It was with great interest that I read the following headline in the National Post ” Leaf’s improvement weighing on Burke”. While the Toronto Maple Leafs have come far from the horrid beginning, it is hard for me to believe that Burke is that easily swayed.

“So much so that general manager Brian Burke, whose self-imposed holiday trade freeze begins Wednesday, is having difficulty deciding what to do with the team’s many soon-to-be free agents.

Does he shop them around for draft picks? Does he try to sign them to new contracts? Or does he simply allow their current deals to expire?”

I know this may sound overly simplistic, however Burke has talked about the big picture, the master plan, and while he didn’t panic when the team was in the dumps, I don’t think he is ready to re-sign all the guys on the team simply because the tide “appears” to have changed. It’s not like the Leafs took the horrible start and erased it by going the exact opposite in wins. Don’t get me wrong, they are playing much better- however, given their start that doesn’t exactly have to say that much.

The reality is, there were lots of new faces in the lineup and that usually leads to the requirement for time to gel as a team. Now, not every team is in such a need of gelling that they crap the bed like the Leafs did. These things do take time though. I am certain Burke is aware of the old adage, you aren’t as good as your last win or as bad as your last loss.

“”Obviously, the answer I give you Wednesday is different than after our 0-8 start,” said Burke. “So we’re in the process of finishing that evaluation, which of those guys we would like to extend and which we are going to cut loose at the deadline. And then the second thing will be what is a reasonable price for extending a certain player. If the price tag is not reasonable, then we’ll unload him at the deadline.”

Again, I don’t think all that much has changed for Burke. He decided very quickly that he wasn’t an Antropov fan last year. No matter what Burke says, I don’t buy for one second that he is going to try to mortgage anything to simply qualify for the playoffs. So if the question is ship out a guy for a higher draft pick versus, keep him and get nothing to try and sneak in, I suspect that Burke will do the right thing.

“The most intriguing are forwards Alexei Ponikarovsky, Matt Stajan and Nikolai Kulemin, defenceman Ian White and goaltender Vesa Toskala. Any of those players could probably fetch a second-round draft choice or more at the March 3 trade deadline. Of course, depending on what position the team is in by then, it could be in the Leafs’ best interest to re-sign them to new contracts.

Second round picks are valuable, especially to a team that doesn’t have a first this year or next. Perhaps more so than just sneaking into the playoffs. That isn’t me saying Burke shouldn’t try to improve his team for this year, rather it’s just hard for me to imagine that Burke’s opinion is so easily changed after 1 month’s upswing.

“”It’s a work-in-progress for a lot of players,” said Burke. “Players have improved so dramatically in the second month of the season from the first month that obviously it’s changed our view.”

That to me sounds like a sales pitch. The question will be come deadline day, is anyone buying?

Did you see Dowbiggin’s column in the globe? In it he states that John Shannon has replaced Jim Kelley as the permanent/rotating co-hose on McCown’s PTS. The funny thing about that is that I would have laid a few sheckles on Shannon taking over the reigns at the Fan 590 when Nelson Millman moves over to Sportsnet. Shannon may not know the radio business, he does know the media business, clearly McCown likes him and he has lots of contacts in the sports world. As for Kelley, Dowbiggin says that he has left the fan for personal reasons. If that’s truly the case then we hope all is okay for Mr. Kelley. Alternatively, I would say that it’s been long overdue. Kelley hasn’t offered much on the air for a long time. Personally, I would prefer to get more Bruce Arthur and more Jeff Blair then Shannon. One last question, who is going to hook up the old laptop to the TV’s at the Marriott on Bloor now that Kelley is gone?

From freezing Banff….

TSM

@yyzsportsmedia

Traikos article on Burke from the National Post is here

Dowbiggin is here

“”How would I rate the season? Obviously, it is incomplete,” Burke said. “There are certain aspects of our play that have not lived up to our expectations, or even close to it, and there are some other positive signs.”

OK, so you can’t rate the season, let’s start try rating the first quarter. Is he kidding? Positive signs? Are you all familiar with the old saying, “aside from that how was the play Mrs. Lincoln?” I mean come on. I am all for being optimistic and all, but there has to be some degree of truth doesn’t there? I want to see the positives, but I am not. I am, I don’t know kind of finding it hard to look beyond the 3-17 record. With the lone exception of Kessel, I’m finding it really hard these days….

“On the bright side for Burke is the Leafs’ work ethic, their conditioning, and the players’ willingness to stick up for one another like they did in Ottawa two nights ago, in a fight-filled contest featuring ample amounts of the truculence the GM holds dear.”

hehehehehhehe. I guess Joe didn’t know that Gary Roberts was about to slam the leafs conditioning, and I am sure Burke didn’t see it coming either- but hell, you know what they say opinions….

“We have played well enough to win eight of the last 10 games and that’s why you haven’t seem me storm into the dressing room and yell at everybody,” Burke said. “Other than the Minnesota game [a 5-2 loss to another of the league's struggling teams], I think our efforts have been solid.

Horseshoes and hand grenades. That’s the only place where well enough to win counts. I so want to believe in what Burke is selling, but I am just having the hardest time. In the past, it was always easy to be a leafs fan in that the biggest problem was at the top. Whether it was Ballard, Mike Smith, Dryden, JFJ, MLSE whomever- there was hope that one day they would get it right. Last year, by all accounts they did, yet the product appears to have gone backwards. Maybe it’s simply because the first rounder has already been dealt away. There is no silver lining to sucking as bad as we are right now. If we are going to finish dead last, were on pace for 49 points overall right now, then we want the reward that comes with it. Burke has traded that reward away.

“It is clear they are listening to the coach. We are executing our systems. We are working our tails off. We are outshooting our opponent most nights. But [the losses] can’t continue forever.”

Ummmmmmmmm, why can’t the loses continue forever(or for at least this season)? A certain baseball post game host said of Vernon Wells and Alex Rios during multiple points of the season, they can’t hit this poorly all year….Well, they did didn’t they. It seems to me, that the guy who correctly said that if you don’t start every year trying to make the playoffs you should go drive a truck has dramatically lowered his expectations and measures of success. That’s fine, but he should come out and spell it like it is. Say hey, I know we suck, but it’s okay, were going to get through this, we have a plan etc.

“”I have been exploring the trade front since I got here, but it is hard to do, and if this group can’t get it done then the next step is to send somebody down and bring up one of the kids,” Burke said. “If we are not going to have success, then we are going to start the learning process for the young guys.”

Maybe I am being too impatient but, this is getting to be a little hollow. We have heard that he isn’t afraid to send guys down for what seems like a long time, and well, the proof is in the proverbial pudding. Send the message to the non-performers and the kids that their play isn’t acceptable. Deal with the cap ramifications later…send the message- do the right thing.

“We got three wins,” Burke said. “And that can’t continue.”

I agree, lets just see some proof that he means it.

“For the first time since moving into the Air Canada Centre 10 years ago, the NHL’s richest franchise confirms that it has been unable to lease an unspecified number of the facility’s 152 luxury suites for Leafs games this season. Yet the team does not believe this is the first sign that fans are growing weary of the product. “We’re certainly aware of the tipping point theory,” Richard Peddie, president and chief executive officer of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, which owns the team, said yesterday. “We have not experienced it. But listen, winning is the best thing you can possibly do. People want to be entertained, but they want to be entertained and win. We know we’ve got to turn things around, and we will.”

As someone who is constantly asked to procure tickets for people I can tell you that getting leafs tickets has NEVER been easier and more reasonable than it has been this year. Call it the economy, call it a lousy product, but it is what it is.

