So, They Are Thinking About Moving Them After All...???

((HT: GlobeSports/Naylor))

Here's the hook from the Naylor article:

“By acquiring the team at this time, the NHL will be able to salvage the team’s 2009-10 season and can establish a more constructive timetable in which to solicit acceptable offers from qualified parties, including, if a potential buyer wishing to keep the team in Glendale cannot be found, conducting an organized process to relocate the franchise in another territory,” the league states in its bid put before the Arizona bankruptcy court.

The NHL ((Commissioner Gary Bettman is pictured, thanks Harry How/Getty)) bid mentions nothing about a commitment or desire to keep the team in Phoenix and casts further doubt on the team’s viability in Phoenix by stating: “Despite the continuous efforts to facilitate the sale of the Phoenix hockey club to a qualified owner committed to keeping the team in Glendale, the NHL has reluctantly concluded that it is necessary to submit this bid for the NHL to acquire and operate the team.”

In its offer, the NHL bids $140-million (all currency U.S.) for the team, plus up to 20 per cent of whatever profit (not to exceed $20-million) the league might earn by reselling the team within two years of the closing date of its purchase from the bankruptcy court.

Since the NHL states in its bid that it “does not anticipate there would be a net profit upon a resale of the team to a Glendale buyer”, its own interests, and those of the creditors, would likely be best served by relocating the team to a market where its value could be maximized beyond $140-million.

The league’s apparent openness to relocating the Coyotes flies in the face of its commitment to Glendale, dating back to when the team’s troubles first surfaced last season and throughout the league’s four-month fight with Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie, the co-chief executive officer of Research In Motion who wants to relocate the team to Hamilton.

Last June, the NHL presented a sworn statement that there were several buyers willing to purchase the team and operate it in Glendale.

Two of those names were the current owners of the Toronto Argonauts, David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski. They have needed assistance from BC Lions owner David Braley to keep things afloat on occasion a few years ago.

They have since remained below ground and given no public interest or indication of chasing the Coyotes.

By the way, Ice Edge dropped a $10-million deposit on their bid when they submitted their paperwork.

So, now and only now the NHL- under their own terms- decided that the Coyotes might be moved if the situation warrants. A stance that the Balsillie camp has maintained since Day One, but a stance ignored since Commissioner Gary Bettman wouldn't pee on Balsillie if he were on fire right in front of him.

Judge Redfield T. Baum now has a decision on September 2nd: Two bids, one $70-million less than the other ((and the lesser bid is from the league itself)), can address the situation. A by-product of the issue would be the relocation of the franchise.

The third bid, Ice Edge, has maintained they can keep the franchise in Glendale- with their field trips to Saskatoon for the regular season and playoffs. But it's already contingent on the idea they can agree on a new lease at Jobing.com Arena.

So, isn't that already "moving"...???

So, does more money answer a problem for a change IN BANKRUPTCY COURT...???
Or will a league get things their own way- again...???