Posted by admin on 16th, 2009
PHOENIX (AP)—The Coyotes are staying in Phoenix, at least for now.
A bankruptcy judge has rejected the proposed sale of the franchise to Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie, who would have moved the team to Hamilton, Ontario.
Judge Redfield T. Baum issued a 21-page ruling late Monday afternoon, concluding the June 29 deadline imposed by Balsillie did not allow enough time to resolve the complex case.
“Simply put, the court does not think there is sufficient time (14 days) for all of these issues to be fairly presented to the court given that deadline,” the judge wrote.
The ruling is a victory for the NHL, which had argued Balsillie was using the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to make an end-run around the league’s rules over who owns teams and where they are located.
“We’re pleased the court recognized the validity of league rules and our ability to apply them in a reasonable fashion,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement Monday night. “We will turn our attention now toward helping to facilitate an orderly sales process that will produce a local buyer who is committed to making the Coyotes’ franchise viable and successful in the Phoenix-Glendale area. We are confident that we will be able to find such a buyer for the Coyotes and that the claims of legitimate creditors will be addressed.”
But Balsillie, who has failed in two other bids to buy NHL teams, refused to concede defeat, saying he wants to work with the league and move the franchise.
“We look forward to hearing from the NHL soon on its view of our relocation application and an appropriate relocation fee, so as to allow the court to determine if that fee is reasonable,” Balsillie spokesman Bill Walker said. “We still think there is enough time for the NHL to approve Mr. Balsillie’s application and move the team to Hamilton by September.”
Walker said the judge’s ruling “invited mediation.”
“Mr. Balsillie is willing to participate in such mediation if the NHL is also willing to do so,” Walker’s statement said.
Baum called the case unprecedented in U.S. bankruptcy history.
“The legal issues trigger not only bankruptcy law, but antitrust law and commercial law in the context of a professional sports team, as a Chapter 11 debtor, which team has for years incurred, and is continuing to incur, very serious financial losses and problems,” Baum wrote. “No cases have been found that precisely or even closely fit this scenario.”
Walker’s statement ignored several aspects of the ruling that were made against Balsillie.
Baum shot down the claim by Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes and Balsillie that failure to allow the team, over the objection of the NHL, to move would violate antitrust law.
“This court can not find that antitrust law, as applicable nonbankruptcy law, permits the sale free and clear of the relocation rights of the NHL,” Baum wrote.
He added, “It is not an antitrust violation for professional sports leagues to have terms and conditions on relocations of its members.”
An antitrust claim requires a “bona fide dispute,” but there is none because Balsillie only sought the NHL’s permission to relocate the franchise after it was brought up in court, Baum wrote.
“This court is unconvinced that it should order that the NHL must decide the relocation application to meet the June 29 deadline,” the judge wrote.
Baum also rejected claims by Moyes and Balsillie that while assuming the contract the Coyotes have with the NHL, they can disregard the portion of the agreement that requires the games be played in Glendale.
The judge compared that claim to “a purchaser of a bankrupt franchise in a remote location asserting that it can be relocated far from its original agreed site to a highly valuable location, for example New York City’s Times Square …”
The judge’s decision is also a win for the city of Glendale, which had spent $183 million to build an arena for the Coyotes and had contended the franchise could not use bankruptcy to evade its lease.
Baum said that because he was rejecting the motion, he need not rule at this time on whether Moyes and Balsillie could void Glendale’s lease. The city said it was pleased with the ruling.
“Clearly the court recognized the significance of these issues and the unique interests of the City of Glendale and its taxpayers,” the city said in a statement. “The court based its decision on the law and facts and not on countless rumors and innuendo regarding this matter.”
This is the third time Balsillie—whose company makes the Blackberry—has tried to buy an NHL team. His made previous attempts to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators.
Moyes took the NHL by surprise when he filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on May 5, proposing to sell the team to Balsillie for $212.5 million, contingent on the franchise moving to Hamilton, Ontario.
The NHL said that commissioner Gary Bettman was on his way to deliver a letter of intent to Moyes from Jerry Reinsdorf, owner of baseball’s Chicago White Sox and the NBA’s Chicago Bulls, to purchase the team and keep it in Glendale. However, any bid to buy the team will be far less than the offer Balsillie made.
