Quote:
Originally Posted by Mutt
what a bunch of clowns - the NHL doesn't like being pushed around. NHL is a private business and decides who gets a franchise and where. Toronto Maple Leafs own the rights to their territory and there's not a court in the US or Canada who would side with Jim Balsillie or these clowns.
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That's not entirely true. Balsillie isn't infinging directly on Toronto's territory. Granted that it is closer than Ottawa, however the Leafs will feel ZERO impact by it. And this 'Legacy' team is just a 'proposal', not a push around. The only market it may affect is the Sabres, but they've been hurting for a long time - Buffalo hasn't been a viable market for years now.
Bettman needs to step down - he is a disgrace to the commissioner throne now. To stand against Balsillie for the third time now, and tell the courts that Phoenix is a viable market is a fucking joke. They haven't made profit since being there.
If this was reversed, and it was a Canadian team to be relocated to the US, he'd be all over it like DWB on an Asian School Girl
Don't get me wrong, Bettman has done some good for the NHL, but he has done much wrong to it as well. He oversaw the Minnesota North Stars go to Dallas, and now Minnesota has a team again. FAIL. He's overseen the Winnipeg Jets go to Phoenix and FAIL. He approved a Nashville expansion team which the market has not proven to be good, and its still up in the air if this team will be in Nashville for much longer.