Thursday is a big day for the National Hockey League. As its 30 teams prepare to open training camps, the league and commissioner Gary Bettman continue to fight for the right to handle the Phoenix Coyotes as they see fit.The bankrupt franchise goes to auction Thursday, and a field of four bids appears to have been whittled down to just two. The league will be up against the original buyer, Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie. While the NHL insists that the franchise be allowed to stay in Phoenix, Balsillie's purchase is contingent on him moving it to Hamilton, Ont., and making it the seventh Canadian franchise in the league.
It was reported late Tuesday that Ice Edge Holdings, a group of businessmen from both the United States and Canada, will no longer be bidding for the team.
Principals with Ice Edge did not respond to requests for comment, and they have not officially withdrawn their bid. The group of Canadian and American investors included team minority owner John Breslow and was working with coach and minority owner Wayne Gretzky.The league jumped in the fray only after White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf withdrew his bid. The NHL bid is only meant to allow the league the final determination of what happens to the organization. They intend to pursue a local buyer who will keep the club in Arizona. That bid was placed after NHL owners voted 26-0 (there were three abstentions) against Balsillie buying the Coyotes.
While it's purely speculative, Ice Edge may have withdrawn over issues with the club's lease at Jobing.com Arena. The group's decision to bid on the team was contingent on their ability to renegotiate the agreement.
Thursday could be the end of this summer-long fiasco, but maybe it won't be. No matter what, it's hard to imagine anyone allowing the franchise to relocate now, given that there are logistical issues with making such a move when we have only three weeks until the season starts.
