Forced to make a choice between one $250 million bid from Jim Balsillie that would force the Phoenix Coyotes to move to Hamilton, and another $140 million bid from the NHL that excluded certain creditors from receiving any compensation, Bankruptcy Court Judge Redfield T. Baum chose the only option he could. He rejected both offers
The Balsillie bid, while presenting plenty of compensation to the city and creditors, was rejected because it took the decision of the franchise relocation out of the NHL’s hands. He said in his statement, “In the final analysis, the court cannot find or conclude that the interests of the NHL can be adequately protected if the Coyotes are moved to Hamilton,” intimating that the league need to have control over where it’s teams are located.
On the other side, the NHL’s bid to buy the team excluded Jerry Moyes and Wayne Gretzky from the list of creditors that would be paid. Essentially, the NHL would buy the team without a penny being given to two of the largest shareholders, and then attempt to resell it, pocketing the profits for itself. With the result of Wednesday’s ruling, the NHL will continue to look for another ownership group, but they will be acting as the middleman in the transaction, not the owner and seller.
During the process, Judge Baum did appear at times to be dragging out the proceedings, as we had originally hoped for a decision in mid-July. In the end, however, in a case with such complexities, he was wise to take his time to carefully examine both bids. What’s scary is that, in the end, the person who made the best decision for the good of the league and it’s owners was not the commissioner or NHL executive committee, it was an outside council, whose job it is not to save the league.
“I wanted permission to seek a trade… I don’t want to be here if I’m not going to play… I’ve been in the league too long to be sitting around… it doesn’t make any sense why I stuck my neck out, broke my wrist trying to make a tackle, and now I don’t have a job. It just doesn’t make any sense to me.” – BC Lions Kicker Paul McCallum in an interview on the Team 1040 radio station.
Over the weekend, 39 year old BC Lions kicker, Paul McCallum, asked GM/Head Coach Wally Buono for “permission to seek a trade,” after losing the starting job to 24 year old Sean Whyte, because of an injury which he has subsequently recovered from. On the Richter Scale of sporting news, this does not even register as a tremor; yet, I find it entertaining. How does someone ask for permission to seek a trade? The following gives us an idea of the conversation between player and coach:
Paul McCallum: Coach, am I going to get a chance to play again?
Wally Buono: Paul, you’re getting old. He’s the future. We have to move on as a team.
PM: OK fine, but if you're not going to let me play here, can you trade me?
WB: Trade? Nah.
PM: What?! But why not?
WB: Paul, you’re a kicker. And you’re 39 years old. What can I possibly get in return for you? I’d be lucky if someone gave me a used pair of cleats and a jock strap. I have a game to prepare for next week. I don’t have time to waste on this crap.
PM: Geez coach, can you at least give me permission to seek a trade then?
WB: Wait, you want to trade yourself? That’s unprecedented... but it sounds good to me! Ok, I’ll see you later Paul!
Heading into tonight’s matchup with the Flames, only two games remain in the Canucks preseason. For a select group of young Canucks, this is all the time they have to prove that they belong with the big club. Here’s a quick look at where spots are available:
Forward Lines:
1. Sedin Sedin Samuelson
2. Burrows Kesler Raymond
3. Bernier Wellwood --------
4. Hordichuk Johnson Rypien
-------
Though these lines may be interchanged, it is expected that all of these players will be on the team on October first. You can see that there are two spots available: one as a winger on the third line, and one as the seventh forward who might be carried by the club but will usually not dress for games.
Four players are vying for these two spots: Cody Hodgson, Sergei Shirokov, Michael Grabner, and Jannik Hansen. Let’s assume that the Canucks staff will be true to their word of choosing the team based on merit and not on contract complexities, which would add a completely different dimension. Which two will stay in Vancouver?
Hansen is the only player of the four with NHL experience, and he has demonstrated this in the preseason. He has shown consistency in his effort and the ability needed to play with the big boys, so it would be stunning if he’s not given one of the spots.
Conversely, Michael Grabner has almost played himself off the team by showing that he’s clearly not ready to make the jump from AHL to NHL. He hasn’t responded to pressure and he’s looked out of place, most of the time. Let’s count him out.