“I think people are going to be shocked when they see the value of this team remaining in Glendale,” Moyes’ attorney Thomas Salerno said. “It’s going to be materially less than the offer we have on the table.”
Salerno said Moyes is disappointed and is evaluating his options. Moyes says he has more than $300 million invested in the team and would have recouped about $100 million if the Balsillie sale had gone through.
The NHL says four parties, including Reinsdorf, have filed preliminary applications to investigate purchasing the team and keeping it in Arizona. However, if no buyer can be found, the league would look to relocate the franchise.
Moyes and Balsillie contended that the team would never succeed in Arizona and would flourish in hockey-crazy Ontario. But the move raised territorial rights issues because of the proximity of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres.
Baum had raised the specter of a fee due to the NHL and the two teams if the franchise moved.
The Coyotes have lost more than $300 million since the franchise moved from Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1996, and at least $36 million each of the last three seasons, but the NHL contends the franchise can be viable with better management and more success on the ice.
Associated Press writers Jonathan Cooper and Mark Carlson in Phoenix contributed to this report.
Tags:
bankruptcy court,
buffalo sabres,
chapter 11 bankruptcy,
commissioner bill,
contract,
coyotes,
deputy commissioner,
jerry moyes,
media,
nashville predators,
New York,
NHL,
phoenix coyotes,
pittsburgh penguins,
Sabres,
toronto maple leafs
Posted by admin on 16th, 2009
Penguins’ Gonchar Played With Torn MCL.
Showing the true meaning of the word “trooper”, Sergey Gonchar reportedly played the final 2 rounds of the playoffs with a torn MCL. “Lots of guys were playing with bruises,” Gonchar said. Bruises are a far cry from a torn MCL. Kudos to you Gonchar, not get that MCL fixed up!
Bylsma Likes Back-To-Back Chances
Speaking like a coach who just won the Stanley Cup (shock horror), Dan Bylsma has said that he likes the idea of the Penguins coming back strong next year to win back-to-back Cups. “Pressure is something I don’t put a lot of stock in,” Bylsma said. “I think we can get back to the foundation and build again and try to do this again. It’s only one team a year that gets that opportunity and we’re going to try that next year. The challenge is you have to start all over again. You don’t get to start back on June 13.” That hasn’t been done since ‘97/’98 by the Detroit Red Wings. It’s just dripping in irony.
Crosby Dismisses Wings Snub Accusation
First of all, of course he dismisses it. You would have to be an idiot to actually admit it. After Kris Draper came out and accused Crosby of snubbing the Red Wings after their game 7 win, the attention went directly onto the young Penguins Captain. Crosby however wasn’t fazed at all. “I really don’t need to talk to anyone from Detroit about it,” Crosby said Sunday. “I made the attempt to go shake hands. I’ve been on that side of things, too, I know it’s not easy, waiting around. I just won the Stanley Cup, and I think I have the right to celebrate with my teammates.”
Malkin wins Conn Smythe, Joins Mario
He led the entire playoffs in points and had an impact on the game, and deservedly came away with the hardware. Evgeni Malkin was awared the Conn Smythe award for Playoff MVP. He joins Mario Lemieux in the long list of Conn Smythe winners.
Tags:
accusation,
bruises,
conn smythe,
conn smythe award,
conn smythe winners,
Crosby,
dan bylsma,
detroit red wings,
far cry,
fazed,
Gonchar,
kris draper,
Mario Lemieux,
meaning of the word,
Penguins,
shake hands,
shock horror,
Stanley Cup,
true meaning
Posted by admin on 19th, 2009
Here’s something you don’t see everyday, the 4 big sports codes all standing side-by-side in support of a peer. But that’s exactly what happened today as the National Football League, National Basketball League and Major League Baseball all lined up in support of the NHL in the Phoenix Coyotes Bankruptcy court hearing. All 3 sports codes provided their support for the NHL to stop the sale of the Phoenix Coyotes and planned move to Hamilton, in Southern Ontario.
According to Bob Baum, AP Sports Writer,
All three statements ask the U.S. Bankruptcy Court to “respect the National Hockey League’s rules and procedures regarding ownership transfer and relocation.”
