Don't and can't understand this attitude. I liked the Thrashers when I lived in South Carolina. No interest in the Jets. I couldn't tell you what happened to the Stars after I moved to Phoenix. If the shoe were on the other foot and Quebec were losing an NHL team, they'd have the Habs, Senators and the entire QMJHL to console themselves. The Coyotes are hockey here. If Roadrunners Part 5 ever happens, I'll be there, but I would be 100% happier with bad situation, cash-strapped NHL hockey than with AHL or ECHL hockey. Makes a home win against the Leafs all the more satisfying knowing 1 man's happiness is mirrored in 1,000 people's misery. [insert Trolloff avatar here]
Dont know why so many people think this is necessary. Just don't be an a-hole, which Patofqc obviously wasn't. Anyway ...You don't think the league is negotiating in good-ish faith? Perception is huge. If the Coyotes get sold for $50m, what are the Stars and Panthers and Ducks worth? If half of the PHX/ATL/DAL/NAS gambit fails, what does that say about the league? Maximizing revenues would mean contracting TB, FLA, CAR, NAS, CBJ, which increases the chances MTL, TOR and NYR make the Finals. But it would relegate the NHL to distant 5th (or 6th, behind MLS) in the North American consciousness. Going to Quebec was the easy play 2 years ago ... I fully believe the NHL wants to be in PHX, but they're not going to give the team away. If Bettman wanted to move, he would have done it already.
How differently would bankruptcy have gone with Lemieux instead of Gretzky and with Crosby, Malkin and Fleury instead of Turris, Mueller and Tikhonov ...