I could not agree more. The real joke is where Bettman says it has nothing to do with any personal vendetta against Bettman. please, what kind of idiot is he? It is plain as day to anyone, there are a bunch of owners and some press people (Al Strachan ring a bell here) that are so childish they think they can tell anyone who wants to own a team how they can run it. It is also way too obvious that the Leafs are leading this idiot parade to block a team in Hamilton, they have the audacity to think they can control the entire golden horseshoe as their territory. Sorry there MSEL but hamilton is it's own city and does not answer to you clowns, you are clearly threatened by us having a team because you then would have ( dare we say it out loud to them) COMPETITION. Balsillie will win in the end, but how much more of this crap he has to overcome is up to Judge Baum it would seem . In the meantime, everyone outside Toronto must boycott the Leafs, and i am a long suffering fan of the leafs saying this, or else we fans will loose again and MSEL will get their selfish way.

Let's make believe for minute:

If I were looking for a child to adopt, and that child did some mischievous things with one of my other kids (snuck out and filed bankruptcy, perhaps), do you think I'd go ahead adopt that kid? I think not. I'd invite that perfect angel over from Chicago.

The silly man knows not ,how to make friends! In fact, if I were Canadian, I'd be a little pissed about hi, making it a nationalistic issue - because the all look bad now and its all his fault.

One more thing, lay off my team!

I agree with the above 100%. How can the cash straped NHL turn away a clearly better offer stating that they feel that Balsillie is a less competent owner? They guys is a proven busniessmen and a BILLIONARE! The money we are talking about is nothing to Balsillie. Like a fart in a wind storm, nothing. Bettmen is nothing but a bobbleheaded coward.

Ialso agree, maybe it has something to do with Mr.Balsilli being canadian,,Mr.Betteman obviously has something against canadians, why dosent he want another NHL team in canada,,Mr,Betteman is real jack a..im canadian and love hockey,, Another NHL team in canada would have been great,,Mr.Balsilli dont give up..

What is with these people at the NHL head office. Someone, a proven businessman with a couple hockey socks full of money offers over $210 MILLION for a failing, bankrupt team in a town where it's losing money year after year, offers to move it to a town that would LOVE to see the team there, and you turn them down? Then, you accept an offer of UNDER $150 million from another person to keep the team in a town where it will probably continue to LOSE more money, and you think that's good hockey sense? It must make sense to somebody because it's piss poor financial sense. Why would anyone in their right mind make the decisions that have been made in this situation? It defies all logic. As to the competition thing in Southern Ontario, both Buffalo and the Maple Leafs would complain about fans going to see an NHL team at cheaper prices and what's wrong with that? Maybe both teams might clue in and actually start putting talent on the ice to draw back disgruntled fans who are getting a little disheartened in the shabby product they're putting on the ice...

Typical Canadians whining like little school girls. You sound like mommy didn't buy you that shinny toy in the store and are now throwing a temper tantrum to get attention. Grow up. No wonder no one takes Canadians seriously.

Fact: The NHL is a business. Businesses are operating to make money. Not make people happy. The money is in the USA not Canada. The major advertisers are in the USA and there are 300 million people there. There is beaucoup de money to be made there. A team in Hamilton Does NOTHING for the NHL. It may do something for Canada and Hamilton but how does it benefit the league? It doesn't.

Having said that, this whole thing is about an owner who filed for bankruptcy when he didn't have control of the team and a potential owner who IGNORED the RULES of the league.

Bettman is a coward,,,and it looks like he's not to bright either,212.5 mill or 148 mill....hmmm you do the math..whats the best deal????I think that Bettman is INTIMIDATED by Balsillie,and is scared to have a smart successfull bussines man in the ranks.....with all the money that balsillie has im pretty sure when he finally does get a team it will be very successful..........and im pretty sure all of canada hates you gary bettman.......put a franchise in hamilton,what about saskatchewan,or manitoba,quebec????????????canada eats and breathe's hockey.....and bettman wants to put a franchise in las vegas>>>>WTF,......drunken gambler's in the desert,,,how good is that other dessert team doing???bettman do the math you ugly weird looking man.........peace................canadian hockey rules

@ Chris: ...are you serious? You DO know hockey is Canadian sport right? Telling a Canadian city a hockey team won't work there is like telling a major American city a baseball team won't work there. You SERIOUSLY need to need to check your information because the most expensive teams are in Canada. And all (but Ottawa, I think) have ticket prices above the NHL average and yet manage to fill the stadiums all the time. You sir, are a joke.

@Larry in PHX: I have a feeling you'll be singing a different tune when Reinsdorf moves the team to Kansas or Las Vegas...

The NHL could put a team in most cities in Canada and it would still be hard to get a ticket for the (especially if the team is playing against Toronto or Montreal) game. Gary Bettman is after the American Dollar, which last I looked wasn't doing very well. Lets face it in Jim Balsillie we see, at least I do, a guy who can fullfill his childhood dream, just like you or I would want to do and Bettman is like the bogey man trying to take it away. Jealousy? HMM... I wonder how much the Rein guy paid out in bribery money to get this. The extra 64 million went somewhere I bet.
Thanks
Oh by the way, Chris you are an azz

I love the picture of the DUKE brothers. There couldn't be a more accurate representation of the NHL old boys club.
Great job!

to al lthose who beleive one way or another that the nhl will ever put another team in canada are crazy..the nhl will never because that actually involves dare we say it brains..they will never accept the fact that they are wrong
they make no fuss to stop the winnipeg jets and quebec nordiques from leaving but the moment a dead american team goes fo sale they ight it
if gary bettman had his chance nhl in canada would cease to exist
i love hockey and the nhl but i have been ashamed to watch another circus to start..i think the ahl is starting to look better and better

oh btw i frgot to mention..canadian nhl teams fit less people and we still sell more then ost of yor american teams

So perhaps its time to pull the remaining Canadian NHL teams and put them in with the CHL instead. Oh and while we're at it, we'll carry out the Stanley Cup and give it to maybe the juniors so the equally talented yet more sport-loving hockey players can win it! May Lord Stanley's gift return home!

