The SBP Archives - Your less than frequent dose of SBP!

The more I listen to Gary Bettman, the more and more the idea of the Phoenix Coyotes actually moving north of the border is up there with a Canadian team winning the Stanley Cup this year.

Bettman compares the scenario to what happened in Pittsburgh, Buffalo and Ottawa. Although of course, it's isn't the same thing. Because those markets were already hockey markets. Incompetent or corrupt ownership was usually to blame, or maybe a low Canadian dollar. But there were fans that deserved every effort for the NHL to make sure those teams didn't move anywhere.

Phoenix is the exact opposite. It has never been a popular hockey market. It has been there for about 13 years now, and no fans have shown up. They don't care. The team leaves, and their might be a write-up about it on page 48 of the Phoenix Tribune. You won't be upsetting anyone with that move.

You suggest to Bettman that, under his watch, Winnipeg and Quebec City have lost their teams. Where was he then? He'll say it was different because they buildings only seated 13,000 people. Well last time I checked, more fans have turned out in those buildings despite Phoenix's 20,000 or so capacity (and let's add Atlanta and Nashville to that mix).

Basillie's $212.5 million bid is about $80 million or so bigger than the nearest competitor who claims they'll keep the team in Phoenix, and Bettman is more attracted to that offer. Apparently it'll be good for USA TV ratings or something. But the only national TV deal they have is on some channel called Versus. No one watches that channel, because it's about channel 754 on your remote. They've been at it for years and they still can't get a decent TV deal.

To me it's too easy. Fans will turn up in Hamilton, or wherever "Southern Ontario" is. CBC would cut a larger cheque for TV, and TSN and Sportsnet would follow. Ticket buyers will turn up to see Doan, Mueller and Jovanovski in a heartbeat. Revenues would increase, the cap would go up...am I missing something?

Oh yeah, Bettman's logic. Forget it folks. Canada ends with six teams.