((HT: TSN/CP))
Jim Balsillie ((pictured, thanks Getty)) has formally asked other NHL owners to let him into the club.
The Canadian billionaire filed an application with the league's board of governors seeking a transfer of the Phoenix Coyotes ownership interest, one of his representatives confirmed Monday.
During a bankruptcy hearing last week, Judge Redfield T. Baum questioned why Balsillie was pursuing an antitrust suit against the NHL if his bid to buy the team hadn't officially been turned down. He's expected to file an application to move the team early next week.
If the board of governors vote down his $212.5-million bid or withhold a decision on it, court proceedings will continue with a scheduled June 22 hearing in Phoenix, where Baum is to hear arguments about whether the franchise can be relocated as part of a sale.
In the meantime, the parties will be back in court Wednesday to provide an update on mediation between Coyotes majority owner Jerry Moyes and the NHL over who currently controls the team.
There is still some work to be done on that front.
"There has been no mediation," deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in an email. "The parties have exchanged ideas. Nothing has been finalized to this point."
During last week's hearing, lawyers for the NHL said the league would be comfortable paying the Coyotes bills until a new buyer for the team is found.
Unless the board of governors takes the unlikely step of approving Balsillie's bid, the court will likely end up overseeing an auction for the team over the summer.
Kevin McGran adds from the Toronto Star
A second application – from Phoenix Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes – to move the team to Hamilton is expected to be filed next week.
If the Blackberry baron wins approval from the league's board of governors, he'd be that much closer to having a team in Hamilton. If he fails to gain approval, his camp believes it would have the basis for an antitrust suit, a legal manoeuvre with the goal of having the team play in Copps Coliseum next season.
Balsillie has been approved before, when he came close to buying the Pittsburgh Penguins in 2006. He and his camp – as outlined in their various court filings – believe a failure to approve him this time would show bias on behalf of the NHL in large part because of his oft-spoken goal to bring a seventh team to Canada.
NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has repeatedly said there is no ill-will between him and Balsillie, but the league wants Balsillie to follow the rules. The league believes Balsillie is trying to sidestep the rules by acquiring the money-losing team in bankruptcy court.
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