Hey Chris, you need to do something most Americans find difficult and are failing miserably at, educate yourself because based on your comments, you have none.
Fact, when it comes to the sport of hockey, the money is in Canada, not the US. The advertising money comes from Canadian owned companies, not American, the TV revenue is mostly from CBC, not NBC or for that matter VS, so stop your dumb@ss whining, pick up a book preferably without pictures and educate yourself.
You did say something right though, but as usual you couldn't get it all right. The NHL is a business, and like most businesses it's intent is to make money and grow, neither of which is happening in the US most notably Phoenix. Fact, Jim's bid is cash on the table, no question where the money is coming from, never in doubt. having said that Reinsdorf deal is not his own it is based on creditors and lendings which have yet to be named. Reinsdorf isn't putting in his own money, kinda like Boots DelBiaggio, remember him. oddly enough, aren't there currently 2 if not 3 NHL owners who are being investifgated for fraud or something of that nature. Yeah right Gary, they are obviously more credible than the co-owner and founder of Blackberry/ Gary is an idiot, Chris in Phoenix is an idiot, oh and by the way Chris you said it was your team, just out of curiousity, do you have season's tickets? Were you one of the 200 people that showed up to save your team? yeah I didn't think so, don't you have a McD's happy meal to supersize or something.
Do us all a favour and don't talk about things you don't know, shouldn't you be talking about your steroid infested baseball game, yeah, once again more credibility!

Bettman will ruin hockey, oh thats a misnomer, he already has. He will keep his job as long as he kisses the hineys of Toronto. Basille will eventually get what he wants, sooner or later some judge with a bit of backbone will tell Bettman and the governers exactly where to get off the train.

An expansion team is worth more to the owners than a team relocating to Hamilton! Pure dollars and sense(no spell check required}! Hockey is a great game, our game, our joy, passion, love.... our Canadian blood is partially hockey!! That said, the NHL is a business, run by businessmen, for PROFIT. 30 businesses collectively strive to make money as best they can! They hired Bettman to be there front man. You people out there must understand that shooting goofball messengers simply plays into their hands. Bettman is no better than what his employers ask of him...Lobby the governors and see what response you get!

Canadians do you want the board of governors to notice of you, just stop supporting the NHL, Stop going, stop watching on TV. Stick with the Juniors and maybe it's time to think about joining up with the Russians? Maybe they would be more interested in a Canadian Division to jion their super league and could have playoffs with the NHL for Stanley!

Let's not forget one thing here: I'm sure the Leafs and Sabres are lobbying big time to keep Hamilton from getting a team, they've been doing it forever. As the old joke (not Bettman this time) goes: Why doesn't Hamilton have an N.H.L. team ?

a. Because Toronto would want one too !!!

It's some for Bettman to go. This is a personal vendetta - Bettman vs. Hamilton. It's so obvious that he does not like Hamilton and as long as he is in charge, Hamilton will never have a team. The board of governors need to wake and give Bettman the boot (and blade) and get him out of there.

I'm at a loss to understand how they can turn down a bid for $212million, but consider another bid that is significantly lower or even better, let's give Toronto a second team???

Hmmm...Bettman are you sure it's not personal? It's pretty sad that this moron represents the entire NHL league. I wonder what the payoffs were?

A Canadian/Russian super league... I like it.

Most of the players are Russian/Canadian anyways.
That would keep our valuable resources at home and not stolen by American interests with an undemocratic bogus draft. Its Canadian and Russian families that develope these kids.. not the NHL.

And ya Chris is an AZZ

I love the comment from Chris who suggests all the money is in the U.S. Well it sure as heck is not being directed towards hockey. Give your head a shake buddy and look at the teams in Atlanta, Nashville, Florida as well as Phoenix (others as well). All losing buckets of money. NBC gets a contract from the NHL that costs them nothing for TV rights. It is as plain as the nose on your face that much of the United States could care less about OUR sport. Anyone who know anything of sports knows darn well all the monies are directed at basketball, football and baseball. Bettman here is totally intimidated by Balsillie as are many of the other owners. Seems to me he would have greater success as a Peewee Herman impersonater that commissioner of the league

To Canadians, hockey is a sport and a national treasure. Mr. Bettman is an American lawyer, and a pretty astute businessman himself. You can't expect Mr. Bettman to feel like we Canadians do about hockey. After all, his primary mission is to build the "business" of hockey. The biggest prize in the "business" of hockey (or any professional sport for that matter) is the almighty American dollar (not so mighty at the moment eh?). The jewel in the "business" of hockey is lucrative television contracts. CBC, CTV, TSN, etc simply cannot compete with giants like NBC & CBS. Therefore Mr. Bettman either needs to follow his heart, and support the "sport" of hockey in Canada, or follow his head and pursue the "business" of hockey in the U.S. Mr. Bettman may indeed be a shrewd businessman, but he has clearly demonstrated that he is heartless when it comes to sharing the same passion about hockey that we Canadians do. We'll have another team in Canada - it's inevitable. Once they find a Canadian businessman that passes the litmus test of the "old boys club" (NHL board of governers).

For those of us who simply wish Mr. Bettman will go away - forget about it. There are dozens of like-minded folks lining up to take his job. Maybe we could get a Canadian in the NHL commissioner's chair - hmmm, someone to share our interests and passion.

When the Jets became the Coyotes - does anyone remember how much money they were making or losing? I was a lot younger then. I'm sure it wasn't tens of millions of dollars a year. Great move taking the team out of Winnipeg and moving them to Phoenix!
I am a Leaf fan and I still think Canada can probably support at least 2 or 3 new teams. Even with a Hamilton team the Leafs would still make money, they still have a 30 year wait list for tickets etc, that won't go away. In Canada we also still expect the original 6. Maybe we should fold some US teams add some Canadian ones and have a 20 team NHL. The Sabres might lose some fans, but if they lose fans because people from the Hamilton region aren't coming to the games should there even be a team there?

The new owners in Montreal just paid $500 million for their team
The NHL would be crazy to let a new team into the GTA for less than $600 million
The reason Balsillie is after these "bad market teams" and move them is he wants to get in cheap ( I do not blame him)

I've always wondered why the NHL (of more specifically, Gary "The Count" Bettman) doesn't want another team in Canada? (Despite his assurances against that statement, it is very obvious that Bettman has something against helping grow the game in Canada. Has he ever heard of a sure thing?) Seeing as how the 6 current Canadian teams make up roughly 50-60% of the NHL's total profits, how could 1 more be a bad idea? What kind of business sense does that make in denying oneself guaranteed income?
The NHL board of governors and Mr. Bettman all need to get their collective heads out of their a**es and leave the high-risk market of the southern states to other leagues/sports. Hockey does NOT belong in the desert. (Like wtf? Ice in the desert? That like bringing camels to the arctic.)

