Balsillie's Camp Trades Harsh Words With Nhl

[Bay Side]

http://www.tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=239724&lid=sublink010&lpos=headlines_nhl

The war of words between the National Hockey League and Jim Balsillie continues amidst a report this week that several NHL teams have approached the Research In Motion billionaire about a possible sale or minority partnership.

"The commissioner made it very clear he does not want Jim in the league under any circumstances.period," Balsillie's advisor Richard Rodier told TSN on Wednesday.

Rodier's remarks came in light of a National Post report that eight ownership groups - including the Atlanta Thrashers, Carolina Hurricanes, Tampa Bay Lightning and Dallas Stars - have engaged in talks and negotiations with Balsillie.

NHL Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly was quick to address the quote from Balsillie's camp, maintaining that the league's decisions on the matter are based on what the owners want.

"That certainly is inconsistent with anything I have ever heard the commissioner say," Daly told TSN on Wednesday.

"Ultimately, Mr. Balsillie's ability to be an owner in the NHL will depend on his ability to find an existing owner who wants to sell him a team, and his ability to persuade the 29 other team owners - his prospective partners - that he would be a good owner and good partner in the league venture. That's not something the Commissioner decides. Maybe Mr. Rodier would be better off confining his comments to subject matters as to which he might have some small level of knowledge; this subject isn't one of them."

Balsillie has been unsuccessful in two attempts to buy an existing NHL franchise.

[3LH]

I love it! It's about time someone tells this billionaire rich guy that he can't just have whatever he wants. Now that everyone's wise to his game he's going to be out of luck. I wouldn't trust that guy as far as I could throw him. No matter what line he feeds you, all he wants to do is to relocate your team to Hamilton. Thankfully, he wasn't even subtle about it before and now everyone knows his motives.

[Bay Side]

Right on!

[bduff54]

the nhl should let this guy buy a team, the guy they let buy nashville just declared bankruptcy. what a joke

[Bay Side]

I really don't think they want to move another team to Canada!!

[3LH]

Winnipeg needs the Jets back. Maybe Quebec City again someday. But Balsille doesn't care about anything but Hamilton.

[ricogarion]

These cities that were abandoned by the NHL in Canada are most deserving to have their franchises restored.Winnipeg and Quebec City were exceptional hockey mad locations that deserved teams they had and even today should have teams to support.

[stevesy]

These cities that were abandoned by the NHL in Canada are most deserving to have their franchises restored.Winnipeg and Quebec City were exceptional hockey mad locations that deserved teams they had and even today should have teams to support.

I don't know if it is a matter of deserving, it's a matter of feasibility and the market. Quebec and Winnipeg had the smallest and second smallest markets respectively when they were still teams. No matter how hockey mad their fans were they still ultimately couldn't support the team as well as Colorado or Phoenix could (Phoenix is arguable though, obviously a bad choice in retrospect)... Regardless, I think a Hamilton franchise would eventually suffer a similar fate.

Also, I don't know if Rodier was all wrong in his assumption that the NHL or Bettman does not want Balsillie to buy a team. Seems pretty obvious to me that they don't... Daly could have kept a bit more integrity in his comment by leaving that last little part out of it. Pretty immature. Why would you want to stoop to the level of the d-bags in Balsillie's camp? Trading harsh words with a clan of rich *******s? Come on. Have some respect for yourselves, NHL upper management...

[billsfan69]

Well that is what you get when you sell season tickets for a team that doesn't exist.

[shotgun]

like someone eles said it's just thay don;t want one in canada. why would the nhl put a team that close to buffalo and toronto,

[Pondslider]

the nhl should let this guy buy a team, the guy they let buy nashville just declared bankruptcy. what a joke

Let's not let facts get in the way!

“Here’s the bottom line for the citizens of Nashville and fans of the Predators: regardless of how many lawsuits are filed against Mr. Del Biaggio, regardless of the amounts of the claims, regardless of the details of the allegations, Mr. Del Biaggio’s problems are personal. Mr. Del Biaggio is a minority owner. His minority ownership stake and its final disposition will not impact operation of the club. It is my hope and anticipation that the club will be even stronger once this saga reaches its logical conclusion and Mr. Del Biaggio is no longer associated with the club.

“We are in frequent contact with the City, our banking partners and the League to ensure that we are responding quickly and appropriately and we will continue to work closely with these partners throughout the process. At the same time, our organization is moving forward uninterrupted and unaffected by these developments."

Link (http://predators.nhl.com/team/app/?service=page&page=NewsPage&articleid=365442)

[bduff54]

still, they let that guy get involved and won't let balsillie.

anyway, balsillie does not only care about hamilton, i am sure he would love to move a team to kitchener/waterloo over any other destination.

Quebec city has no stadium, thats the problem there.

[Snarf]

The NHL don't want another team in Canada. I don't think the NHL wants to have any of their teams move. And personally I agree with that. I want to see Nashville 20 years from now, to see if the sport has grown. This is all new down south, let the sport grow there. If the NHL keeps teams in Canada and the Northern part of the US, they will basically be the NLL. They need a presense around the country.

