GSC2k2*
Guest
I was musing on the commute home tonight how people are speaking with such conviction and expertise about Balsillie's alleged desire to move the team, despite one point:
HE ACTUALLY HAS NOT SAID ONE WORD ABOUT WANTING TO ACTUALLY MOVE THE TEAM.
FURTHERMORE, WHEN HE WAS OFFERING TO BUY THE PENS, HE NEVER MADE A SINGLE STATEMENT SAYING HE WAS GOING TO MOVE THEM TO SOUTHERN ONTARIO (OR ANYWHERE ELSE).
When he was "buying" the Pens, he certainly did not want to be irrevocably locked in to th emarket come hell or high water (or no arena). Certainly his actions in backing away form the deal made sense whether he wanted to move the team or not. If he was locked in by the NHL's consent agreement, he would have had no leverage in negotating with the city of Pittsburgh.
And then, after I came home, I read this ...
http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/story/10201108
Certainly Bettman has couched his answers to give some wiggle room to Balsillie, but - and this is an important "but" - Bettman has actually talked to the guy buying the team, unlike the usual vulture-like suspects that have been swishing around here the past few days speaking with such an air of authority about what Balsillie is actually thinking.
Maybe the Preds will move, maybe not, but I would nevertheless feel quite comfortable in suggesting that, at present, those who suggest that they know what Balsillie has planned are utterly full of ****.
HE ACTUALLY HAS NOT SAID ONE WORD ABOUT WANTING TO ACTUALLY MOVE THE TEAM.
FURTHERMORE, WHEN HE WAS OFFERING TO BUY THE PENS, HE NEVER MADE A SINGLE STATEMENT SAYING HE WAS GOING TO MOVE THEM TO SOUTHERN ONTARIO (OR ANYWHERE ELSE).
When he was "buying" the Pens, he certainly did not want to be irrevocably locked in to th emarket come hell or high water (or no arena). Certainly his actions in backing away form the deal made sense whether he wanted to move the team or not. If he was locked in by the NHL's consent agreement, he would have had no leverage in negotating with the city of Pittsburgh.
And then, after I came home, I read this ...
http://www.sportsline.com/nhl/story/10201108
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said Monday that even if the sale of the Nashville Predators goes through, the franchise "is not going anywhere."
Certainly Bettman has couched his answers to give some wiggle room to Balsillie, but - and this is an important "but" - Bettman has actually talked to the guy buying the team, unlike the usual vulture-like suspects that have been swishing around here the past few days speaking with such an air of authority about what Balsillie is actually thinking.
Maybe the Preds will move, maybe not, but I would nevertheless feel quite comfortable in suggesting that, at present, those who suggest that they know what Balsillie has planned are utterly full of ****.
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