The NHL BOG are business men-not very good apparently, but business men nonetheless. Balsillie is an outsider right now-he could offer a trillion dollars for the Coyotes and that would be great-but for who? Only the owner of the Coyotes of course...how best to benefit the other owners? Protect the Hamilton market for expansion-that is a 500 mil dollar market-no way that goes to Balsillie for 200 mill-the beauty of EXPANDING into Hamilton rather than RELOCATING is that when Hamilton is accepted, they will need to expand into one more market...KC? LV? No way that the Count can do KC and another US market on its own-he has to piggy back it with the Hamilton market to deflect the criticism-Hamilton will be the second highest valued franchise the second that it is accepted into the NHl-third at the very worst.

Its interesting to watch how one man, namely Bettman, has controlled how the very foundation of Hockey has come to evolve into an AMERICAN sport. Bettman has in his own stupid wisdom has decided by his own power to compete with Baseball and Basketball on their own.....turf and not let hockey develop into a canadian sport. What I mean, is hockey is a Canadian sport and has been around a long time, has survived many trials and tribulations, and is still here. Bettman has tried to destroy OUR National sport by moving and building teams to compete with Americans and their commerialized sports empires. I personally think Bettman needs to re-evaluate the very foundation of our national sport, and why it is still strong in CANADA...I know that many are upset with the results handed down to Balsillie and the mega support he has mustered for another team in CANADA. I applaude you, SIR. Keep up your efforts because soon and very soon, Bettman and his Goon Squad ( mostly, the bored of Governors- who by the way should be representing the teams interests and not their pocketbooks--Which will soon run dry because of their greed...). In closing, it is like hockey card colllecting, I have been a collector for many years. Over the last few, the NHL, NHLPA, and a few other organizations that oversee hockey card licenses, has gone through major changes. There is only ONE company that produces hockey cards.....Its UPPER DECK....for one company to have so much control over hockey card production.....its not good for collectors no matter how other people say its a good thing...I tend to disagree....because with only one company with so much control...they can do whatever they WANT...So Bettman...and Upper Deck...hummm you figure this out.. If you as a reader have read many stories about where the Lord Stanley Cup has been and its many MISadventures...Just think, there is one place it has not gone...I think Mr. Bettman can figure out where it can fit, and it will be a tight fit...........Canada Hockey Rocks, forever...

Are these guys for real? Keep the team in Pheonix at all costs. Good luck

BETTMAN HATES CANADA. period. There was NO fuss raised when they moved the teams from Winnipeg and Quebec to the US. But when a team is to move to Canada, well now that just can't happen and they'll make up any silly excuse thay can think of even taking a huge financial loss to prevent it. The NHL is a sad joke, Canadians should boycott the NHL, we need a Canadian National Hockey League, we have the best players in the world here. GO CANADA !!!!

Garry Bettman is a clown along with puppet Daly
You owners should all rethink what Bettman has done and is going to do to this league.
You look and talk like a whinnnneeeeeeee baby Bettman you suck!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

time for a Canadian hockey league ?

It is no secret that Bettman is anti Canadian when it comes to hockey. He has no interest in growing the sport outside the U.S.
His lackluster NHL awards show from Las Vegas demonstrates how far he will go to remove Canada from the game of hockey. At least when the show was in Canada the studio audience was excited. This year no one was excited.
He always says it is a dollars and cents issue but the amount the league is losing in places like Phoenix and the failed U.S. promotions would indicate his motives are purely personal.

Belissle is not a team player and because HOCKEY IS FIXED by the owners and referees, they cannot have someone in there who won't play puck with the league. I say take back the game from the basket ball owners.

I think the NHL has a right to deside where its teams (or like a business -its franchises) are located. If Mr Basille wants to own a franchise he has to put in his name and wait. I am sure McDonalds tells its potential buyers where their restaurant will be located not the other way around. If he really wants to put a team in Hamilton and that it is ok with the close markets of Buffalo and Toronto then he should have the chance to. But it should be clear to him that the league will not allow people to buy their teams and move it to where ever they want. I would love to see another team in Canada!

the only problem is balsilie didn`t kiss the Pope`s ring and that annoyed him. Gillett is out of the picture and should shut up. The bankruptcy judge should be fired if Balsiie`s bid is not acceptedAs it provides the best value for all. It is hard to fathom why anyone would oppose 212mil against 148.

Does anybody think for a minute that Jerry is going to keep the team in Phoenix? The first chance he gets, he's moving it to that spanky new arena in Kansas City, which the NHL is dying to get a team into and happens to be a lot closer to Chicago

There's a hockey team in Phoenix?! Wow

A losing NHL team located in the middle of the Arizona desert along with rattlesnakes, lizards, spiders and cactus landscapes never made much sense to me anyways, and the fact that it is losing money and near collapse brings the point home. They were offered far more money that what's it's worth, and some bruised ego's prevented the team being relocated back to Canada. The next logical place for the Coyotes is a desert salvage yard.

to mrit409 - I think Toronto itself could support another team in Vaughn, just outside the city limits and make money too!
to D - I've heard they are thinking about a NASCAR trak in Elephant Butte New Mexico!
I can't wait till the new billionaires come onto the scene!

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH Hamilton deserves an NHL franchise like the Seattle Seahawks deserve a Superbowl lol.
Bailsilly is the biggest fool in Canada and it really doesn't surprise me that noone wants to see him own a team, he's acted like a crack addict fighting for a vial of crack.

GJ NHL, keep Bailsilly out of the league PLEASE

Jim Balsillie has as much chance of landing a franchise as Dany Heatley does of suiting up for the Oilers this coming season. Let the horse R.I.P. Please!

Chris pull yr head outa your posterior...Let's Talk Business
the NHL wants to expand into the Us Market...Good Idea. But you need league revenue to support teams in new markets and still keep the league profitable.
At present 4 us expansion teams are losing money and another 2 or 3 are on life support so if you want to give them enough time and support ( via marketing and promotion and T.V. Exposure you need more money.
So Take 1 failing team out of the new and failing market and move it to a strong and proven market where it will make money. your not only going to generate more league revenue but also cut losses.
That money could then be used to prop up the leagues teams in markets where profitability is close thus turning them into money generating sources for the league which can then help push the weaker markets even more.
Basically you want to expand from the strongest possible base and not over extend yourself by taking on too much at a time...It's called risk Management.
well the league has over extended itself and needs to step back a bit recollect refinance and redirect thier efforts.
Another Team in a HOCKEY MARKET is the wisest choice.

