Daly: Leafs Do Not Have Veto Power On Territory

((HT: TSN/Dreger))

The National Hockey League said again today that the Toronto Maple Leafs do not have a veto power when it comes to protecting their territory from another team invading the southern Ontario market. Bill Daly, Deputy Commissioner of the NHL, made that clear in an interview with TSN's Darren Dreger and Bill Watters on AM 640 Toronto Radio.

"It's the league's position that, no, they (the Leafs) don't have a veto power," Daly said, noting that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has been very clear and consistent in this interpretation of league rules for some time.

Although the Maple Leafs might disagree, Daly said the NHL thinks a majority vote is all that would be required to get a second team in Southern Ontario. Daly also pointed out that the commissioner has unassailable rights to interpret the league constitution as he sees fit.

Daly disputed the notion that the Leafs' alleged veto power was a big reason why the league voted against approving Jim Balsillie as a potential owner of the Phonix Coyotes. Balsillie's group wants to buy the Coyotes and move them to Hamilton, Ontario.

"The veto is a red herring in this whole process," Daly said.

Hear the interview between Dreger, Daly, and Bill Watters here during the "Leafs Lunch" program... Thanks to our friends at AM640 Toronto

The Toronto veto issue starts at, about, the 4:30 mark...
Dreger, Daly, and Watters start by discussing the auction as we know it...