But here is what I don’t get:

““If you check markets like L.A., Chicago, New York, they haven’t leased out all their suites either,” he said. “So it’s the norm. ”

Richard Peddie’s arrogance. Why is the guy speaking to anyone with ability to write about the team. He comes across like such an ass. This is Burke’s team, he should be answering these questions.

I said this before- screw the outdoor game, play one at the old Gardens! Hell the Leafs are playing a lot like the Leafs I watched at the Gardens for most of my life, why not play one game there vs. the HABS???? Peddie- if you want to do one good thing for Leaf fans, get it done. Play one game at the Gardens Hell even Damien is backing the idea:

“A: Not interested in a game at the dome or BMO Field, really. Now a night of nostalgia at the Gardens, that I could get behind.”

O’Connor is here
Leafs ticket story is here
Damien is here

Quick article review and then Ron Wilson’s potential shot…

If you only read one article on the state of the Maple Leafs, make it Bruce Arthur’s column. It really is a fair and accurate assessment of the where we are today:

“Let’s go over the checklist. What general manager Brian Burke wanted was a team that created a fear-free environment for the skill players; what he has is a fear-drenched environment for his goaltenders. What Burke wanted was a team that played an aggressive, no-Leaf-left-behind style of physical play; what he has is a group often reduced to tentative pylon imitation, afraid to take a penalty on a team that can’t kill penalties.
Oh, and this team still needs work on shooting the puck down the ice on the penalty kill – they failed three separate times on Colorado’s first man advantage. No, seriously, they have trouble shooting the puck down the ice.”

That’s a pretty good summary wouldn’t you say??? Seriously. Where the hell is the team that was fun to watch during exhibition season? I mean Kadri is gone and Bozak back on the pharm, but was Jason Allison the gel holding this team together? Seriously what the hell was in the water up at the Deerhurst?

“Throw in the regression of Luke Schenn, the unwise grittiness of guys like Mike Komisarek – who took a boneheaded elbowing minor 50 seconds after the Leafs cut it to 2-1, leading to a decisive Colorado goal – goaltending only slightly better than that provided by a fire hydrant, and you’ve got a recipe for disaster.”

It isn’t pretty, that’s for sure. On the Schenn thing, how come I haven’t read sophomore jinx yet? Seriously??? Can someone smarter than me tell me that already this season his minutes are down? I mean why else is this guy choking the splinters out of his stick?? He is playing as if he screws up on a shift he will be send to the Marlies…..

“But panic, frankly, is a perfectly reasonable response to this. Before last night’s game the deckchairs were rearranged, in the hope that it would motivate the entire crew. MacDonald and Tyler Bozak and backup goalie James Reimer were elevated from the Toronto Marlies; Toskala – he of the .812 save percentage after the Monday night massacre – was sent for a rather convenient MRI, which was expected to detect his badly sprained confidence

I am so glad he wrote that. What else do people want from Leaf fans? Apathy? Would the media be happier if people were saying gosh gee wilikers, will get the next time????? It’s ok to see things for what they are.

“We don’t seem to have much resilience,” said Leafs coach Ron Wilson, whose sarcastic condescension isn’t playing so well, just now. “So I think right now getting some younger people in there that don’t carry a bunch of baggage around is the way to go.”

Baggage, six games in? Oh, boy. And forwards Matt Stajan and Nicklas Hagman, who had combined for five of Toronto’s 12 goals in the first five games, were benched. Why them?

“Why not?” answered Wilson. “It has to be significant changes. To sit out guys who play on the fourth line but have given a really good effort makes no sense to me.

“We have to shake things up … It can’t always be like the movie Usual Suspects.”

This team already seems shaken enough, thanks. And it certainly looks like there are a lot of the usual suspects hanging around. For all the talk of change, nine of Toronto’s forwards were here last year, mostly on the top three lines, along with more than half their defencemen. Unsurprisingly, this team hasn’t figured out how to play a Burke style, which makes sense, since they’re not Burke guys.

That’s right. 100 percent right. There is a lot of work left to be done by the GM. Unfortunately he is in a bad spot. There clearly aren’t reinforcements on the farm. If there were, they would have made the team. He can send down some vets, however in doing so he has to replace them. Say he goes and gets more experienced (older) players. Then those players will be taking ice time from the kids. We know the battle cry, we have seen this movie before. There is only 1 thing that solves this, or maybe 2. First, is SOLID goaltending. I don’t care what anyone else says, a team plays differently when it plays in front of a goalie that they trust. If you fear that every mistake is going in you will take less chances and make more mistakes (which do in fact end up in your net). Second is time. WIlson and this group need some time.

Ron Wilson’s Shot?

Now, riddle me this batman. Last night Steve Simmons, during Wilson’s post game press conference suggested that nothing is really going right for this team. Wilson’s response surprised me. His response was “well, your right, that is what happens when you set high expectations.” Now, maybe most people didn’t catch it. Maybe too few in the room were paying attention. From where I am sitting, there is only 1 person that set high expectations and his initials are BB. You can watch the video right here. The media didn’t set expectations. I am pretty sure that Ron Wilson didn’t either. Who else could Wilson be referring to? Maybe it matters. Maybe it doesn’t. I am going to file that under the hmmmmmmmmm column. I think it’s worth keeping an eye on.

Courtesy of the National Post, here are interview sessions with Vernon Wells, Aaron Hill, Scott Downs, Roy Halladay, Rod Barajas and Lyle Overbay. Doc predictably says absolutely nothing – the rest is worth a read.

And before you start, don’t miss this gem from Vernon:

Q: Would you say 50%, 80%, 100% [of players are upset with Gaston]?

A: (Laughs) One of those percents, yes.

Wow. More to come.

VERNON WELLS:

There are issues, obviously. If something obviously of that magnitude comes out, obviously there’s some truth behind what comes up. It’s tough for something like that to be stirred up and completely be fabricated. I think some of the issues that go on need to stay in here and be taken care of as a group. That’s something that will obviously play itself out over these next three days and over the course of the off-season.

Q: If there is a delegation appointed to speak to management, will you be one of the leaders?

Whatever goes on, obviously yeah, I’m going to be in the middle of it. Doc [Roy Halladay] and I have been here for the longest time and we’ve gone through our share of managers and coaches. Whatever situations need to go on, and whatever talks need to be made, obviously we’ll be at the forefront of those meetings and discussions.

Q: Has it been since Day 1 of this season, or has there been a moment in time during the course of the season that broke the camel’s back?

Over the course of eight months you’re going to have issues arise. You’re going to have problems and complications. You listen to guys around the clubhouse, and you listen to guys talk, and you listen to different people’s situations, and just different things have kind of gone in a downward spiral just throughout the whole year …

Q: What can you tell us about the issues that you refer to?

Those issues, I’m not in a position to go out and tell other people’s stories and go out and try to bash Cito. It’s not about bashing anybody. It’s about issues that we’re having as an organization, and issues that need to be taken care of as an organization.

Q: Have you attempted to talk to Cito about these issues?

I have not yet. I think that obviously the time is going to come. For some of these discussions I was going to wait until this weekend and kind of clear the air and get some things out there, probably from both sides. I’m sure he has things to say. I’m sure guys have things to say. It remains to be seen how that conversation’s going to go.

Q: Is it your personal intent to do that one on one, or to have a meeting? What was your plan?

This is all kind of happening kind of quickly, to be honest with you. I’ve talked with a couple guys and we’re trying to go about this as professionally as possible. Once we figure that out, obviously you guys will find out since you’ve already found out this much.

Q: Have these issues ever been as bad in this clubhouse during your time here?

No.

Q: Is that’s what driving you guys to act?