Hey, I agree it makes finacial sense to add another team in Canada. It is time the teams in the US realize to make more money you need more canadian teams. They get absolutely no TV revenue in the US how does this make any sense what so ever? The teams in the none traditional hockey markets need to go the experiment didn't work Gary just give up and start putting those teams in Canada and you start making more money. Seems pretty simple to me. You can't compare Pittsburg to Phenoix it isn't even close, the Penguins know what hockey is and it was only a matter of time till they turned it around.
Gary wake up from your dream and realize you can keep your job if you start making money for these owners. It is only a matter of time till the rich teams start to take control of the board because they are fed up giving teams like Phenoix money.
Good luck Jim it is only a matter of time before the smart businessmen of the board realize they need to make money and Canada is the answer.

I, amongst many Canadians, am getting sick and tired of Gary Bettman and the NHL. I am a huge hockey fan and a proud Canadian. There is absolutely no problem with relocating a team to Canada, especially a team like the Coyotes that lose money faster than they lose games. And if anyone remembers, even though there was amazing support to keep the Jets in Winnipeg, Bettman had no problem moving them south of the boarder. Now he’s in the same position with this team and he will not relocate them to a great city like Hamilton. He’s an idiot. Even a Leaf fan like me knows that the Coyotes will be financially better off in Hamilton with Mr Balsille and the fan base is incredible. This has got to end, with a seventh team in Hamilton. Thank you Mr Balsille for going through all the bull s*** the NHL has thrown at you.

And for Roger, Canadians sound like whining schoolgirls to you? How many NHL teams are in the US?...24...How many in Canada?...6...That is a typical American wanting to be in control of everything, just like a spoiled rich kid. THE AMERICANS DO NOT OWN THE SPORT OF HOCKEY. HOCKEY IS A CANADIAN GAME!

I think by having another team in Canada will make them better players, because up here we make sure the player's put out 100% percent if not were all over them. That"s why you see alot of these guy's sign big long contracts to play in the USA so the can gulf, lay in the sun go boating, etc.I am sure the players agents tell them not to play here because of the pressure. So hats off to JIM for trying. NY YORK has three teams.

And i realize that Chris was the idiotic American that made those remarks. My apoligies go out to Roger and my rants are redirected to Chris.

I'm thinking maybe somebody could whip up a flow chart or bar graph for our U.S. counterparts, you know something colorful (note spelling for ease of understanding), an easy picture representation to show the difference between the black ink in the small unproportionate percentage of our heritage sport in the "National Hockey League, vs. all the red ink running off of the table south of the 49.
And like others here have written, let's not forget that there are at least six other U.S. teams that could pull the plug, and can you imagine the devastating effects in mid-stream America... right... thought so...
And God forbid G.B. would ever consider bolstering revenue sharing... after all it takes 5 U.S. teams to support 1 Cnd. team right... Torontonians you out there?
And BTW... I'd rather whine and have a tantrum trying to get what I want and care about, opposed to watching our big fat arrogant spoiled cousins catered cake and ice cream, with the cherry on top, while they've got their fat mitts stuck in a bucket of fried chicken.
C'mon it's all become a joke now... thank the stars for junior hockey.

To all you so called "tolerant ,mild mannered" Canadians, Which of course is a lot of b. s.,You people are just plain nasty,if anyone happens to disagree wth your opinion.
Seal Hunting , Hockey etc.
If hockey is "your game", why is the NHL head office not here in Canada.

As a TRUE Canadian Boycott the leafs and the NHL. This is the only way to get another team.
Bettman is a joke and I hope Jim B sues the NHL and Bettmen for everything he can get.
I myself will no longer watch the NHL or go to a leafs game ever again.
OHL here I come, I'll be getting my season tickets on Tuesday.

I Balsillie can put a bid in and move thefranchise to whereever he wants then what if the billionaire owner of the Russian hockey league were to outbid him and move the team to Moscow?

we've been trying to sell hockey in the us for how many decades now? and STILL can't? bettman is either stubborn or stupid...i'm leaning on stupid. too many us teams are leaking money atm, while die hard canadian fans have to fight for seats. truth is, pre-cap days i might not have seen the viability of too many more canadian teams....but in the post-cap era and in line with league parity on the ice, i can easily see 3-5 new canadian teams being viable and, heaven forbid mr. bettman, profitable. those 2 teams that the owners couldn't get rid of fast enough in quebec city & winnipeg weren't losing that much financially(compared to some of the newer teams like atlanta, phoenix, t-bay to name a few). i could easily see new teams re-emerging in winnipeg, quebec city. i'd like to see 1 in northern ontario,(much maligned northern ontario which gets treated about the same by the rest of ontario as canada is by most americans btw) and yes, even hamilton.

I understand Chris' comment. What Bettman is looking at is "potential revenue". Canadian revenue's are pretty much at the maximum while in the US there is a huge potential to increase revenues. Right now high school football is getting higher numbers in the TV ratings. The question is "what is Bettman doing to increase the exposure in the US". If the league is to thrive it would have to be on American revenues. There's just too much money up for grabs. I would love to see more Canadian teams. No question Toronto would kill any hope for a franchise in Hamilton. They have always had it good. Why jeopardize it. I think if Balsillie had offered to put the team in Saskatchewan (Regina) or even Nova Scotia (Halifax) he would have had a significantly better chance at getting approval. I think Bettman looks more like Yoda. Same height and everything.

I find that bettmen is being a jerk.all Canadians know hockey is our sport.we fill area's to the max most of the time,the american teams,i think not.Most of the talent comes from where? Canada.you guessed it.They can keep throwing there money around but in the long run Canada will prove to be the Best place for Hockey.
I am losing faith in today's hockey.Bettmen is destroying the game.Untll the Ref's call all penalties and not just for 1 team on the ice,i feel its not worth watching anymore.I go watch the juniors instead.
Just remember,We Canadians atleast stick behind our teams even when there not doing good,Don't see that happening in the U.S.A.

I"m sick & tired of Bettman, Toronto Maple Laughs, and ignorant Americans. Chris implies that the Phoenix Coyotes will succeed in Phoenix. BULL! In a city where pro bowling and pro bass tourneys draw more TV viewers than hockey, how can they win? We have a saying in Montreal that if you can't make ice outdoors, then you don't deserve a team. I really hope Basillie gets a team, especially in Hamilton. I'd also like to see another team re-locate back to Winnipeg and Quebec. Send Bettman back to the NBA or wherever he came from and hire a Canadian to do his job. We need someone who loves the game & is passionate about it succeeding in markets that can afford to support it. Canada & hockey are synonomous, like Kraft Dinner & ketchup. Stop screwing up our game. If you don't like it, shove it.