This leaves Cody Hodgson and Sergei Shirokov to fight over the last spot. Poor Hodgson has been battling a nagging back injury and hasn’t been able to play up to speed thus far. Shirokov, on the other hand, has looked marvelous, with 4 points in two games, but it should be noted that the first was played against a haphazard New York Islanders team in Terrace, B.C. Still, if Shirokov can work the same magic against Calgary and Edmonton, and Hodgson does nothing special, Shirokov will probably win.
But with two games remaining, anything can happen. Who knows, perhaps Grabner will score a hat trick, and Hodgson will set up all three goals. The youngsters hold their fate in their hands.
Note: This is being posted in lieu of Monday’s post, because it simply cannot wait!
If you were an NHL owner, would you support Jim Balsillie’s bid to buy a franchise? He’s got a massive bank account, he’s passionate about hockey, and he has been trying to acquire his own team for many years now, so why wouldn’t you want him? The problem is that he doesn’t want to play by the rules. He is only willing to buy a team if he can move it to Hamilton, and he continues to try pursue every avenue to push this agenda.
While Gary Bettman and the NHL may seem misguided in their attempts to succeed south of the border, the league has a clear idea of where it would like to flourish. In the southern markets where it has had success, as in San Jose, Dallas, Minnesota – a strong fan base has developed. The teams are doing well financially and are a benefit to the league.
In 2005, Balsillie attempted to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins and many surmised that he intended to move the team to Hamilton. When the NHL stepped in to regulate the process, intending to negotiate the deal for a new arena in Pittsburg, and demanding the right to take over the team if necessary, Balsillie balked, walking away from his initial offer. Three years later, the Penguins won a Stanley Cup and Pittsburgh is once again a strong hockey market with a solid future ahead of it. Evidently, the NHL was correct in stopping Balsillie from taking control of the team and potentially alienating this solid fan base.
The league has many aspects to consider when it comes to adding a new team in Hamilton. One is the effect on current teams in the surrounding areas – Buffalo, Toronto, and Ottawa. Ontario can most likely support another NHL franchise, but it will not occur without affecting these teams.
For his part, Balsillie, is not taking no for an answer, and if you are an NHL owner or the Commissioner, that could be scary. If you’re one of 30 partners in a billion dollar company, do you really want one of your fellow associates to be someone who doesn’t follow rules, someone who does whatever he wants no matter how many feathers he ruffles? Sounds like a scary proposition to me, no matter how big his pockets are.
Four years later, he’s back after a failed attempt in the NFL and an unsuccessful, unproductive year with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. The Lions reach out the olive branch largely out of desperation, as both Buck Peirce and Jarious Jackson are fighting injuries.
Printers is desperate for a new beginnining, and claims to have spent the last eight months reforming himself, as he states in Lowell Ulrich’s article in the Vancouver Province:
“I've been in a lab… trying to figure things out; what does a quarterback do, what does he say, how does he handle things? Have I changed? We'll see.”
Perhaps the Tiger-Cats told him to find a solution to his problems, unfortunately he must have taken it the wrong way:
Wellwood has always been the combination of a gifted hockey mind with the body of a couch potato. That is about to change, as this year he has come into training camp 17 pounds lighter than last year!
9. New and Improved Steve Bernier.
Bernier was the Canucks' “goat” last year, missing a ridiculous amount of scoring opportunities. He has worked on everything in the off-season, from foot-speed, to fitness, to pressure situations with the puck. We might finally see him reach his potential.
7. No slow start for Roberto Luongo
The knock on Luongo’s career thus far: slow starts to the season. With the pre-season Team Canada Orientation Camp taking place, and the starting job for the Olympics on the line, Luongo knows he has to be on form early. Pressure usually works in his favour.
6. Sergei Shirokov
No idea what to expect, but Tommy Larsheid has dubbed him the “Pocket Russian Rocket”, and he has looked great in the pre-season.
5. Cody Hodgson
Finally, the future of the Vancouver Canucks has arrived!
3. Demitra is injured
Not even getting into his softness as a player, the positive here is that young Hodgson, Shirokov, and Raymond will gain playing time and have a chance to show what they’ve got.
