Strachan Sorts Through The Balsillie Coyote Ugly Mess

Al Strachan, who I never much liked, has written likely the most balanced take on the Phoenix Coyotes - Jim Balsillie mess. Defending Gary Bettman, in the eyes of many, isn't often easy, but Strachan's insightful and revealing explanation is must read stuff for all those curious about how the Coyotes situation will play out.

"Whether you like or dislike Bettman, you have to concede that he's no fool. He works for the NHL owners and there is no way in the world that he would be taking this stance if he thought it would cost him his job. He is the point man for the governors. This is not Bettman against Balsillie. It is the NHL against Balsillie."

almost 3 years ago Robert L 5 comments 0 recs |

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Intersting article.

But really, some of the lines he writes….

“the NHL does not want go backward. It does not want to leave a hockey-less black hole on the map of North America.”

A desert……a desert sitting right above Mexico…..I think the NHL would survive.

It’s not the location of the fans or franchises I feel as the poor TV deals the league has. That’s where the major revenue would come in.

I know that’s not that in depth, but I really feel that the majority of Southern expansion has been a failure, save Carolina and Dallas.

by 13_Legion on May 8, 2009 12:30 PM EDT reply actions

The TV deals reflect the lack of corner to corner enthusiasm for hockey in the (southern) states. That is why sticking with the sunbelt teams is a league syanding point. The NHL could pop teams in Hamilton. Quebec, Winnipeg and Saskatoon overnight and they’d all sell out, but it doesn’t mean a thing to the big network suits trying to sell a Saturday night snoozer between Winnipeg and Atlanta.

IMO hockey can only catch on in the US where it has foundations at the grass roots level. In that sense, the game itself cannot be sold – it has to be grown at the collegiate and university levels to start.

by Robert L on May 8, 2009 2:25 PM EDT reply actions

Must we just conceded that the NHL is a niche league?

Hockey’s my favorite, but outside of New England, the Mid-Atlantic, and the northern Midwest, where are you going to find people in the States that would agree with me on any substantial level?

by 13_Legion on May 10, 2009 10:17 AM EDT up reply actions

Niche in a sense. It’s back down to where snow falls almost. In many cities, 20,000 hockey fans can be found to fill an arena when a team does well. But if it’s a midling team, the interest wanes – just like Wayne’s. :)

by Robert L on May 11, 2009 11:49 PM EDT up reply actions

Tampa Bay was turning into a great hockey market, but the combination of a lockout right after their Cup win and the subsequent dismantling of the Cup team pretty much killed them. Koules and Barrie aren’t the sole perpetrators, but they have a fair bit to answer for in just their first year.

SNN Sports - A theoretical Oilers blog (i.e. theoretically, I write stuff there)

by Doogie2K on May 9, 2009 3:48 PM EDT reply actions