Maybe it's time to say f**k the NHL and start a new Canadian league which the six current Canadian NHL franchises could join. Then add in new teams in Winnipeg, Hamilton, possibly Quebec City, and who knows maybe even Saskatoon or Regina....then add some hockey players who aren't too greedy and have their egos in check and voila! Healthy cash generating hockey league and NO BETTMAN!

@ Chris
You talk about spoiled Canadians whining...when you idiots dont get your way you invade peoples countries (Iraq et al) to get it at the cost of many innocents. Nobody has don more for the game of hockey than Canadians....Gretzky, Lemieux, Yzerman, Howe...and on and on.

fyi Chris....the entire world takes Canada seriously that why we are so well respected unlike your selves...nobody believes the US anymore

I have to agree with everything in this article. I mean, Bettman's whole case was that the team was going to be moved. Is this man so brainwashed with pro-American ideals that he'd give up $64.5 million if it meant a larger Franchise for America? It's ignorant attitudes like this that drive a franchise into the ground, causes companies to go under, and hurts a person's credentials as a businessman.

The Coyotes have been losing huge amounts of both money and fans each year. There's absolutely no reason for them to stay in Phoenix. But it seems that as long as Basillie, and Canada, don't get them, money isn't an object. I hope Bettman soon realises the damage he's doing to the NHL with his attitude and poor business practices.

Real hockey died the day they signed it away to the americans. As in expansion. Sure it opened up more opportunities for the players , some quite marginal. The NHL is run the same as the United States is run. It's all based on greed. How does somebody watching a hockey game in arizona connect to the game unless their from Canada and have actually played the sport. Hockey is part of who we are as a nation and I agree with Don Cherry when he says give me a team of Canadians everytime. We kick ass the way it's supposed to be played. Americans have tried to turn it into show business all for profit caring nothing for the fans in Canada.Throw Bettman out soon while there's still hope. What a jerk-off

Didn't Gary Bettman come basketball? If so lets give him the boot and send him back to the hoops. Then hire a Canadian as NHL President again, remember we did have a Canadian NHL President at one time and we didn't have all the crap thats going on now, Bettman is ruining the NHL for sure.

No doubt about it Canada will eventually get another team, the question is when? When will the Board of Gov. wake up? When will Mr. Bettman take heed to the Canadian Fans? When will the math finally add up? So many questions but no answers and no indications. These guys at the top are in a world of their own....I hope they can learn some valuable lessons from the former Bankrupt General Motors (G.M.). Take heed to what the consumer wants not what you think that they want... Food for thought or should I say for Hockey....

Well I can see that most people don't agree with Mr Bettman and the way this whole mess has been handled and it sure looks bad that a Canadian game has been sliced and diced up so bad in the news and by the NHL with only one thing on the minds of these old men who call themselves board members wanting no more Canadian teams at this time. Sounds like Mr Basillie has more brains than the whole buch put together including Bettman and his side kick Daley.
Remember the old WHA and it sure put a scare into the NHL so I think it is time someone puts together another league starting in Canada with men Like Mr Basille I'm sure you would see things change fast including the end to Bettman and company.

Balsillie here is a plan for you

Let the NHL run the Phoenix Coyotes this coming season. No group of buisness men today has spare cash to throw around will buy this team and try and run it in a money losing town. The NHL will have to pay millions to keep the team there for a losing season. Balsillie can now go to the NHL bankruptcy trial and offer 1 Canadian dollar for this team.

Remember the Bettman line about always wanting to stand behind the fans? Well he sure didnt think so whenit came to the team leaving Canada in the first place. He jumped at the chance to have another american team . Now of course he's all against the idea of a team moving on a sale well Mr.B Those of us that saw the jets get sold to the south,remember just how two faced you can be . As for myself im surprised that Mr. Bettman still has a job after doing more harm to the game by eroding fan support.So im asking you out there what do you think ? is it just me or is mr Bettmans nose starting to resemble that fabled char, that we all remember from our childhoods? Dont worry MR B as a loyal canadian hockey fan i can assure you that its nothing personal.

I am quite suprized that they did not allow Jim Balsillie to bid on the team. If he still wants one in the next couple years, they will continue to get cheaper and cheaper and cheaper. He will be able to buy one for half the price in the years to come. This economy is kicking the hell out of fans every where. Look at the "slide" in baseballs revenues?

Mark my words, they are all way over priced tickets and people will not be spending the money on entertainment. Their future is very cloudy for hockey and the south, like Phoenix, will be the first to go.

Jim might not agree, but Bettman did him a favor.

Bettman can't afford to have another Canadian team in the league. Another successful team would drive up the salary cap and be an ever larger threat to all the struggling US franchises he is so blindly propping up to save his own hide. Then more of his "hand picked" fraud artists would be in even more financial trouble.

Well, at least George Gillet has found a convenient excuse for the major suckage exhibited by the Habs last season...

Why is Balsillie so bent on Hamilton? Winnipeg shows every sign of being a hot market for a franchise if they got another one (and don't they have a decent arena now?)

Why do Americans feel the need to make attacks at the Canadian aspect? Last time I checked... most of the players are Canadian, the game is Canadian, the fan support is mostly Canadian, and it seems most of the people who understand the game are Canadian. I also want to know how this makes Canadians look bad? Believe it or not Jim Balsillie doesn't reprsent Canada, there's more than a few people up here, and more than a few are f*cking successful too. I don't agree with Bettman's decision for one minute but that doesn't mean I support Ballsillie. The fact is - most of the money is being made in Canada and an extra $64.5 million wouldn't exactly be a bad thing for such a money tight league.

Hey Chris... Fact: You're an idiot.

What Amercian team sells out every game every year?

The NHL has a reason for what it's doing with Balsillie, and it really has more to do with Balsillie trying to do an end-run around NHL rules. If the NHL sold an expansion franchise to someone in K-W, it would be worth MORE to the LEAGUE than what Balsillie pays for Phoenix. Remember, the money Balsillie pays goes to the creditors of the Coyotes, who are so far in debt that there will be snow in Phoenix before the Coyotes ever make any money in Arizona.

If we all decided to boycott the NHL. I wonder what they would say next. TML hasn't won a Stanley Cup since I was a teenager. Yet, we still poor money into that franchise. If we all decided NOT to spend a penny on any NHL franchises, who would be courting who then. If we keep sending them OUR hard earned money they can do what . Make it tough, and they will want anything.
Yes, it is time for Betteman to vacate.