[3LH]

anyway, balsillie does not only care about hamilton, i am sure he would love to move a team to kitchener/waterloo over any other destination.

bduff, I think that's kind of splitting hairs a little bit. Kitchener/Waterloo is still Southern Ontario, it's still basically right between Toronto and Buffalo.

I didn't mean that he only cares about Hamilton proper, but you know as well as I do that he wants a team in Southern Ontario. Being a Leafs fan, I'm surprised you support him so much.

[bduff54]

bduff, I think that's kind of splitting hairs a little bit. Kitchener/Waterloo is still Southern Ontario, it's still basically right between Toronto and Buffalo.

I didn't mean that he only cares about Hamilton proper, but you know as well as I do that he wants a team in Southern Ontario. Being a Leafs fan, I'm surprised you support him so much.

i want more teams in southern ontario, i think we could have 2 more teams here.

one more in toronto and one somewhere else, why not? all other leagues have that. knicks/nets. giants/Jets/ Yanks/mets.

Is funny that the most hockey fans in the world reside here and only have one team to cheer for.

[ricogarion]

Guys the NHL is Canadian to a large degree,its not even arguable that cities in Canada couldn't support more teams.Those fans are some of the most loyal of any sport or any country in the world.If the city had an owner with deep pockets then there is no doubt the community would support them.

[ckg68]

The NHL don't want another team in Canada. I don't think the NHL wants to have any of their teams move. And personally I agree with that. I want to see Nashville 20 years from now, to see if the sport has grown. This is all new down south, let the sport grow there. If the NHL keeps teams in Canada and the Northern part of the US, they will basically be the NLL. They need a presense around the country.

Considering that Canadian teams draw in-if memory serves-about 1/3rd of total revenues,that's a short-sighted attitude to take on the NHL's part. But,considering the league,it's par for the course.

About teams moving: I can see your point,but eventually it becomes a matter of chasing good money after bad. Look at Florida,for example. Besides one run to the Stanley Cup,what have the Panthers done in their 15 or so years of existence? Nothing. And the crowds reflect it-IMO,rightly so. Plus,putting your arena in the boonies doesn't help much either when it comes to drawing in people.

[bduff54]

it really comes down to arrogance and stupidity, bettman and stern from the nba probably have bets going.

Bettman: i bet i can make hockey work in phoenix, i am that smart.

Stern: no way buddy, prove it.

bettman 10 years later: double or nothing on kansas city?

[stevesy]

Guys the NHL is Canadian to a large degree,its not even arguable that cities in Canada couldn't support more teams.Those fans are some of the most loyal of any sport or any country in the world.If the city had an owner with deep pockets then there is no doubt the community would support them.

There are a lot of other things that go into bringing a sports team to a certain area. A loyal fanbase is a big part of it, sure, but it's not the be-all end-all. If it was, there would be way more teams in Canada and there would probably be zero teams south of the Mason-Dixon line.

[jlpubarch]

still, they let that guy get involved and won't let balsillie.

anyway, balsillie does not only care about hamilton, i am sure he would love to move a team to kitchener/waterloo over any other destination.

Quebec city has no stadium, thats the problem there.

He was selling Hamilton Predators season tickets before he even had the deed.

Sorry, but Silly Balls is a scumbag pure and simple, and now that the owners of the league have seen what his intentions are, they're none too happy about letting him into the party.

Bettman just does what the Board of Governors wants...and right now they don't want Silly Balls as an owner.

Nothing personal against the guy, but he showed his cards before all bets were in, and now the owners (most of which are US-based) don't want him.

WHY DO CANADIANS THINK THIS IS SOME KIND OF CONSPIRACY TO PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING MORE TEAMS IN CANADA?

Its not...its a Silly Balls gang bang...haha

:jujubee::jujubee::jujubee:

[bduff54]

He was selling Hamilton Predators season tickets before he even had the deed.

Sorry, but Silly Balls is a scumbag pure and simple, and now that the owners of the league have seen what his intentions are, they're none too happy about letting him into the party.

Bettman just does what the Board of Governors wants...and right now they don't want Silly Balls as an owner.

Nothing personal against the guy, but he showed his cards before all bets were in, and now the owners (most of which are US-based) don't want him.

WHY DO CANADIANS THINK THIS IS SOME KIND OF CONSPIRACY TO PREVENT THEM FROM GETTING MORE TEAMS IN CANADA?

Its not...its a Silly Balls gang bang...haha

:jujubee::jujubee::jujubee:

you are 100% correct, he screwed himself.

however he would still make a great owner. he has the capital himself.

its not a conspiracy, however us canadians do think its hilarious the Americans think they make this game popular in the states. just bring more teams to Canada.

[MauvaisSang]

you are 100% correct, he screwed himself.

however he would still make a great owner. he has the capital himself.

its not a conspiracy, however us canadians do think its hilarious the Americans think they make this game popular in the states. just bring more teams to Canada.

Move the Coyotes back to The Peg!

[original6]

I really don't think they want to move another team to Canada!!

Same here, 6 teams for a population of roughly 30 million is enough. I'd rather have other sports teams come in than more hockey teams. Sports diversity.