What course of action we’re going to take, we don’t know. We’re a family. We go through issues. We have to figure out how to do this in a family manner. Like I said, we’re not out to bash anyone in this situation. It’s a touchy situation. It’s something that obviously most of us, if not all of us in this clubhouse, have not gone through something like this …

Q: This could be interpreted as the players blaming the manager for a season that didn’t go too well. That’s not necessarily your point, is it?

Is it my point? I’ve sucked, period. It’s not his fault, it’s not anybody’s fault. It’s my fault. So as you look around a team full of guys and listen as things go on, this is not about winning and losing. This is about family issues. Obviously, if something comes out and we’ve won our last nine out of 10 games, it’s not about the winning and losing.

Q: Is it about communication?

I think there’s been communication issues with some guys. I think there’s been different issues with different guys. That’s one of them, yes.

Q: Are the problems in the relationship to the point where it would be difficult for this team to play under Cito next year?

I can’t answer that question. I don’t know who’s going to be here next year. I don’t know what moves are going to be made. It all boils down to us playing better on the field. It’s the 25 guys that are willing and committed to trying to get better, and kind of leaving the extracurricular activities to the side and try to concentrate on winning ball games.

Q: When you said earlier about clearing the air, do you see it as a large meeting or a smaller group getting together for that purpose?

I’m sure there’ll be a meeting and I’m sure there’ll be a large group. Like I said, this is a family. We’re all in this together, good or bad, and the discussions will probably be had with pretty much the entire group.

Q: Who will you meet with?

Don’t know yet. I’ve spent pretty much the day with Aaron [Hill] and Rod [Barajas], and we’ve all kind of just been like, ‘What are we going to do? What’s going to happen, especially once we get to the field, and how’s it going to be the next three days with all this coming up?’ The details I don’t know yet.

Q: Have you talked to general manager J.P. Ricciardi or interim president Paul Beeston about your concerns?

No.

Q: Have you talked to them at any point during season about these issues?

No, not really. It’s kind of just been talked about in here …

Q: Have a lot of the younger players been asking you questions to have you maybe guide them through what’s probably maybe a unique experience for them?

I’ve talked to a lot of people on this team, and they’ve all had a lot of questions. Obviously, a lot of those questions I can’t repeat. It’s something that we’re trying to deal with.

Q: Are you the go-to guy for players who have these issues? Are you about the first person to hear from everyone?

I don’t know. Maybe. Some guys, yes, I know. We’re going to have issues. That’s the bottom line. It’s just a matter of trying to keep those issues to a minimum and try to keep them from boiling over. Obviously, unfortunately it’s gotten to the point where things have kind of boiled over.

Q: Would you say 50%, 80%, 100% [of players are upset with Gaston]?

(Laughs) One of those percents, yes.

AARON HILL:

I don’t really have much to say.

Q: Are you part of a clear leadership group?

The guys who are going to be here the next couple years, I think everybody’s a part of it. This is our team. The guys that we’ve had the whole year, we’ve stuck together and we’ve done a great job with it, too. We’ve got a great group of guys and maybe we’ll get together and see how things work out.

Q: Get together with?

I don’t know. That’s something we’ll talk about.

Q: You said the players have done a great job with “it”? What do you mean by “it”?

Great job, just staying together. It really hasn’t even, no matter what has happened, it hasn’t separated any of the guys. We’ve got a tight-knit group of guys and I think it’s kept us pretty strong. It’s good to see, but you hate anything like this coming out. You have to deal with it.

Q: Is the story true?

I think there are some things that need to be addressed, yes.

Q: Is this something that needs to be addressed before next year?

Obviously, the story is out, so I’m sure there will be some things that will come up over the next month or so. I don’t think there’s any rush to get anything out. But, we’ll see.

Q: Are these different opinions, or is it one voice from clubhouse?

I think everybody pretty much feels the same, for the most part. Everything that’s gone on with the team, we’ve stayed together. It’s one of those things where as a whole I think they’ll stay together …

Q: Could this turn into a good thing in terms of veteran guys stepping up and showing leadership?

I guess, yes. It’s just something that I guess you don’t really like anything coming out like that, but in that sense, yeah, some guys will speak out and take control of the team. So it’s something we’ve been lacking, so I guess it would be a possible thing for guys to grab this team and go in the right direction.

Q: Do you expect a small meeting? A group meeting?

I think it’s up to everybody. I think the door will probably be open to whoever wants to be a part of it and we’ll see. Everything’s public now, so I’m sure you guys will know about it in the next couple days.

Q: Is the relationship salvageable between the manager and players?

I think any relationship is salvageable, but on both sides there’s got to be a little give and take. From that part of it, we’ll see what happens.

ROD BARAJAS:

Q: Were you talking with Aaron Hill and Vernon Wells after this came out?

We were. We didn’t come to a conclusion on how this should be approached and what should be said. It caught me by surprise. I wasn’t expecting to see anything written down. I’m just so surprised from reading that.

Q: What are the issues?

I’m not going to get into details on what the issues are. On any team, you’re always going to have issues and they’re going to come up, and as players and teammates you try to figure out ways to deal with them. I’m not going to sit here and say this is what’s wrong or that’s what’s wrong, or this needs to change. For me, I’m not in a situation to sit here and criticize people and give reasons for why things aren’t going the way we think they should.

Q: Is this the most upset a clubhouse has been in your experience?

No, I’ve been on teams where relationships with managers and players aren’t always the best and that easily makes for an unhappy clubhouse and usually you’re not going to have too much success on the field. It happens. Probably to a lot more teams than people think. Usually it doesn’t come out. It stays in house.

Q: Do certain things need to change for you to come back the Jays next year? (Barajas is a free agent after the season.)

Honestly, I haven’t thought about that. Like I’ve been saying before in the past, I love the guys in this clubhouse. I have a good time when I come to the field. I enjoy my teammates’ company and for me that’s the main thing — to be somewhere where the guys who I play with, the guys who I go out on the field with, I enjoy being around and are positive influences in the clubhouse.

Q: Do these issues need to be resolved before next year?

If there’s problems, absolutely. They always have to get figured out. You can’t sit there and let problems linger. A small problem starts growing into a bigger problem and all of a sudden if you let this go for another four months, who knows what could happen? So, if there are some issues, then absolutely you’d want to be able to talk to whoever you need to talk to to try to resolve them. You don’t want to go into a brand new season with a whole set of issues. It’s going to make for an unhappy season.

ROY HALLADAY:

I’ve got nothing for you guys on that. Any concerns or views I have will be expressed, but to the right people.

• • •

LYLE OVERBAY:

I can’t speak for everyone. I can speak for myself. You’re going to have to ask them. It’s been the same since the beginning for me. I wanted tio play every day. I don’t expect him to make 25 guys happy, so I don’t expect him to change just to make me happy. That’s my situation. It’s been evident since the beginning of the season.

Q: Is this something you have talked to the manager about, or tried to talk to him about?

I’ve contemplated about it. Just because at the beginning of the year we were winning, it’s got to be for the better of the team. That’s kind of the way I look at it. I didn’t want to be a distraction. I didn’t want that to be a distraction. I’m putting that on the side burner, but on the same token now, we’re not really winning, so I just might sit down and say I just want to more than anything just to try to figure out what to expect next year, ‘cause it kind of did hit me off guard a little bit when I wasn’t playing every day. It’s something that I need to go in the off-season and get myself prepared and hopefully next year will be different.

Q: And he didn’t talk to you about that?

No. I think [Gaston] has been quoted twice in I don’t know which newspaper but at the beginning of the season that it wasn’t a platoon role, but it didn’t happen that way.