No matter what Jim Balsillie does right now it will not please the idiot running the NHL nor will it please some of the idiot sports writers, insert names at will, as they make there living writing and creating contraversial stories about sports. Most of whoom couldn't play tiddly winks.

In order to do things properly Balsillie needs to complete some of the following in order so show the public he is truly interested in the NHL.

First - Forget about and NHL Team in Hamilton. Instead complete the plans for the upgrade to Copps Collisium and ensure an AHL Team plays there. Hamilton deserves to have a Team remain there and the Arena is in need of repair. NO Territorial problem with Leafs.

Second - Much like he has done with the RIM Centre in Waterloo, approach Hockey Canada and have both boys and Girls hockey to be able to hold there Championships at the Arena. With the Upgrade it would also make the facility more fan friendly for, World Junior Hockey Championships, Figure Skating championships ETC.

Third - The big one. Since Jim Balsillie owns land in the Cambridge area why not build an NHL Style Arena there. Like Hamilton it could be used for an AHL Team, Junior Team, University Championships as well as a focal point for sports from that area.

Throughout the contraversy much has been said about other cites already having an NHL ready Arena.

By taking the first steps Balsillie would show the Ownership Partners that he is prepared to spend the money to ensure the NHL product is secure. Stop putting peoples money down the sewer by continually trying to prop losing teams.

After the first NHL strike I didnt watch the NHL for over a Year. After the second strike I made it almost a full year before returning to watch it then I stopped watching it when I realized the NHL was, fixing the games in the playoffs, with the stupid penalty calls. Does anyone remember game seven Ottawa vs THE DUCKS (sic) . Two penalties in the first five minutes and Ottawa is out of it ( Not even an Ottawa fan but I turned my TV off in discust)

The Owners need to take a long look at themselves and realize the Canadian fans are the ones keeping there game afloat.

Use it to your advantage, by having all the Canadian Teams complete a road trip through your City right after each other, much like what happens in Florida during March Break.

A seventh Canadian Team makes sense simply because it would create new rivalries which can be used to increase attendance. Toronto vs Montreal, Buffalo, Boston, Detriot to any of those ring a bell.

Having a team in Cambridge ( Cambridge Coyotes - has a ring to it) would creat rivalries with Toronto, Buffalo, Detroit Etc

The NHL has no problem with the goofy system of rewarding teams for points, 1 point, 2 points, 3 points - Oh and the idiotic shoot out give it back to soccer where they fall down and cry from phantom trips.

The NHL should look at rewarding the teams that bring in the strong revenue. Set up the shedule so that these teams play the ones who need financial help. Probably create more rivalries given the fact the players and fans of the weaker teams will hate them.

Toronto being one of the stronger financial teams should have to do more travelling to help the NHL. Teams like Edmonton, and other Western Teams, should have a more balance travel.

Make it worth while for the stronger teams come draft time (due to their added financial responsabiliity), maybe raise their percentage for the draft pick lottery

Anyway the NHL need to tke a serious look at including a peron willing to put the money forward - Over $200,000,000 plus location fees

Not someone approached by the Devil to put together some bogus purchase, $145,000,000 which probably involves monies from the NHL or some other Criminal the Devil has hanging around. You just have to look back at some of the previous Owner purchases to see the truth. How many have been investigated, charged or gone to jail.

This Devil says he does due dilligence, how does he keep his job. OH thats right he works for poeple to like to hide their money or post losses it is good for the tax reports

Oh grow up everyone and recognize that Gary (knob or not) isn’t making the calls here. This particular denial of Balsillie is led by none other than MLSE.

The Leafs control as much or as little of the NHL as they want to. The league talks in terms of getting those US revenues (and they get a whole lot more out of Philly, Boston, New York and a few others than they do out of Calgary and or Edmonton), but really the league gets the most revenue from none other than the Leafs.

If the Leafs perceive as much as one single dollar of revenue loss by placing a team in the Hammer they will say no.

Putting it into terms that all Canadians understand: You own a Timmies - you are protected in that agreemen so that Timmies cannot open another franchise within a one mile radius. Your line-ups are out the door. Bob wants to open a Timmies next door to capture the overflow – Everyone wants shorter line-ups and wants bob to open up next door to but it will cost you 10-15% of your revenue – do you do the deal? If you say yes – you are a poor businessman at any cost.

Sounds like it is time for another WHL experiment! Put teams in all the major Canadian centers and the others without teams that want on (Quebec City, Hamilton, Winnipeg) and compete agianst the NHL. It may start out as a second rate league, but treat the fans right and give them a fun product to watch at a reasonable price.

Hockey is a great game. The United States "does" have some Great Hockey cities (Boston, New York,Phi..etc..) They also have some "Die-Hard" hockey fans.
However... many of the southern teams just don't have the support. Tampa Bay is a city that has many "Canadian Snowbirds" for fans. They won the cup a few years ago, and they are STILL struggling. It was a novel idea to try and establish hockey in the south...but its not working in Pheonix. Doesn't matter who has bought the team...they won't survive. As a result the whole league will suffer and "STILL" won't be taken seriously in the States.
A move to Hamilton makes perfect sense, South-Westen Ontario is dieing for another team, but Bettmen has "Littleman Syndrome". And yes... He looks like Napolean.

all this talk about bettman has made me want to watch bon cop bad cop. if ya havnt seen this movie i sugest you do cause its portrayal of bettman is classic and its a great hockey romp. NOW buttman get it figured you litte weasel, this is OUR game NOT your game.WE the fans decide whats best for hockey. we decide it by where we spend OUR money.AND WE WANT TO SPEND IT IN HAMILTON REGINA ST JOHNS RED DEER WINNIPEG AND WE WANT TO SPEND IT NOW.You assinine little midget and your little board of good old boys need to take a collective brain crap, flush out all those little nuggets of stupuidity you americans thrive on down south where more people have sex with their sisters then watch hockey and start making informed and intelligent decisions.212.5 mil vs 148 mil hmmmm kind of a no brainer and only someone with sht for brains would choose the lower amount. OH and to the chris douche who posted.WOW man someone needs to slip something over your head and screw some sence into you.

Bettman has teams in places where they explain what iceing is on the jumbotron.So now we are stuck watching crap hockey because the talent pool has been diluted.We as canadians would be alot better off without the americans and I'm not just talking about hockey.

