NHL phoenix Coyotes

Around 10 AM ET Friday morning, the Florida Panthers announced on their twitter feed that some breaking news was set to be announced within the hour. The first thought, of course, was centered around the possibility of the team trading defenseman Jay Bouwmeester's rights to a club that intended to sign him. Or, perhaps, that a general manager had been named.

Two hours later, TSN's Darren Dreger announced, via his own twitter feed (naturally), that Florida and Phoenix had made a trade. The deal? Steven Reinprecht to Florida in return for Stefan Meyer. Considering the initial build up, it was kind of a letdown.

A's owner Lew Wolff says he's not looking at the Coyotes' threatened move from Phoenix as any kind of model for Oakland's baseball team, an idea that had been hinted at by the Los Angeles Times over the weekend.

Instead, it's the Sharks who are providing some inspiration for Wolff as the A's begin exploring their options in San Jose.

"The Sharks are the single most import venture of that sort to happen in that city," Wolff says.

The old saying "third time's the charm" doesn't appear to apply to Jim Balsillie.

The very rich Canadian gentleman has seen yet another attempt to buy an NHL team for his friends in Hamilton go up in smoke. Monday, a bankruptcy court judge in Phoenix rejected Balsillie's bid for the Coyotes, clearing the way for the franchise to stay in Phoenix. The Coyotes join the Penguins and Predators as teams Balsillie has unsuccessfully tried to buy and move to Hamilton, Ont.

While the National Hockey League continues to fight for what they feel is right for the Phoenix Coyotes, it appears they have some friends in high places.

Commissioner Gary Bettman isn't going into this fight alone. Filings in U.S. Bankruptcy Court Monday included statements from the National Football League, National Basketball Association, and Major League Baseball.

It has become quite clear that the NHL intends to keep the struggling Phoenix Coyotes where they are. Unless the bankruptcy court decides in favor of a bid from Blackberry founder Jim Balsillie, there is little chance the franchise will relocate.

This sentiment was made even stronger Friday, when league deputy commissioner Bill Daly spoke to The Canadian Press.

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.

The NHL hasn't had a franchise relocation since the Hartford Whalers became the Carolina Hurricanes in 1997. Longtime commissioner Gary Bettman appears determined to keep that record intact.

Upon news that the Phoenix Coyotes had filed for bankruptcy and that owner wannabe Jim Balsillie had made a bid for the franchise, Bettman and the league reacted quickly. Based on what has been said in the last 18 hours, you can bet they're going to do what they can to keep the Coyotes in Glendale.

The NHL has worked very hard to play up the good about this season. There has been plenty to get excited about: interest is up, and the playoffs have been wonderful so far.

However, there is a harsh reality looming in Arizona. While the league can claim health for 29 of its 30 franchises, there is one team that doesn't appear immune to the economic problems facing so many. The Phoenix Coyotes have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, and it appears their future in Glendale is in serious doubt.

Nothing beats that first NHL goal. Teammates mob you, and someone saves you the puck so you'll have it forever. Unfortunately, no one seems to remember a guy's first NHL fight as fondly. Devin Setoguchi of the Sharks is in his first full season in the NHL, and it's been a good one for him (30 goals and 63 points). Thursday, Setoguchi dropped the gloves for the first time in his NHL career, fighting Martin Handzal of the Coyotes, who isn't exactly known for his enforcing skills. Despite their lack of NHL fighting experience, the two combined to produce a very entertaining bout.



(Tap of the stick: HockeyFights.com)

In life, no matter what your goal is, there are surely many others fighting towards the same destination. Competitiveness is what separates those who reach that goal from those who don't. It's one of the pillar ethos in sports. To allege that a lack of competitiveness is intentional is about as bad as it gets.

After Thursday night's game between the dismal Coyotes and the dismal-er Avalanche, a Coyotes team official leveled such an accusation against Colorado.