Q: Do other players have maybe not the same kind of complaint you have but other types of issues with communication, his approach, that he’s a very old-school type of guy?

It is old-school. I think when you have a younger group in here, it kind of hit us a little harder. It kind of caught us off guard more than anything. Still, he’s the manager. He’s putting the lineup out there. We’ve still got to go out and do a job. That’s the thing. Not everyone is going to be happy. If you try to make 25 guys happy you’re going to make them even more miserable, I think.

Q: Is there a difference in his style, in his communication, between last year when you were winning, and this year?

No, it’s the same … He never really said a lot. We were winning. He was just kind of sitting on the back burner and watching us play good and watching us do the things we were doing. He’s doing the same thing now, so nothing’s different.

Q: Have the players lost respect for him?

I don’t know. You’ll have to ask them.

Q: How about you?

I haven’t lost respect for him. Like I said, I don’t want to be a distraction, just because this is a team thing and I don’t want for me to say something that might offend somebody that’s going to affect the team.

Q: There’s a group of players that wants to meet with [interim president] Paul Beeston to talk about the situation. Are you aware of that?

I heard that. I didn’t hear it from the players. I don’t know if it’s happening or not.

Q: When did you hear that?

A couple weeks ago, but I hadn’t heard anything since. I don’t know if it’s happened. I don’t know if I was reading it in the paper or something but Beeston was on vacation or something …

Q: It wasn’t from within the clubhouse that you heard that?

I’m trying to remember where I heard that. I don’t think I did. I’m trying to remember. I don’t know.

SCOTT DOWNS:

Q: Do you feel that the young guys in the bullpen need guidance?

Sometimes. That’s been hard. I’m not going to lie. I’ve never been in that leadership role because I’ve always looked up to (B.J. Ryan) and when all that went down [Ryan’s release} we talked about it. I told him I’m going to do everything that I can to keep it the same way you had it, which is hard because we have two different personalities. They do look to me, but I’m more laid-back when it comes to things like that. But if there’s somebody that wants to talk about anything, needs help with something then I’m always there.

It was apparent with the whole B.J. thing that something wasn’t right. I don’t exactly know between those two guys [Ryan and Gaston]. As a bullpen as a whole, we want to just give it the best shot we can. going out and pitching. But sometimes when you don’t know what you’re going to be asked to do, it’s kind of hard.”

-DL

Things had gotten pretty stale around the Raptors lately. Once Bryan Colangelo finished with his offseason makeover, all we could do was speculate and look forward to the start of training camp. Well, it’s here, and two days in there are plenty of fresh stories in each local paper. At this point, nobody really knows what the team will look like on the floor, or how the new group of players will perform. Still, the local media has given the team plenty of love this week, and that’s an understatement.

Put it this way – After reading the stories from the start of training camp, I can’t find anything negative about anyone. From what I’ve read, every single guy is ready for a huge year, while Bosh and Turkoglu’s injuries are being glossed over. And now before anyone accuses me of being a “hater,” (a term I can’t stand), I should add that I expect good things from the Raps. This is more of a commentary on the media than on the players themselves – Again, nobody really knows how this team will play.

But check out the coverage:

From Doug Smith, this piece is yet another article raving about Marco Belinelli’s upside, while ignoring any and every fault in his game…. “General manager Bryan Colangelo raves about the kid, coach Jay Triano thinks he might be one of the big surprises of training camp, executive vice-president and Italian compatriot Maurizio Gherardini said “there’s something about him that’s different.”

Or this article from Frank Zicarelli on Antoine Wright. In case nobody realized, Wright was brought in for his defense. And he hopes to do a good job…mind blowing stuff.

Or this, from the National Post’s Eric Koreen, on Andrea Bargnani… “All signs point to continued maturation for the Italian seven-footer, whom the Raptors selected first overall in the 2006 NBA draft. In the off-season, Bargnani signed a five-year, $50-million US contract, so his mind should be at ease.” Well, I’m sure Bargnani’s mind will be at ease, but he sure as hell better perform. In case nobody realizes, the rest of the league has questioned Bargnani’s extension to no end, considering very good restricted free agents like David Lee have found the market pretty tough this year. In Toronto, though, everything is gravy.

And you don’t have to look far to find glowing first impressions of Reggie Evans and Jarrett Jack, along with pretty much everyone else.

Again, I’m not trying to say any of this is untrue. My point is that whatever you read during training camp needs to be taken with a grain of salt. This is the time when anything seems possible, when every team has playoff aspirations, and when new players are seemingly filled with unlimited potential – Remember the Jermaine O’Neal lovefest from last season?

With an entirely new roster, this was predictable, and a little enthusiasm never hurt anyone. Just remember to stay realistic – Until the team loses, nobody ever gets ripped.

-DL

Media Day is usually one for eternal optimism, and Toronto Raptors General Manager Bryan Colangelo simply couldn’t resist giving another confident prediction…

From the National Post’s Bruce Arthur:

“Bryan Colangelo cannot help himself. He’s a smart guy, and he knows that expectations can be dangerous. He knows that any words he speaks will be carved in stone, whether they’re definitive or not, and that anything less will be considered failure. He knows, because that’s what happened last year.

But the general manager of the Toronto Raptors is so excited he’s practically vibrating along with his ever-whirring BlackBerry. He’s proud of what he’s done. Go ahead, ask him what he expects from this team, nine new players and all. Then, sit back and watch.

“Expectations are obviously that we’re going to be much improved over a 33-win team last year. Beyond that, I’ve never been one to put a number on it,” Colangelo says. And you nod, sure.
“We clearly have an expectation and a desire to get back to the playoffs. But I want us to be in a position where we’re … challenging for advancing to the second round,” he adds. That’s a big goal for a team with nine new players and a first-time head coach, but Colangelo is rolling now, so you nod, sure.

“That means you’re probably putting yourself in a position for the fourth or fifth seed. How many wins does that take? The number doesn’t really matter, but I always want to beat something previously, and 47 wins is the franchise record, which we’ve done twice before now. I’d like to think there’s a way to beat that number,” he continues. OK, so he’s sort of putting a number on it now.

“If you look and say what’s it going to take to be a fourth or fifth seed, I think you’ve got to be at a minimum of 50 games,” Colangelo says, finally wrapping up. “So are you shooting for a target of 50 games? Yeah, I think that’s what we should be realistically looking at.”

Looking at the roster, and the flaws found within the improvements, this is certainly a bold, if not overconfident, prediction. The Raps might win 50 games – More likely, they won’t. Still, it’s not unreasonable, and Colangelo is clearly selling his revamped squad like a proud parent.

We won’t know about the win total for months – For now, I find Colangelo’s decision to make any sort of numbers-based prediction quite interesting. It’s a here-we-go-again statement from the GM, after telling fans that last year’s team was his best yet, “on paper.” If you’re Colangelo, why not talk about progress, optimism and future success without mentioning a win total? Will a 46-win team now qualify as a failure? For me, no. But for many fans, maybe.

On the other hand, many Raptors fans will remember hearing former GM Rob Babcock utter these words in 2005, after dealing Vince Carter and bringing a young, inexperienced roster to training camp:

“There will be growing pains, no doubt about it. Whether we win or lose more games than last year, I think if you look at us on paper, we probably will not win as many games as last year. We more or less have the same team back with the exception of Donyell Marshall, who was an integral part of our team last year. We’re replacing him with rookies.”

Babcock was ripped mercilessly for his honest answer. Was he supposed to spin the team as “solid on paper,” knowing full well he’d be lying?