4. Christian Ehrhoff and Mathieu Schneider Replace Ohlund
We were worried when we lost Ohlund to free agency – our depth of offensive defensemen was low, considering Salo’s brittle body. With the arrival of Schneider and Ehrhoff, the Canucks’ blueline seems even better than it was last year.
2. Schedule Fixed
Finally, after three long seasons of playing too many divisional and conference games, the schedule has been fixed! This year we will see the Penguins, Capitals, and all 5 other Canadian teams at GM Place at least once.
1. Optimism
Not since late in the Brian Burke era, have Canucks fans felt so optimistic heading into a season. Back then, we had one of the league’s most offensive powerhouses, led by the “Westcoast Express” – Bertuzzi, Morrison, and Naslund – but no goaltending. With Luongo signed to a 12 year deal in the off-season, that will not be a problem for a long long time.
NHL players are probably the classiest in all of North America’s major sports leagues. They are, in large part, a wonderful bunch of athletes, who are grateful for their opportunities in life, don’t shirk media responsibilities and have all the time in the world for their fans. . Unfortunately, in every bunch, there will always be bad apples – douchebags, if you will. Following, I break down the different types of douches employed by the NHL.
Attitude: I’m not happy with my team, I demand a trade! I don’t get enough playing time; I don’t like the coach; I don’t like this city; or the best – “personal reasons”
Player Example: Dany Heatley – First, he negotiated a no trade clause in his contract with the Senators just one year ago, leading his fans to believe he would like to be with the team long term. This summer he demanded a trade, but when they made a deal with the Oilers, he rejected it. For more insight on Heatley’s mindframe, click here and here.
Psychoanalysis: Loyalty is non-existent and selfishness is abundant.
professional athlete to get people to listen to me. Attitude: This multi-million dollar contract isn’t enough; I don’t feel appreciated; I’m going to sit at home until I get my way.
Player Example: Alexei Yashin – In 1995, Yashin refused to honour his contract with the Ottawa Senators, deciding, rather, to sit the games out until he was the team’s highest paid player. Finally, he was awarded a new contract for 3.6M per. In 1999, Yashin again held out, refusing to honour the final year of that contract until he received a raise that would put him in the same salary range as Steve Yzerman and Joe Sakic, the best centermen in the league. This time, the team didn’t grant his wishes, and he sat out for an entire season.
Psychoanalysis: Obviously Stanley Cups and winning are of no consequence to these individuals. It’s all about number 1.
Attitude: I have all the skill in the world, but I’ll only use it if and when I want to.
Player Example: Alexei Kovalev – Widely regarded as one of the most talented players in the NHL, Kovalev once scored 95 points in a season with the Penguins. Problem is, he had a 66 point season the year before. In his past 4 seasons with the Canadiens, he had a high of 84 points and a low of 47! The word “consistency” is foreign to him.
Psychoanalysis: Most NHL players have arrived there by working their asses off. These guys have coasted into the league and will surely coast through their careers.
Attitude: So what if I’m only 21, I should be playing on the top line because I’m the best.
Player Example: Dion Phaneuf – ever since Phaneuf began receiving praise in his first season 4 years ago, he has had a chip on his shoulder. Teammates dislike his attitude and lack of respect.
Psychoanalysis: No concept of what it takes to be consistently successful in the NHL.
The Commish Douche:
Attitude: Canadian hockey fans will always be there, regardless of how much we neglect them, so let’s spend all our time and energy on expanding the game in Southern U.S.A, where they’d rather watch Nascar! Also, as long as I pander to the powerful Eastern owners, I will have this job forever, no matter how much I screw up.Example: There’s only one: Gary Bettman – the list of screw-ups is too long, but maybe the biggest was signing a deal in 2005 to show NHL games on Versus, a channel that most American families don’t even have, rather than ESPN. Before this, when ESPN carried games, they showed highlights during Sportscentre and used cross promotion to increase support. Once they lost the NHL, they stopped showing highlights, and the NHL slipped into obscurity.
Psychoanalysis: Really, just an idiot.