I wonder about a league where owners thumb their nose at anybody but the old boys network trying to get in.
How is it that Montreal sold for 500 million, who knows what the Leafs or Canuks would sell for while the Coyotes are going for 150 million - sounds like a sucess story to me.
Why is Mr Balsillie not pitching KW as the new home of a team?
What kind of a deal did the NHL make with "one of the good ol boys" to convince him to be part of the illusion of 60 million less than a bonafide offer?
Is this punishment for the current owners that they must take 60 million less dollars because the pissed off the stuffed shirts. These so called hockey men who can only challenge for the Holy Grail through imcompentcy.
I think it is time for the pissing contest to end. IF new blood with cash wants to inject some life into a market that is crying for a team how can that be bad.
Because I am not a Smart Hockey man I will not question where the leaque elects to put teams because some exposure is better than none I suppose but when you have a demand for a product and someone willing to supply that product - Why on earth would you shut them out?

I do not

I would like to know why Bettman still has his job? When he was originally hired by the NHL it was because he was the man behind the NBA's big TV deal and the thought was that he would bring the same type of deal to the NHL.

Well, not onle has he not delivered, under his leadership the TV deal has progressively deteriorated of the years. Bettman has not delivered what he was hired for and the league is in worse condition know than when he took over. In the real world anyone performing as Bettman has would have long been fired.

My other point is that it befuddles me how that Board of Governors could accept a bid for a team that is 50 million lower than one that is on the table. I could maybe consider it if the lower bid was from a individual that may have a better business sense and experience but this is nat the case here. Riensdorff may have experience running sprots franchises but how good is he at it. The Bulls haven't done much of anything since Jordan retired and his baseball team sucks too.

Phoenix is in a desert for crying out loud. It is the last place in the world where hockey is played be it professional or amateur. This whole issue has diminished my opinion of the NHL. The whole lot can go to hell as far as I'm concerned. I'll be watching football until January and then basketball until spring time. NHL no longer interests me.

NHL owners are old time BOYS CLUB members.

Losers, all of them.

Guys, Chris is Canadian eh! He's a trader...Americans can barely spell...You all should have caught on to that. He states, "The major advertisers are in the USA and there are 300 million people there. " Indicates to me that he is not "there" but "here" What a winner. Get the teams out of the Deep South, put them in Winnipeg, Hamilton, Saskatoon, Halifax, Quebec City, Hamilton or even the Tri-Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, Guelph is also right there...so almost like Quad Cities...Lot's of Colleges and Universities there and a Market of over a Million people with the GTA only 45 minutes away...that makes SENSE!!! This whole thing is pretty retarded. There's gotta be something that we don't know about going on behind the scenes.

I live in Waterloo Region and the owners of RIM are the most community minded, giving people you could ever imagine. They have donated millions of dollars to community organizations--especially the universities. They have made the Perimeter Institute and the Center For International Governance, two world class think tanks possible.
Yes Balsaille could have kised Bettman's butt, but he's a proud Canadian and we're damn proud of him!

@Roger, hockey money is in Canada not US. Balsillie has deeper pockets than a murder of those NHL gov crows. Count Bettman notwithstanding, go Balsillie, the only man with the balls.

Like I really needed another reason to hate the Toronto Maple Leafs. They've been a national disgrace for the past 43 years...yet they are 'rebuilding'. Haven't they been 'rebuilding' since 1967??? Just how long does it take??? They have not put a team on the ice since '67...yet, they still have the right to call Hamilton their 'territory'...totally pathetic.. They are not afraid of competition, they are afraid of being forgotten. And, that's exactly what would happen, with a decent team in Southern Ontario. Well, what's wrong with that??? I'd have forgotten the Leafs years ago, if only CBC would start broadcasting Candiens or Senators games instead of the pseudo-hockey they give us from Toronto every year. Id be all for a boycott, but it would never happen, because of the Leafs fans. There is no dumber animal, on the face of the earth than the Toronto Maple Leafs fan. They don't even realise when they're being fed crap. They just lap it up, and beg for more...it's a disgusting yearly spectacle.
If Balsillie doesn't already have one...he should get The Order Of Canada. The man is a HERO who clearly cares about our nation's game. Pity, the same couldn't be said of the losers in Toronto. Think of YOUR country...not your city's pathetic excuse for a hockey team.

Is it not ironic that it is Canadian hockey fans who are subsidizing Bettman's failed US experiment.

This is in response to Chris in PHX...."your team" has been losing money since it was put there. You can't fill the seats no matter how cheap you sell them. As for where the money is...have you seen the news?? do you know what an economy is?? Last time I checked, Canada was the country with the money. We are the ones that have everything your country needs...we have all the oil, all the natural gas, all the potash, all the uranium and all the jobs. Hamilton may be a small market compared to your cactus hugging city down in PHX, but they will be able to fill the arena because the people actually want a team. Your town has had a chance to prove the NHL belongs there and you failed. Now its time to step aside and let REAL FANS show you how its done.

I like the rest of you have nothing better to do this Friday afternoon than to talk about hockey, maybe I'll get a life some day, in the meantime is there any Canadian's out there that can spell correctly!!!!!! Anyway's a good point has been made by someone earlier..........does anyone really know where Hamilton is outside of Ontario residents.........I think not .............so imgine the trill in L.A. when the Kings are billed in a stunner of a season opener against the Hamliton Tomcats ??????????? ...lets run down and get our tickets right before they are sold out...yea the Kings are going to woop their ass's . Where are those Hamliton guys from anyways??? Does not sound like a good business idea to me ....Bastille is ego idiot with a lot of money and a small peepee...........

Iam siting here at my desk reading all these comments. And they all come back to the same point about Gary and the governors.
Let me get this stright, if I buy a team in the NHL for 200 million to 500 million and for what ever reason it starts to lose money. As a owner of the team, Gary and the rest of the Governors can tell me that I have to lose money year after year. And if thats not bad enought when l do find a smuck, who wants to give me, lets say 300 million and move the team. Gary and the boys, say no you have to sell the team half the price to it another smuck, who I guess has no idea what he walking into.If he and his owenership partners thinks that they can make this team any better than it is, and keep the team where it is, what kind of bussiness men is he!! He Saying I love lossing money!!!
On the other hand, I have a bussiness men who wants to move a team to a City that loves hockey and wants to prove it by giving me 300 millionto move it, why in the he## would l not take that offer why would l take half that!!!. Why would anybody want to buy a NHL team with these kind of rules put on a Person wanting to buy a team and take the chance of lossing money and not beinng albe to get any part of his lost profits back.

