Balsillie/Phoenix part IV

[TaketheCannoli]

Well of course because this is all about Balsillie.

In some respects when weighing the proposed new NW division, the travel for Hamilton is preferrable to the travel of the western teams because careful scheduling can allow for western swings that stop in multiple cities.

What about the three western Canadian teams that will have to deal with the travel to Hamilton in a division heavy schedule and will ultimately end up with 2700km one game trips to the east?

The schedule is already pretty much drawn up. Due to that, they should stay in the Pacific. I'm sorry if this inconveniences other Pacific teams. Why should Balsillie care?

 

[Brodie]

The schedule is already pretty much drawn up. Due to that, they should stay in the Pacific. I'm sorry if this inconveniences other Pacific teams. Why should Balsillie care?

Unless the planes are already gassed up, why can't they just give Colorado the Phoenix schedule, subbing Hamilton for the games the Yotes would have played against the Avs?

 

[MoreOrr]

Seperating Hawks-Red Wings rivalry would be one of the stupid things league could do.

Strangely, it seems that Detroit would prefer to give up that Chicago - Detroit Divisional grouping and be put in the Eastern Conference.

So, if Detroit eventually gets its way, and if St. Louis has to be put in the Pacific or Northwest, I guess Chicago fans will be crying without a preferred rival.

Should league move Bruins out of NE and move Hamiltion in?

Yep, that's exactly what the League should ultimately do if Hamilton gets a team!

 

[TaketheCannoli]

Unless the planes are already gassed up, why can't they just give Colorado the Phoenix schedule, subbing Hamilton for the games the Yotes would have played against the Avs?

I can think of several reasons: Why should Avs fans lose their rivalries? Additionally, now that the Avs are in rebuild mode, the teams in the NW will finally get a break with one weak team in their division. The Coyotes have a good chance to be a good team right away. Why should the Oilers, Canucks, Wild and Flames suffer?


Additionally, this is all putting the cart way before the horse. Let's see if the team is movable and if so, when it can be moved before wasting too much time on this.

 

[Alberta Yote]

With rulings and appeals still to come there is no way this happens for '09-'10 anyway, unless Balsillie and the BoG (Bettman) miraculously start to agree, so it isn't that big of a deal anyway. The alignment and scheduling can be figured out well in advance of '10-'11 and have input from all teams considered.

Or are we just having fun?

 

[MoreOrr]

With rulings and appeals still to come there is no way this happens for '09-'10 anyway, unless Balsillie and the BoG (Bettman) miraculously start to agree, so it isn't that big of a deal anyway. The alignment and scheduling can be figured out well in advance of '10-'11 and have input from all teams considered.

Or are we just having fun?

Well, it really comes down, obviously, to whether the Coyotes get moved to Hamilton. But if it happens after this Season, then this whole idea of Hamilton being put in the Northwest is a "non-started" (to use the expression of another poster). Putting Hamilton in the NW is nothing more than an offering to try to get this move to happen sooner rather than later.

 

[MoreOrr]

Moving the Canucks to Pacific makes far more sense for NHL but League would never do it because Oilers-Canucks-Flames would not want there rivalry split up. Hawks rivalries with Blues and Red Wings are just as important if not more important

Your saying in the other posts that Hamilton in the Northwest is the best option, but really your saying the above is what should happen, you just don't want to rile up Canuck fans in the same way that my comments about Chicago riled you up. And the truth is that you're partially right. All these considerations of different teams in multiple Time Zone Divisions, and there's Vancouver right there as a Pacific Time Zone team. Vancouver in the Pacific Division is the 2nd best option. Of course, then putting Hamilton in the Northwest and there are again 3 Time Zones, but the argument could go that there had been before so what's the difference.

EDIT: Wait a minute! I forgot about Dallas. Vancouver makes absolutely no sense in the Pacific Division as long as Dallas is part of that Division. For Vancouver to replace Phoenix in the Pacific, it would mean that both Colorado and Vancouver go to the Pacific and Dallas to the Central. And then we're back to the same scenario that we debated earlier.

Actually, would that be any better for you? If both Chicago and St. Louis were to eventually be put in the Northwest (if the Coyotes get moved to Hamilton).

 

[Alberta Yote]

Well, it really comes down, obviously, to whether the Coyotes get moved to Hamilton. But if it happens after this Season, then this whole idea of Hamilton being put in the Northwest is a "non-started" (to use the expression of another poster). Putting Hamilton in the NW is nothing more than an offering to try to get this move to happen sooner rather than later.

But the only way it can happen this year is if Balsillie/Moyes win their right to relocate in the bankruptcy ruling and the NHL decides against an appeal, or the BoG approves the move.

Neither is very likely.

 

[william_adams]

Maybe not.

It's quite possible that it's Hamilton that would have trouble getting on Sportsnet.

Sportsnet is a regional broadcaster so each team negotiates their own deal with them. I recall a radio segment a few months ago where it was said that the Leafs are the only team that actually gets paid by Sportsnet.

The other canadian teams all pay Sportsnet and then make their money off of the advertising. The games are essentially put on the air by the individual teams.

