investment group signed a letter of intent to buy the team for a rumoured $140 million US, the same price the NHL bought the team for earlier in the year.

According to the Ice Edge group, they are willing to honour the existing 26-year lease with the city of Glendale and the goal is to keep the team in Phoenix, although they would still like to play a handful, perhaps as many as five, “home” games in Saskatoon.

One of the majority owners, Anthony LeBlanc, said on Saturday the games in Saskatoon are strictly revenue generators and the market is not suitable for relocation.

Needless to say, the idea of playing those Saskatoon games as well as the sale will generate considerable discussion around the board table. Not everyone in the room believes Phoenix is a viable hockey market. And it is not the only market that is suffering in the United States.

As such, it’s believed the league will also have discussions about potential relocation markets and the viability of Quebec City, Winnipeg, southern Ontario and a second team in the Toronto area.

Concussions, head shots also on agenda

Deputy NHL commissioner Bill Daly will be making a presentation to the board about concussions and how a medical committee has been studying how and where concussions are happening on the ice.

Colin Campbell, senior vice-president of hockey operations, will update the board on head shots and what a special committee of general managers will be examining when they are assembled in the new year. The GMs have expressed concern about hits to the head, in particular of players who are blindsided.

The board will also be given a salary cap projection. It’s believed the $56.8 million cap will either remain flat or decrease slightly. Despite the fact many teams are suffering at the gate, the strong Canadian dollar has balanced the NHL economy.

There is also the possibility of discussions over announcing the schedule on July 1, rather than mid-July. The thinking is releasing the schedule on the first day of free-agent shopping might help teams sell tickets.

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