The Phoenix Coyotes are in limbo. With a hearing Thursday in front of a bankruptcy court judge looming, the NHL appears dead-set against allowing the agreed-to sale of the team to Jim Balsillie stand.Commissioner Gary Bettman was in Arizona Tuesday, and the league will represent the team at the Thursday hearing. Word now is that the league is working with Chicago White Sox and Chicago Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to put together a bid for the team.
Reinsdorf has achieved great success in the NBA and in baseball, and he obviously knows how to build winning franchises. If he's involved, it could be great news for the folks in Glendale.
Reinsdorf and NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman were seen having dinner at a Glendale hotel in late March during spring training, perhaps discussing a financial deal. It is not known how much money Reinsdorf would invest in the Coyotes.It makes sense that Bettman would go this route. He needs to find competent ownership for this franchise, or he might as well just let Balsillie take them to Hamilton.
Glendale city manager Ed Beasley told the Associated Press an offer to buy the team and keep it in Arizona will be made soon and confirmed Reinsdorf and the NHL are working together.
"I will say we are very confident that an offer will be made," Beasley said.
One would think that Bettman's heavy involvement in this would make Reinsdorf's approval a slam-dunk if he were to ever come for a vote among the 29 other owners.