- link
How this court hearing will play out is anyones guess right now. The NHL appear confident in their appeal to overturn the bankruptcy filing, and the backing from the 3 top sports codes should all but strengthen their defense.
Read the full article over at Yahoo!
Tags:
ap sports writer,
bankruptcy court,
bankruptcy filing,
bob baum,
major league baseball,
mlb,
national basketball league,
national football league,
national hockey league,
nba nfl,
NHL,
phoenix coyotes,
relocation link,
southern ontario,
top sports,
yahoo
Posted by admin on 6th, 2009
NEW YORK (AP)—Angered by the Phoenix Coyotes’ bankruptcy filing, the NHL stripped owner Jerry Moyes of the authority to run the club.
A few hours after Moyes announced Tuesday that the team had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection—a move that could allow the cash-strapped franchise to be sold and moved to Ontario—the NHL said it would represent the team in bankruptcy court.
“We have just become aware of today’s bankruptcy court filing purportedly made on behalf of the Phoenix Coyotes,” NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a statement. “We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the petition, including the propriety of its filing.
“We have removed Jerry Moyes from all positions of authority to act for or on behalf of the club. The league will appear and proceed before the bankruptcy court in the best interests of all of the club’s constituencies, including its fans in Arizona and the league’s 29 other member clubs.”
Continue reading the full news article at Sports.Yahoo.com
Tags:
bankruptcy court,
chapter 11 bankruptcy,
chapter 11 bankruptcy protection,
circumstances,
constituencies,
deputy commissioner,
franchise,
full news,
jerry moyes,
member clubs,
news article,
NHL,
petition,
phoenix coyotes,
propriety,
Sports,
yahoo
Posted by admin on 5th, 2009
NEW YORK (AP)—Markus Naslund wrapped up a 15-year NHL career when he retired Monday after just one season with the New York Rangers.
Naslund, who left the Vancouver Canucks last summer as a free agent, signed a two-year deal worth $8 million with the Rangers but decided to skip the final season when he will be 36.
The five-time All-Star spent parts of 12 seasons with the Canucks and was brought to New York by general manager Glen Sather after the Rangers failed to re-sign captain Jaromir Jagr.
Naslund played all 82 games this season, recording 24 goals and 46 points, but he had only one goal and two assists in the Rangers’ seven-game loss to Washington in the first round of the playoffs.
“I would like to sincerely thank Glen Sather and the New York Rangers for giving me the opportunity this past season in New York,” Naslund said. “I would also like to thank the Vancouver Canucks and all of their fans for their support over the 11-plus seasons I was a part of their organization, as well as to the Pittsburgh Penguins where I began my NHL career.”
Naslund scored a career-high 104 points—including 48 goals—during the 2002-03 campaign when he won the Lester B. Pearson Award as the NHL’s most outstanding player as chosen by his peers, but his numbers went down each of the next five seasons.
Naslund, who served as captain of the Canucks for eight seasons, was chosen with the No. 16 overall pick in the 1991 draft by Pittsburgh and spent three seasons with the Penguins before being traded to Vancouver in 1996.
The announcement by the Swedish left winger will help the salary-cap challenged Rangers, who will now have more flexibility to add to an anemic offense that scored only 11 goals in the postseason loss to the Capitals.
In 1,117 regular-season NHL games, Naslund had 395 goals and 869 points. He reached the 40-goal mark three times and scored at least 30 in six seasons.
Naslund played in 52 postseason games, recording 14 goals and 36 points.
This article is re-published from Sports.Yahoo.com . All ownership belongs to Yahoo!
Tags:
anemic offense,
eight seasons,
five seasons,
free agent,
game loss,
Glen Sather,
goal mark,
Jaromir Jagr,
lester b pearson,
Markus Naslund,
new york rangers,
pearson award,
pittsburgh penguins,
postseason games,
postseason loss,
salary cap,
spent three,
three seasons,
vancouver canucks,
winger
Posted by admin on 28th, 2009
by Wendy Hansen, 28 April 2009 | Beat Writer | Bluetongues Ice Hockey Club
Few players on the Blue Tongues roster can say they know first hand what it’s like to win the Goodall Cup – the third oldest prize in ice hockey around the world – but veteran forward Trevor Walsh, who recently signed with the Blue Tongues after his move to Brisbane with his family, can attest to what it takes to win the coveted trophy all too well.
