The Republic of Sport

Red Devils99

Red Devils99's Comments

Posted Wednesday November 25, 2009, About: Former Habs suitor eyeing Coyotes

gotta tote the company line if you want in the club

Posted Wednesday November 25, 2009, About: Former Habs suitor eyeing Coyotes

Balsillie has always been a mavrick, even on the Pens purchase he hinted he wanted to move them if the arena deal fell through. Once he had a team he could have done what he wanted, ala Al Davis, Irsay, etc... There would be nothing to stop him from relocating, there's nothing in the NHL constitution.

Posted Wednesday November 25, 2009, About: Ex-Lightning owner under investigation

Or Atlanta when they get that mess sorted out and immediately go on the market.....or Florida when the new guys decide to pull a Moyes and throw the keys on the table....or, well, you get the picture. I don't think it's in the budget to buy up all of the weak teams.
I hope Balsillie gets a team eventually but I don't blame the league for shutting him out. You can't come out and try to do an end around to get your way. Come in, smile, nod, say everything they want to hear then pull up the moving vans. The guy who bought the Grizzle did the same thing, said he wouldn't move the team, etc... and a few years later, he's in Memphis. Like that wasn't pre-determined. It's unfortunate that Balsillie's ego got in the way of a big deal (again).

Posted Wednesday November 25, 2009, About: Former Habs suitor eyeing Coyotes

Florida was just sold, well, Alan Cohen transfered a majority stake to two minority shareholders, basically ridding himself of the debt. If I'm not mistaken, Cohen owns the arena and makes his money there, so I doubt he'd want them to move and lost 40-odd dates a year.

Posted Wednesday November 25, 2009, About: Former Habs suitor eyeing Coyotes

Sounds like a smarter version of Balsille...."Yeah Gary, don't worry, I'll keep the team here...." 6 months later, get the moving vans to Quebec City

Posted Monday November 23, 2009, About: Phoenix to Quebec?

OMG I remember that show! But they filmed it at Copps Coliseum

Posted Monday November 23, 2009, About: Phoenix to Quebec?

The league approved the group right? I think Bettman had something to do with that. Approving an ownership group of 30+ members is virtually unheard of, and typically for good reason (See Atlanta Thrashers/Hawks situation). He also needed to protect the Canadian TV deals which would have severely been hurt by losing a 3rd Canadian team in such a short time. And the deadlines weren't set by the NHL, it was the ATB so it wasn't a case of Bettman trying to stonewall them for a guy in Houston. The ATB just wanted their money, so spell it out to me again how Nicols thwarted Bettman's dream of the Houston Oilers?

Posted Monday November 23, 2009, About: Phoenix to Quebec?

You're right, he didn't assemble the group in Edmonton, but it's laughable how you gloss over the fact that he gave them an opportunity to keep the team. You also seem to look the other way in regards to the Canadian assistance plan and currency equalization that was in place. Had it not been for that and expansion which pumped over $10M into the Oilers coffers during the 90's, they wouldn't have made it. When you're pretty much the smallest market in Canada (neck and neck with Ottawa) taking in .65 and paying a dollar, thats not a strong formula for sucess. They wouldn't have made it out of the decade! But I'm the idiot, just remember, at the end of the day Cal Nicols was given the OPPORTUNITY to come up with the money to keep the team in town. It would have been irresponsible not to have a plan B had that group not been able to raise the money. Contingency plans are part of a good business plan, FYI.