Toronto is a cash cow for Sportsnet, I doubt they would willingly sacrifice that cow for an unestablished brand.

If Hamilton is put in the pacific, then a good portion of their games wud be much later in the evening than leaf games. Actually that kind of helps him avoid too much direct competition... Ha, that wud mean hamilton's local tv audience wud be all the night owls... Can see them starting a "zombie" fan club...

 

[Jonas1235]

Bettman says that Jim Balsillie's bid isn't really 212.5 million. It is much less.

 

[billy blaze]

he wants to take aways Moyes $100 million, thus making the bid actually 112.5 million, NHL wants the traitor to get no blood money

 

[RR]

The reference to the TV contract is not there so that the team gets paid the same for the broadcast rights, but so the Leafs do not get to demand a portion of the Hamilton team's TV broadcast payment as part of the territory infringement payment.

Bummer, if true. Judge struck that provision from the offer.

 

[HockeyScholar]

Really interesting watching that Bettman interview. He makes it sound like everything is completely fine with the Phoenix situation and owners are lined up waiting to buy it and keep it in Phoenix. Either he knows something that we don't, or he is completely delusional.

he wants to take aways Moyes $100 million, thus making the bid actually 112.5 million, NHL wants the traitor to get no blood money

The traitor?

 

[billy blaze]

Bettman et al consider Moyes a traitor to the BOG and league in general, just want him to walk away and get nothing in return for his $300 million in losses

 

[RR]

So they've decided by not blocking it that his proposed purchase and relocation doesn't cause any U.S. anti-trust issues. Did anyone think it did?

It doesn't look like this is a ruling on the league not allowing the move since that request hasn't yet been addressed by the BoG.

Unless I'm missing something, which is entirely possible, is this ruling even important to the overall issues?

I'd guess probably from a procedural standpoint. If the APA does not violate US anti-trust rules then when his offer is rejected by the NHL and he files his anti-trust suit against the NHL, it takes some legal maneuvers away from the NHL.

 

[Jonas1235]

The league is correct in its assumption than Moyes cannot sell the team to a market he doesn't own. I don't know how the judge is going to rule against that and accept Balsillie's bid. It would be quite ridiculous if he accepts Balsillie's bid with the conditions.

 

[RR]

Heaven forbid that JB has been totally upfront on his intentions!
Come to think about it.........maybe he's been too honest and too upfront to suit GB and the BofG.
Why tell the truth when you can lie and mislead?

Kidding, right?

 

[Crazy_Ike]

Bettman says that Jim Balsillie's bid isn't really 212.5 million. It is much less.

Wait, are you saying Jim Balsillie is being much less than honest??

But the only way it can happen this year is if Balsillie/Moyes win their right to relocate in the bankruptcy ruling and the NHL decides against an appeal, or the BoG approves the move.

Neither is very likely.

It's less than that, the NHL has already indicated that it will appeal if it loses. A little tidbit missed in the whole frenzy of "where should we relocate Hamilton to?" baloney, the whole procedure will be bogged down in litigation from the NHL if it loses at any point.

Hamilton is getting nothing.

 

[HockeyScholar]

Hamilton is getting nothing.

That settles it. Some anonymous internet poster has enlightened us all, Hamilton will not be getting an NHL team. Might as well close the thread right now!

 

[YogiCanucks]

That settles it. Some anonymous internet poster has enlightened us all, Hamilton will not be getting an NHL team. Might as well close the thread right now!

BUt he's "crazy"

 

[RR]

If he's going to keep them in the West, why not keep them in their current division? The travel is going to suck for whatever division Hamilton enters, but this way the rest of the divisions stay the same.

On second thought, he might as well move them into the central. Whichever teams have to travel across the continent to play Hamilton are likely going to reject his relocation bid (IIRC he needs 2/3 approval), so seeing as how Detroit and Nashville were going to reject him anyways, he probably can't make them any angrier.

A spot in the NW should be reserved for Winnipeg

His decision? That will go over well with the other owners.

 

[Gnashville]

I noticed a few things about the copps upgrade rendering.
A: One of the banners says "new faces new places" with the NHL logo on it. Guess he's hoping to make it thirty eventually.
B: A Sidney Crosby banner in a Penguins Jersey is hanging on the outside of the arena. (I thought Balsillie stated that he would not move the Pens at all)
C: He wants the Canadian taxpayer to foot the 150 million bill (why no complaint about subsidies) Why not build a new arena at that price???
D: Are the only hockey fans in Hamilton Women???
http://www.makeitseven.ca/press_coppimages.html

 

[Fugu]

Bettman et al consider Moyes a traitor to the BOG and league in general, just want him to walk away and get nothing in return for his $300 million in losses

What a fine message to send to any would-be NHL owners.

 

[Fugu]

Bettman says that Jim Balsillie's bid isn't really 212.5 million. It is much less.

How much is the Reinsdorf offer then?

 

[Jonas1235]

http://www.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?id=43104

Bettman's interview on CBC for those who haven't seen it.