Obviously, Colangelo finds himself in a totally different situation this year – The team is undoubtedly improved from last season and could easily have a win total in the high 40s. But there are still glaring flaws (rebounding and defense) that may hold the Raps back. I agree with Arthur that Colangelo truly believes in his prediction, but should he have made one?.

If Colangelo thought the Raps would only win 41, would you want him to say it? As a fan, would you rather hear talk of 50 wins, or of steady improvement?

-DL

It’s an interesting time in the Toronto sports scene. The 2 B’s are amidst overhauling Bryan’s Raptors and Brian’s Leafs. The Argo season is just underway and JP’s team may be on the verge of trading the best pitcher perhaps in franchise history (forget Clemens). Compared to the news ravenous hockey season that everyone complains drags on too long, we have reached a lull in the calendar. As a result many of those that we rely on for news and opinion all seem to take the better part of the summer off. Must be nice. Now, I am not saying that anyone taking the time off isn’t deserving. Every working stiff who puts in their time is entitled to a break. Actually, entitled is the wrong word, time away is essential to recharge the batteries and to get re-engages in that which we do on a daily basis. Additionally, I am not saying everyone is off, as clearly the news is getting reported. There are good people writing, blogging and tweeting every day. It is just surprising how many of the industry folks are off at the same time. It’s evident in print, on television, and on the airwaves where many (not all) but many of those we are used to seeing are absent.

To those who have decided (or had it decided for them) to keep us informed during the dog says of summer, THANK YOU.

It is, however another example of just how one dimensional this market has become. The majority of the folks who take extended vacations this time of year are hockey-centric. The free agent frenzy is pretty much over, with the majority of the rush over and news expected to dribble in over the next 6-8 weeks. Clearly, we just aren’t that interested in the Blue Jays as McCown and Watters(to a lesser extent) lead the pack on the long time away list. Watters is clearly a hockey guy who tries to fancy himself as a sports guru. McCown is not supposed to be a hockey guy. He is the sports business guru, who focuses equally among all sports, major and otherwise. So, is it we don’t pay attention as much or they don’t care as much? It seems to me that their is a huge opportunity for some younger, fresher faces to shine. Steve Simmons column was missing from today’s Sun for the second straight week. Why wouldn’t a young cub in the Sun fill in? Don’t have to knock it off entirely but….you get the idea. Over at the Globe where I have sung the Jeff Blair for most improved writer song for a long time, Burnt is off for the summer, gone from the airwaves at the fan and for the most part from the paper too. The absence, to me anyways has had a profound effect. When Brunt wrote last week about Halladay, I couldn’t have cared less about what he had to say. Out of sight, out of relevance. (remember, I am not begrudging Brunt for heading east for a couple of months at all!)

In these quieter times for those we follow on a daily basis there is an opportunity to make an impression for those who may have played second fiddle to more common names in the market. Here’s hoping that those in charge with content on a daily basis allow some, younger, newer faces the opportunity to capture our imagination during this sometimes slow period.

Enjoy your Sunday.

TSM

Bryan Colangelo has done the impossible for the Toronto Raptors.

The GM, who many fans had begun to question, pulled an unbelievable move late Wednesday. From Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports:

“The Dallas Mavericks have reached agreement to acquire Shawn Marion in a sign-and-trade deal with the Toronto Raptors, league sources said Wednesday.

The Mavericks and Raptors recruited the Orlando Magic and Memphis Grizzlies to help facilitate the deal. The Raptors will get Hedo Turkoglu in a sign-and-trade deal with the Magic rather than signing him outright. They also will receive forwards Devean George and Antoine Wright from the Mavericks.

Marion will receive a five-year, $40 million contract from the Mavericks.

Stackhouse will go to the Grizzlies, who will waive him. Only $2 million of Stackhouse’s $7 million contract for next season is guaranteed. The Grizzlies will receive cash, likely $3 million, to participate in the trade.”

Toronto, which gets to keep its midlevel salary-cap exception, sends a trade exception to Orlando. The Mavericks also will receive forward Kris Humphries from the Raptors.”

Bruce Arthur of the National Post has more details:

“Toronto has regained eligibility for the league’s two exceptions to the salary cap. That opens up slots of US$5.854-million and US$1.99-million, which could be used to significantly bolster the team’s battered depth. This is a remarkable coup for Toronto, which was looking to re-sign shooting guard Anthony Parker and swingman Carlos Delfino, and also looking at Denver’s Linas Kleiza, but was up against the cap after agreeing to a five-year, US$53-million deal with Turkoglu, who will now apparently join the team in a sign-and-trade with Orlando, which will receive a trade exception in return.

Now, the Raptors have conjured up extra money to spend.”

This trade is amazing if you’re a Raptors fan. To sum up the reasons:

1. The Raps now have almost $8 million to spend between their two exceptions. This is huge – Fans were already dealing with the fact that Toronto was pretty much done signing players, having maxed out with Turkoglu and with no exceptions. Now we’ll see how BC spends it.
2. The Raps lose Humphrey’s salary and take on two expiring contracts in George and Wright. Hump’s deal lasted two more years and this clears immediate space for next summer, or can act as potential trade bait later.
3. Wright can start at shooting guard if DeRozan isn’t ready…and that’s a distinct possibility.

This trade was great even without the exceptions – To have that makes it simply unbelievable. As Aurthur writes,

“Now, the Raptors can go shopping in a buyer’s market, even if Parker is off the table. What started as a slow off-season for Toronto has turned into a bold series of moves that have the potential to transform the Raptors from 33-win also-ran to playoff contender. Somewhere, Bryan Colangelo should take a bow.”

Indeed.

-DL

Wojnarowski is here.
Aurthur is here.

As promised there will be more coming as I hear and read more information. A couple of brief updates:

Several sources are telling TSM this morning that the reason the League is so upset is that Jerry Moyes, the Coyotes’ chief executive officer and managing member had actually resigned his right to make any decisions as they pertain to the Coyotes as early as two weeks ago (as sources in the Arizona media reported and the team refuted). So far no one from the league will confirm this.

Steve Simmon’s column in today’s Toronto Sun perfectly captures where things stand right now from my opinion:

“Jim Balsillie is well on his way to becoming the dumbest, most stubborn, successful entrepreneur around. How else to explain his latest hockey outburst — his clumsy, all-too-public attempt to bully the National Hockey League into allowing him to purchase the now-bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes franchise and move it to southern Ontario.If all he is attempting here is to find his name in the headlines, he is certainly accomplishing that. But if he honestly believes he can pull an end-run on commissioner Gary Bettman, secure an NHL franchise, move it, and use a public website to drum up support for a seventh Canadian franchise, then he is either getting terrible advice or he is simply fond of banging his head against the wall. Because that’s all he can accomplish here. This is a war he may not be able to win.
Even if he’s willing to overpay for the moribund Coyotes, which he is.”

I totally agree. This is a very strange way to get the leagues blessing to become a member of the club especially when the league has show that this is perhaps more important then ones background or financial wherewithal. I am not sure who is advising Balsillie on this matter, but I think, perhaps he is getting bad advice.

“The league will say it has control over the franchise and any possible movement. They will say that, knowing also there is a long-term lease in Phoenix. But what Moyes and Balsillie are banking on here is direction from the bankruptcy court: Once the court orders the Coyotes to accept the Balsillie offer, which is entirely possible considering there is unlikely to be another offer anywhere close, then Balsillie will pick up the franchise and attempt to move it, likely to Hamilton, with the NHL fighting it all the way.This, almost certainly, will go to court, the way Al Davis had to go to court when he moved the Oakland Raiders to Los Angeles in the National Football League many years ago. Davis won his lawsuit against the NFL. Balsillie is gambling he can win here. Does a second NHL team in southern Ontario make sense? Yes. Does Balsillie have the wherewithal to operate this team? Yes. Is it in the NHL’s best interest to have another team around Toronto? Yes. But the reality is, the number of owners who have attempted to ambush the NHL and succeeded is zero.”