Ive had enough of Gary Butt-man and his back door shananigans, him and his American lackies can sit around in their fancy board rooms stroking their lil hockey sticks and ride the league into the ground. The only way I'm going to support Butt-man and the NHL this season is by watching games on Hockey Night in Canada on CBC. I go to alot of NHL games, I'm a regular at games in Buffalo, Detroit, Toronto, Ottawa and Montreal. But Im going to express my anger at Butt-man denying Canadians another NHL team by boycotting American NHL games this season. Trudea Salute for you Butt-man!!!

Gary Betman just hates Canada, even if he says no. There was no hesitation in transfering the Nordiques and Jets to the US. He should realise that hockey rates behind Football,Basketball,College Sports and just ahead of tidly-winks. Hockey will survive in Canada. Lets get rid of Betman. The Russians now have a league, it might be time for Mr Bassilli to find a few good investors and start another league. Teams in Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Hamilton, Kitchener, Quebec and Halifax would maybe wakeup a few govenors and rid us of Betman.
European League and New Canadian League. Great- Remember the Great one started in Edmonton.

I don't want to waste a lot of time on this. The bottom line is that Bettman is a douche who has no interest in what is best for the league. It is what it is. Until he's gone, it won't change.

Clearly Mr Blackberry did not go about conducting business the way the NHL and its owners work. Can you really fault the owners for not liking the way he has gone about things by trying to backdoor his way in the NHL?. All the current owners went about it the right way and the way the NHL has always done business. Mr Blackberry seems to think that he is bigger then the game and bigger then the NHL.

iPhone kicks BB ass!

The Buffalo Bills want to play in Toronto because their market is dwindling right? So what is wrong with moving another team into the Toronto Area. A potential market of more than 5 million people. Makes sense to me that Jim B wants to do that. Regardless, he is bailing out a failing team. The reason why Phoenix wants to keep their team is Glendale just built a new arena which would no longer serve a purpose. Having lived in Glendale, it could be a prospective ice cube facility, wait they are almost out of water, scratch that. I do like the idea of creating an all Canada league. 5 teams in the east (Ottawa, Hamilton, Montreal, Quebec and Halifax) and 5 in the west. (Toronto, Winnipeg, Vancouver, Calgary and Edmonton). Toronto in the west in honour of Bettman who doesn't have a problem putting Nashville and Detroit in the west.... Moron...

I call Bettman a Dbag and my comment gets blocked?!?! Seriously?!? Who's monitoring this?

I didn't know that Larry the Cable Guy was a Coyote Fan... Git R Done...Bettman.

...This is stupid.

The Billionare nut case hockey fan cant get a franchise but "Boots" the mobster can?tell me: Why is there no basketball team in Montreal, but three in NYC? Why is there no MLB franchise in Vancouver?

BECAUSE THE MARKET ISNT THERE!!!!!! there is no hockey market in Nashville, Phoenix, and Atlanta no matter how much the NHL wants there to be.

just like theres no Basketball market in Montreal.

WAKE UP BETTMAN! Winnipeg and Hamilton both have enough HOCKEY market ( yes that exists Gary, inspite of how much you think it dosent) stop wasteing your time and money in Citys that will NEVER accept pro hockey......thank you.

i understand bettman hates to have an american team move to canada. We all get the hint but people he has reasons... things are changing now in this generation. Hockey is and not juss only a canadian sport but its a sporting business. hockey players (europeans, french, canadians, americans) come into the NHL with great talent and those with great talent ask for shit load of money. they overpay dany heatly, they overpay vinny, korvalev, mats sundin (10 milliom for a half a season???? wtf?!?!), depetrio, kovalchuk., brad richards, roberto luongo, hossa,.soon tavares, toews and kane and hundreds more..those talented players ask for too much money and when teams pay too much money, they lose too much money. which reminds me it leaves general managers scratchin their heads in the off-seasons askin themselves why they cant sign a friggen free agent..endorsements? if ur asking... cant afford to pay every overpaid player. bettman doesnt want the NHL to head into a lockout AGAIN and to avoid that he needs the teams to stay in US because they have much more money than canada does. ... im canadian myself and believe me it sucks to know basillie's offer was rejected cuz he wants a team in hamilton. he has good credit, hes a billionaire, knows everythin about business, loves the game and willin to raise the offer 60 mill more than the accepted offer. bettman doesnt give 2 fucks, becuase he know it wont run well in hamilton. u think front level costin 100 bucks is gunna pay shane doans contract.. nope! if basillie buys the team, the only way its possible for him to keep his team is keep it in the states... its business.. its not bettman, its the players askin for too much money!!! why you think heatly wont go to edmonton? CUZ THEY DONT HAVE THE MONAYYY!! why you think the Toronto Blue Jays are the only team in the MLB and cant afford Roy Halladay? CUZ THEY DONT HAVE THE MONAYY! lol
believe me, i love the game to be in hamilton but..wont. its business and reality.

I agree with a lot of people on here stating that Bettman is a complete fool for trying to keep a failing team in Pheonix for an offer 60 million dollars less than Balsillie's. The Coyotes will never make any money in Phoenix!!! An ice rink does not belong in Phoenix...but rather in the cold north where hockey has its roots planted. Another thing that really pisses me off about all these Shenanigans is the fact that Mr. Bettman never made a big deal about moving the Jets out of Winnipeg, or the Nordiques out of Quebec (two awesome hockey cities), but all of a sudden it's a huge deal to move a hockey club out of the desert. Gary Bettman, you are an ass clown and I would love to see you disappear as far away from hockey as possible so the NHL can move on in the right direction. That's right, I said it ,Canada hates your guts!

Balsillie should find a way to block all the owners' and Bettman's access to Blackberries. Come on Balsillie...I'm sure you can figure it out.

I think we should give our country (ie. the founders of the best sport in the world) all the NHL teams. But moving the Coyotes to Hamilton just won't work. The Leafs (no matter how much you deny it, we own southern Ontario) and Sabres won't give up their territorial rights (who knew the Sabres had fans there?), and if they did, there are still bigger Canadian cities without NHL teams out there. Number one, Winninpeg. It's the original home, and fans there have wanted the team back since it left. Plus, there's no team in central Canada, from Toronto to Alberta. Another viable choice is Halifax. Maritimers are strong fans and don't have much to cheer for since the Marlies came to Toronto. Most Maritimers end up being Habs fans, and as a Leafs fan, that isn't a good thing for me.
Bettman will never sell the game in the US, no matter how much he tries. Canada will always be the home of hockey, so we deserve the teams. Even European countries are better than Americans

HEY "business and reality" from Kentucky... The reality is you have no business posting here with your intelligence... the pages that allow cursing and provide pictures to colour are on the other side of your browser. Flip it over...