Ok. Despite all efforts made to avoid this ridiculous situation unfolding in Pheonix, with the potential sale of the Coyotes and subsequent relocation to southern Ontario as proposed by RIM billionaire Jim Balsillie, the plot is getting too thick to ignore.
In an article from The Globe And Mail today, it’s been revealed that apparently the Toronto Maple Leafs are at odds with the NHL regarding how many of the Governors votes are required to move a team into another teams territory. In a nut shell, the NHL states the a simple majority would suffice while the Maple Leafs argue that a unanimous vote is required. The part that’s really interesting to me is that this would qualify as “news” to anyone that Toronto (and likely Buffalo) would oppose the possible relocation of a franchise within their “territory”.
With all due respect to Mr. Brunt (I mean that honestly, I’m a fan of his) it seems pretty obvious that any business would’t want competition in their backyard, much less a business that thrives on public support and loyalty, we’re not talking about a coffee shop here.
It seems to me that the longer this drags out the worse Balsillie is looking to the general public but I’m not sure he really deserves all the critisism. Businesses are bought out of bankruptcy all the time and clearly the NHL expanded to a city that doesn’t have the hockey culture to support it. One would think the NHL would be pleased to move out of town and relocate and probably would under the right circumstances.
The simple facts are that the NHL will not act in any way to threaten the Toronto Maple Leafs profits. The Leafs are the most profitable franchise in the NHL and the leagues fortunes hang in the balance. Think about it, if you were the NHL would you allow it?