I think that the assumptions Balsillie is making, if Simmons is correct is wrong. I can’t see Balsillie suing the NHL to get into the club and I can’t see a trustee in bankruptcy voiding the league franchise agreement.

Bob McKenzie has a great article up on TSN.ca too:

“The first thing you need to know is that NHL commissioner Gary Bettman was in Phoenix today, ostensibly to put the finishing touches on an intent to purchase agreement from Chicago White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, whose intention was to apparently keep the financially-troubled Coyotes in their current home of Glendale, which is also home to Reinsdorf’s spring-training baseball facility (a mile away from the Coyotes’ Jobing.com Arena). That offer was expected to materialize within the next few days.”

Everything I am hearing (and reported earlier yesterday am) confirms this. Don’t think that the Balsillie bid is going to stop Reinsdorf per se. The Bankruptcy proceedings may, not the $212.5 offer.

“Balsillie’s bid of $212.5 million is what is known as a ‘’stalking horse bid.” All that effectively means is that Balsillie’s bid officially kicks off an official auction process. If anyone chooses to outbid Balsillie, they must do so by at least $5 million. The bankruptcy court is obliged to accept the highest offer that provides the best financial relief to the secured creditors, which ironically includes the NHL as the second largest ($35 million). It is unfathomable to think anyone would make the $217.5 million offer to keep the team in Phoenix. But where this starts to get confusing is the conditional aspect of the offer. Balsillie is only prepared to pay $212.5 million as long as the franchise is moved to southern Ontario.”

Bingo! The condition precedent problem for both the Coyotes and Balsillie.

“The question then becomes, can a bankruptcy court in Arizona mandate the NHL to relocate or transfer a franchise in order to satisfy the needs of the Coyotes’ secured creditors? It’s an interesting legal question and without putting words in anyone’s mouth – no one is commenting anyway – the safe bet is that Balsillie’s group believes that’s a possibility while the NHL doesn’t believe a bankruptcy court can tell it how to conduct its affairs.”

That is right. The 212.5 million dollar question is…..what does the franchise agreement say with respect to transfers AND….is that language legally binding? If it says the league can kill the transfer and a court will back that clause, Balsillie is out of luck. If it says the league can kill the transfer and a Balsillie and the Coyotes are willing to fight in court and the court agrees that the provision is illegal then they have a good shot. IF the provision says the league can kill a transfer with a 1/3 of the owners agreeing to kill it, well then it gets really, really interesting.

“The NHL, meanwhile, is likely to battle Balsillie on the issue of ”control.” While the league will get destroyed in the court of public opinion in Canada, it is quite likely to exert what it perceives to be its legal rights on how it does business. That is, the league believes it ultimately controls who owns NHL franchises and where they are located. To do that, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman will ultimately require the backing of the board of governors, but he has had it in the past. It remains to be seen whether he has it this time, but this has all the makings of a battle royale. The battle lines are clearly drawn. While Bettman and the NHL will take a beating in that court of public opinion in Canada, one suspects this situation will ultimately be decided in a legal court.

That is correct. This, perhaps more then the lockout will challenge Bettman’s authority and control over his group of owners. Will he survive this is the right question. $212.5 million sounds pretty good to the owners of the Thrashers, Panthers and the estate of Bill Davidson to name but a few.

If you are looking for another perspective on the matter Damien Cox’s is here. The gist is that the only way the team ends up in southwestern Ontario is if Balsillie and Bettman kiss and make up, which Damien suggests isn’t very likely.

You can read my other article on this matter here

Simmons is here

McKenzie is here

Hey folks, I have spent the better part of the night talking to various folks in and around the Coyotes/Balsillie issue. I have tried to put together some facts and some opinions and of course in TSM fashion a good look at what else is being said on the WWW:

Craig Harris did a bang up job on his account of where things are and where they are going. Here are the goods:

“The Phoenix Coyotes filed for Chapter 11 reorganization today in a move that could allow the franchise to be sold and moved to southern Ontario, Canada.”

Yes indeed they did. The Coyotes have put themselves under the protection of the courts from their creditors. The potential move to Canada stems from the only offer on the table right now for the assets, is Jim Balsillie’s very rich offer of $212.5m USD; an offer which carries with it a pre-condition that he be allowed to relocate the team to “southwestern Ontario”.

“The move is not a certainty, because other investors will have an opportunity to outbid PSE’s offer.”

This is correct, 100% correct. Anyone can now tender an offer for the purchase of the assets of the now bankrupt Phoenix Coyotes. Normally, any new offer would have to be higher then the original offer (Balsillie’s in this case). These are not normal bankruptcy proceedings though, and I will explain more below.

“Jerry Moyes, Coyotes’ chief executive officer and managing member is the team’s largest unsecured creditor at nearly $104 million, according to bankruptcy records. The city of Glendale, which receives lease payments from the team to play at Jobing.com Arena, is an unsecured creditor in the bankruptcy filing. The city would have to make a claim with the court to receive any payments, according to the team’s bankruptcy lawyer.”

For those of you a tad confused, let’s review some basic terminology. A secured creditor is a party who has lent money to another and has taken a piece of collateral as security on that loan. For example, when one buys a house, goes to the bank and gets a mortgage, the bank, has the house as collateral. You can’t sell the house without the bank getting it’s money first. If you get into money trouble, the bank can take back the house. The bank is a secured creditor. Now, when you buy that house and your parents or a friend lends you money to help pay for the house and you promise to pay that person back for their loan and you have nothing else between you and your friend or relative, then if something happens to you, and you lose the house or stop paying for the house, your friend could lose all their money too. That person is an unsecured creditor. They have no security to get their money back. Why is this important? Well, for one the trustee in bankruptcy (like a judge) number one job in these proceedings is to get the creditors the most money he or she can for the assets of the Coyotes. Secured creditors will get paid first. So, in this instance, when the team is sold, the secured creditors (see below) will get paid ahead of both Jerry Moyes and the city.

“Balsillie’s price of $212.5 million provides funds to pay secured creditors in full. Approximately $80 million would go to SOF Investments LP and $35 million to the NHL, which had loaned the team money earlier this year.”

Okay, so the amount of JB’s offer is just enough to pay off only the secured creditors, SOF investments and the NHL. There is nothing left for any unsecured creditors.

“That would leave $97.5 million to unsecured creditors. Coyotes owners would receive nothing for their equity investment, including $206.5 million in preferred and common equity that will not be recovered by Moyes under the current offer.”

Well, maybe. I don’t know who SOF investments is but they appear to be getting some money. So I have to believe that Moyes will get something back. Otherwise why else would he allow or encourage Balsillie to put in this offer at this time.

“Likewise, the City of Glendale, which has been very cooperative with efforts to keep the team in Glendale, will be able to provide potential buyers assurances of the City’s willingness to offer incentives to keep the team as a tenant in the Jobing.com arena, the lease for which is subject to rejection in bankruptcy,” Moyes said. “The process assures that the identities of the new owner and the team’s location will be known by June 30, 2009, thus enabling the NHL to include the team in its 2009-10 schedule.”

Again, this may or may not be true. Yes there is now a window to try to figure this out. Things however in the legal process can be stretched out if needed. I do think there is no chance that this team plays anywhere other then in Phoenix next season.