“There is only one way to approach any game and that is to want to win. If you don’t want to win, then there is no sense playing a competitive sport. That’s what I love about the game of ice hockey – it attracts the most competitive people.” When asked what he can bring to the Blue Tongues line up this season, Walshie (as he’s affectionately known) replied, “It’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks but I will give 100% every shift I play this season. I believe this year the Blue Tongues have a real chance to be successful and I am very happy to be a part of this team.”
And a part of any successful team is chemistry, on and off the ice.
“On ice chemistry being the most important of the two,” Walshie said. “Most teams have a lot of different personalities with many different off ice commitments which might prohibit a lot of interaction. It’s on the ice where the chemistry is most important.”
Walsh knows a thing or two about chemistry on the ice. In the last 9 seasons, he has scored 118 goals and 93 assists. “Every member of the team must be on the same page. No one player can think he is bigger than the team’s objective. It is not an easy thing to achieve, but when the chemistry is right, it usually has a successful outcome and is a really fun thing to be a part of. I have been fortunate to be a part of this type of situation a couple times while playing hockey.” And not just locally either, as Walshie has represented Australia numerous times as part of the Mighty Roos, Australia’s National Mens team.
A hard-hitting and intense forward, the ever humble Walsh imbedded himself into the hearts of the Adelaide Avalanche (and now Adelaide Adrenaline) fans. “Adelaide has a real healthy hockey following and I was very fortunate to play there for the last 9 years. The people of Adelaide were very good to me and my family.” And when asked what he thinks the Adelaide fans’ reaction will be to his return to the ice in an opposing sweater, Walsh answered, “I think that they understand that a hockey player wants to play at the most competitive level for as long as he can. I missed out on a year and a half of the AIHL due to things out my control in Adelaide. I just want to finish out my career with a championship. I believe I can do that here on the Gold Coast. I think Adelaide fans will respect that.”
We hope he can finish his career with another Championship too, with the Blue Tongues!
Tags:
adelaide a's,
adelaide avalanche,
aihl,
Australia,
blue tongues,
brisbane,
chemistry,
gold coast blue tongues,
hansen,
hockey,
ice hockey,
interaction,
old dog new tricks,
successful team,
Trophy,
veteran leader,
wendy
Posted by admin on 19th, 2009
With a few games gone, we’re starting to get an idea of how the first round of the Playoffs will play out. Here are how things stand right now.
Eastern Conference:
Boston Bruins Vs Montreal Canadiens
Games played: 2
Boston lead the series 2-0
NY Rangers Vs Washington Capitals
Games played: 2
NY Ranges lead the series 2-0
Carolina Hurricanes Vs New Jersey Devils
Games played: 2
Series tied 1-1
Pittsburgh Penguins Vs Philadelphia Flyers
Games played: 2
Pittsburgh lead the series 2-0
Western Conference:
San Jose Sharks Vs Anaheim Ducks
Games played: 1
Anaheim leads the series 1-0
Detroit Red Wings Vs Columbus Blue Jackets
Games played: 2
Detroit lead the series 2-0
Vancouver Canucks Vs St Louis Blues
Games played: 2
Vancouver lead the series 2-0
Calgary Flames Vs Chicago Blackhawks
Games played: 2
Chicago lead the series 2-0
Tags:
anaheim ducks,
boston bruins,
calgary flames,
carolina hurricanes,
chicago blackhawks,
columbus blue jackets,
detroit red wings,
ducks games,
Montreal Canadiens,
new jersey devils,
ny rangers,
philadelphia flyers,
pittsburgh penguins,
san jose sharks,
series 1,
st louis blues,
vancouver canucks,
washington capitals
The Minnesota Wild have found their man. It is announced today that the Wild have named Todd Richards as the new head coach. The Wild are taking a huge risk with Richards, who has just 1 year NHL experience behind the bench as an assistant coach for the San Jose Sharks last season. Richards will replace Jacques Lemaire, who resigned in April, possibly ending the defense first style of play the Wild are known for. This change in coaching follows the recent firing of Dave Tippett and hiring of Marc Crawford by the Dallas Stars.
