The continuing saga...

Well, a bit over a week has passed and the saga with regards to the Phoenix Coyotes continues. What has become apparent in the recent days is that the competing offer is not even close to Balsillie's. Second, the NHL is trying to portray Balsillie and the owner of the Coyotes as the villains in this, and that they are trying to subvert NHL rules in the bid for the Coyotes. They are also trying to portray the Coyote fans as the victims, and having their team stolen from them. That is maybe true, but when 15,000 people came out in 1995 to save the Winnipeg Jets, and only 200 come out in a similar rally to save the Coyotes this week that should be an indicator to the NHL that not many people will lose sleep over the Coyotes relocating.

Now, we are starting to see the PR battle taking shape. Bettman knows the court of public opinion is HEAVILY on Balsillie's side in Canada. So, he throws it out there that he prefer to see the team to Winnipeg if it does indeed move. Say what you want about Bettman, he may be stubborn but he is not stupid. Bettman does not want another team in Winnipeg. However, what he is trying to do is polarize the Canadian supporters of the move. What better way to play the nostalgia card and get the fans of the Jets and other Western Canadian teams questioning the move to Southern Ontario.

In response, Balsillie offered an olive branch and displayed that is bargaining in good faith by offering to keep the team in Phoenix one more season. This was alleviate scheduling concerns the NHL brought up. A nice counter-punch from Mr. Blackberry.

However, that does bring up an interesting issue. Moving a Western conference team to the Eastern conference does create an issue for the league that a team in Winnipeg or Kansas City would not. Which team moves to the Western conference? The three choices are likely Pittsburgh, Atlanta, or Hamilton. None of these three choices are great.

1. Pittsburgh would move into the Central with Chicago, Detroit, Columbus and Nashville. That's not bad, but the question becomes what happens to St. Louis? Likely, Vancouver would have to join the Pacific Divison, and St. Louis would move into the NorthWest divison.
2. Atlanta moves into the Central Divison with Nashville, Detroit, Columbus, and Chicago. Again, St. Louis would have to be re-aligned.
3. As a "punishment", Hamilton moves into the central with Detroit, Columbus, Chicago, and St. Louis/Nashville. If Nashville was left hanging, a divison would likely be formed with Edmonton, Calgary, Nashville, Minnesota and Colorado. This leaves Vancouver, San Jose, Dallas, LA, and Anaheim.

A team moving to Winnipeg does not create these types of headaches. Winnipeg would easily slide into the NorthWest, and Colorado would take Phoenix's place in the Pacific.

This saga is a nice side story to the playoffs. I'm following it almost as close.

Cheers.