“At the end of the day, you have a team that was not making money. It has not made money since it has been here, and he (Moyes) received an offer,” said Thomas Salerno, the bankruptcy attorney for the Coyotes. “We feel it (offer) maximizes the value of the team for the assets and in such a way that sets up a process where other people can bid.”

I include this so you know that when I talked to a successful bankruptcy attorney this evening the first thing he asked me was if Salerno was the attorney hired by the Coyotes. Salerno is without question the top bankruptcy attorney in Arizona and a renowned expert in the field in the USA. While the team may not be good at making money in hockey, they certainly now how to pick bankruptcy attorneys.

The good folks at TSN have a similarly good account of the story:

“”The current team ownership asked that I table an offer to purchase the Coyotes and significant discussions resulted in an offer that is in the best interests of the franchise, the NHL, and the great hockey fans of Canada and Southern Ontario,” Balsillie said in the release. “I am excited to move closer to bringing an NHL franchise to what I believe is one of the best un-served hockey markets in the world, Southern Ontario. A market with devoted hockey fans, a rich hockey history, a growing and diversified economy and a population of more than 7 million people,” he said.

And the PR campaign begins. Know this, sports fans. Jim Balsillie is not a fool. He doesn’t play games, and he certainly doesn’t play them to lose.

“The release also says, Balsillie agreed to post debtor-in-possession financing of $17 million (US) at the request of the Coyotes franchise. The money will keep the franchise going before the sale is completed.”

So Balsillie has now made 17m USD available to the Coyotes to continue operating should his offer be accepted but before the transaction is completed. This is an important move and something that the trustee will look most favorably at. The Coyotes could use this money for operating expenses and Balsillie’s purchase would be reduced by any amount that the franchise used before the deal closes.

“Sources tell TSN that the NHL is not happy with what is perceived by the league as a powerplay by Balsillie and will wrestle with this matter in court. Those proceedings are expected to begin on Thursday. After learning of the purchase on Tuesday, the NHL’s deputy commissioner Bill Daly released the following statement: “We have just become aware of today’s Bankruptcy Court filing purportedly made on behalf of the Phoenix Coyotes. We are investigating the circumstances surrounding the petition, including the propriety of its filing. We have removed Jerry Moyes from all positions of authority to act for or on behalf of the Club. The League will appear and proceed before the Bankruptcy Court in the best interests of all of the Club’s constituencies, including its fans in Arizona and the League’s 29 other Member Clubs.”

And now, my friends it get’s really interesting. The league looks at this bankruptcy as being driven by Jim Balsillie. Therefore, the league will likely petition the court to investigate the validity of the filing of bankruptcy as early as Thursday in court. So where the team denied that the league was running the show only days ago, they are now saying publicly that they are in fact running the team. They have removed the owner! Oh- the irony. Gary Bettman doesn’t like to be pushed around and he is clearly viewing this as someone trying to push him around.

Now, Scott Burdow a journalist for the East Valley Tribune reports that the Balsillie purchase is all but a done deal and the team is gone:

“In case you hadn’t heard, the Coyotes filed for bankruptcy Thursday, and the filing included a proposed sale to Canadian billionaire Jim Basillie, who would pay $212.5 million for the team and move it to Ontario, Canada. Other offers will be entertained in an effort to keep the team in Glendale, but a buyer willing to outbid Basillie would require a miracle on the size of the Red Sea parting, and last I looked, Moses wasn’t in the market for a hockey team. No, by the end of June the moving vans will back up to Jobing.com Arena and take the Coyotes away box by box, stick by stick.”

Scott has jumped the gun just a tiny bit here. You see, this is not an ordinary bankruptcy proceeding. Let’s assume for one second that the trustee rules that this is a valid filing. Ordinarily, the Trustee’s only job is to get the most cash for the creditors. In this case there is a problem, at least in theory. The NHL has, I believe a contractual legal condition precedent to any sale of the franchise. You see, each NHL franchise has an agreement with the league that governs it’s ownership of their franchise. This agreement I suspect contains a provision that deals with any transfor(sale) of the franchise. I don’t know this for sure, but I am sure there is some sort of provision that gives the league the ability to approve any transfer. More specifically, this provision probably gives the league the ability to kill any transfer. Now, in most bankruptcies this type of agreement may not prevail. However, courts will enforce these types of provision under certain circumstances. The league will argue that the provision is required to ensure that the right type of person buys a franchise (they don’t want mobsters, thiefs etc- unless of course they approve them and only find out they are bad owners after the fact). The league won’t have to argue that the provision needs to be enforced to keep Balsillie out specifically, rather that the league needs the provision in general. It is extremely unlikely that the trustee will not enforce this provision of the franchise agreement. Therefore, all the league has to do is object to Balsillie as an owner (in whatever fashion it has to in accordance with the actual provision) and the Balsillie offer is dead.

“Fans will brave rush hour traffic to see a winner. But it’s been seven years since the Coyotes were in the playoffs, and they never won a postseason series. By the end, only die-hard hockey fans were venturing to the arena, and there aren’t enough of those in the Valley to support a team. For that, Wayne Gretzky has to take responsibility. He was supposed to bring a Stanley Cup to Phoenix, but he surrounded himself with cronies and yes men and turned out to be a mediocre coach. His reputation will survive — he’s still the greatest player ever — but when the eulogy is given, he won’t be spoken highly of.”

One word for that …. WOW….

“Let this be said, even as we say goodbye: There isn’t a better game to watch in person. Even a hockey neophyte like me appreciated the athleticism, the speed and the hits that rattled the bones and the plexiglass. I’ll remember Jeremy Roenick playing with a broken jaw, Keith Tkachuk standing in front of the net, harder to move than a tree trunk, and the loyalty of Shane Doan. But the Coyotes were a longshot to begin with. Everything had to go right for them; instead, nearly everything went wrong and they never had a chance. We’ll move on without them. Quickly, I imagine. Still, I can’t help but think that sometime in the next few years, when a playoff series has gone to Game 7 and the hockey is intense and the beards long, we’ll wonder what might have been. What a shame.”

What a terrific eulogy to a team. It says here it is premature but it is the type of thing that Bettman inc. was betting on when they moved the team to a market like Phoenix.

Over at Sportsnet, they fellas had some interesting tidbits to add in:

“Balsillie has turned up the heat by going public in his bid. He’s asking fans who want to see a seventh NHL franchise in Canada to make their voices heard, asking them to log on to www.makeitseven.ca to add their voices to his bid. Balsillie said that the website has already had “thousands and thousands” of comments. “I think it affirms there’s an unserved market, there’s a real opportunity here,” Balsillie said. “I’m prepared to put this kind of funding . . . I believe this is a serious commitment.”

The website for the record can’t have “comments” it asks people to register. According to the folks running the site, in a little over 3 hours since it’s launch the site had over 10,000 registrations. So what is Balsillie’s game? What is he trying to do? There are not infinite ways this can end? The easiest way for it to end would be for another bidder to up the ante, offer more then Balsillie’s 212.5. That, isn’t going to happen. However, that isn’t the end of the discussion. If the NHL can enforce it’s ability to approve any transfer of a franchise, then Balsillie’s bid is dead. So what is left? Well, if no one else emerges, and the league kicks Balsillie’s bid that will be the end of the franchise. The team will go from chapter 11 protection to chapter 7 and fold. However, if another bid emerges, remember my earlier post on Jerry Reinsdorf, well then it too can be approved by the court. If Jerry gets huge concessions from the city, gets a real sweetheart deal, and puts in a lower offer of say 100-150 million there is nothing stopping the Trustee from accepting that offer if the league agrees. Those are really the only options.

Where it gets really interesting is in the NHL office and backrooms. The economy is shit. Any number of teams are struggling and those who are doing better are facing upward pressure to keep them alive. Toronto is an interesting example because they are spending more money in propping up teams then any other team, so you would think they would want to move those teams on life support faster then anyone else. Except in this case, they certainly don’t want a team here in Toronto. The classic NIMBY case. We want to help, but not in my backyard thank you! The league is owed over $30 million. That’s around a million per team. Compare if you will what Larry Brooks claimed the league made form it’s NBC deal last year, 100k per team! 1 million is a lot of money to those teams in these times. Some say that the league can only veto a move if it has over 1/3 of the owners voting against the move. Bettman will try to sway as many votes as he can, he was successful in the lockout in keeping his ducks in a row. How successful will he be now and with this fight. You can bet on 2 teams for sure voting with Bettman, Toronto and Buffalo. I would include Ottawa as a strong alley too. After that all bets are off. Owners are going to vote with their pocketbooks not allegiances. If the league gets its 32m back and instead of a deadbeat team gains a profitable one, how much better is that for all the partners??

Over in the Globe, David Shoalts and Sean Gorden have this to offer:

“According to a source close to the deal, Balsillie plans to lean on his sterling business reputation and play the public opinion card strongly; the first burblings of the strategy showed up in the form of a new website in support of a seventh Canadian NHL team.”

As I have stated already, I agree he will try to win the PR war, the question is,who is he fighting with and in to what end?

“At the same time, the source indicated there was no prior agreement or consultation between Balsillie and league commissioner Gary Bettman — who was said to be incensed at news of the proposed deal — although there are suggestions other owners and the players’ union could support moving the team. And Balsillie is reportedly determined not to play by Bettman’s rules, so just to be on the safe side, he has also pulled what appear to be some canny legal manoeuvres.”

Bettman is a control freak and an egomaniac. Of course this will incense him. The other owners are key, as the for the PA, Kelley and Healey can make as much noise as they want, but they are powerless unless they are prepared to strike over this issue.

“A former NHL owner was more forthcoming, calling it “a game of chicken” whose winner will be chosen by an Arizona bankruptcy judge. Sources say Balsillie quietly contacted municipal officials in Hamilton, Ont., about 10 days ago to sound them out over whether they would be interested in reviving a 2004 deal for lease rights to the Copps Coliseum and Hamilton Place. City officials indicated they would leap at the chance, the source added.”

This really won’t be surprised by the courts. Assuming the NHL has the clause that I am told they do, there is not much to decide. Hamilton may have to suffice as a temporary home to a team. The problem for Balsillie is that he would have to deal with 2 teams, Toronto and Buffalo not just one if he moved it closer to the GTA. Is anyone surprised at the Hamilton reaction?

“News of the bankruptcy and the shock offer to buy the team stunned several owners — “Holy shit!” was the response offered by two of those contacted by The Globe — including one of the teams that could oppose a relocation to the Hamilton region. “This is a complete surprise, you still need league approval for all this stuff, so I don’t know what to say,” said Buffalo Sabres minority owner Larry Quinn.”

To his credit, Balsillie and the owners of the Coyotes kept this very, very quiet. That is impressive. The owners response by the way is classic!

“Either way, Bettman’s sway over the owners, many of whom have been quietly courted by Balsillie, will be tested in what is shaping up to be a contest of wills. An NHL governor who spoke on condition of anonymity revealed some of the animus some owners feel toward Balsillie, whose ham-fisted attempts to move the Penguins and the Predators to the Toronto region earned him no friends among Bettman and his coterie of allies.The governor pointed out that franchises are granted by the league, which could just as easily revoke them — although that would surely form the basis of a nasty and lengthy lawsuit.”

There is no revoking to make so I am not sure the basis of that point. What the other governors think of Balsillie is paramount in this decision however and one think worth digging into.

“”Balsillie tends to do things like this. The game last night [on Monday between the Penguins and Washington Capitals] was amazing, it’s too bad this has to follow on the heels of that,” the governor said.”

That is what must be killing Bettman. This is not what he wants idiots like me writing about tonight. Instead of watching 1 second of a game tonight I talked to people about this! That is not what the league wants it’s fans to do.

“More evocative, then, is a subsequent passage of the release: “overbids must exceed the PSE proposal by $5-million and must be fully funded at closing without a financing contingency.”

Not so fast on that one. A lesser bid without the condition may have to be considered. At least that is what my legal guru’s are telling me tonight.

Still at the Globe Stephen Brunt has an excellent commentary:

“So here we are … with an owner who has no other options, in a league fighting multiple fires, with a process that is now in the hands of the courts. A more-than-fair offer is on the table, one that will help prop up franchise values, will solve a huge problem, will save millions in bailout money and will instantly transform a have-not franchise into a have. Think maybe Jim Balsillie has talked to some of those other owners over the past few months? Think maybe they’ve come to understand he’s not the bogeyman, that he might be the best and only alternative right now?”

That is exactly where we are at. This is all going to be handled behind closed mahogany doors. Bettman has been able to stay away from the likes of Balsillie before through magic and luck. Will that hold true this time?

“And when the commissioner calls them to the barricades for what would be a protracted, expensive legal battle to keep Balsillie out of the league and to keep him from moving the club (he certainly meets all of the criteria they’ve laid out in their bylaws), think they’re ready to follow him blindly into battle one more time? He won the lockout — and look at what that fine, fail-safe labour agreement delivered. He beat back Balsillie twice, and how did that fix anything? He said not so long ago that Phoenix would be just fine. How did that work out? By all accounts, the commissioner was apoplectic last night. It seems he may have good reason. In chess, it’s called being put in “check.” Bettman has already proved himself a grandmaster of the game. But even the best of them eventually meet their match.”

Balsillie threatens everything that Bettman is to the league. If he is a rogue prospective owner how will he act when he is an owner, one of Bettman’s bosses? This is war, and it is very, very personal.

Kevin McGran leads his column in the Star with this:

“The NHL took control of the Phoenix Coyotes on Tuesday evening, removing owner Jerry Moyes from all positions of authority and seems set to challenge the very notion that the troubled NHL franchise is bankrupt.”

Do you think that is what Bettman want’s to be dealing with during the playoffs?

Hanky has one of the most bizzare posts in the history of his site, as he goes Oliver Stone:

“I think someone is trying to get the NHL to budge on their anti Balsillie stance. And listen. I know Balsillie and I like Balsillie. I WANT AND BELIEVE THE BEST THING FOR THE NHL WOULD BE TO GIVE JIM A TEAM! If Balsillie is the one behind this act I would be somewhat surprised. UNLESS Jim is just continuing on his path to make a legal case that would force the NHL to give him a team in some sort of settlement. Those are high risk stakes for a guy that would in all likelihood have a team if he just respected the systems in place…But seriously, I don’t know what is happening at this point. One thing is for sure…Its a crazy night…stay tuned.”

I am going to let his post stand for itself…believe what you want, call me a sucker, but I don’t think this is a “sham”

“He called it “a very clear and serious offer. I’m excited and delighted to make this offer and try to bring a seventh team to Canada for hockey fans in an unserved market of Southern Ontario.”

That from the National Post from Jim Balsillie himself. Doesn’t sound like a sham to me at all does it to you?

I will update tomorrow as more gets printed and said. This is going to be a wild ride. Enjoy it. We don’t get stuff like this all the time.

Read Craig Harris here
Read TSN here
Read Scott Burdow here
REad Sportsnet here
Shoalts and Gordon are here
Brunt is here
McGran is here
Hanky is here
The National Post is here