If You Could Be Any NHL Player, Who Would It Be?

I converse on a daily basis with hockey fans on the NHL Digest Twitter feed and Facebook Page. These conversations typically involve questions and scenarios being debated back and forth – some more interesting than others, of course.

A couple of days ago I asked the question:

“If you could be any NHL player, who would it be and why?”

With the variety of hockey fans on Facebook and Twitter, I expected a plethora of different answers and reasons. What I wasn’t prepared for was such a tiny amount of responses that actually mentioned anything to do with hockey skill.

Of course some of the answers were funny, others tried to be but failed, and a few were serious and gave legitimate reasons for their choice.

The following are a few of the favorite responses.

Henny Penny chimed in to vote for Winnipeg Jets / Phoenix Coyotes Captain, Shane Doan.

Henny calls Doan the “greatest, most humble captain out there”

Vancouver Canucks fan, Peter James Woods, loves him some Rick Rypien toughness!

Peter would love to step into Rypien’s Skates because he “chops down fools who step to him”.

Craig Kanalley, better known as the Traffic and Trends Editor at the Huffington Post, shows his hockey knowledge with his description of Ryan Miller.

Craig opines: “Ryan Miller. Calm, cool, collected. Passionate and just plays the game. All admirable qualities”.

We won’t mention anything about the 2010 Olympic Gold Medal game to Craig. Nothing good can come from dwelling on losses.

I suppose that’s a good a segue as any to start talking about the Leafs.

Justin, from the Hockey Card Show, referred to Dion Pahneuf’s bold move of walking into the Leafs dressing room and taking control of the music just after being traded to Toronto from Calgary.

Justin bows down to Dion with this tweet: “Phaneuf…I never get the change the music at work right now”.

The most popular player selected, believe it or not, was retired Flyers’ Goaltender Ron Hextall. Two of the best replies to the posed question featured Hextall as their choice.

The first reply was from Anthony Curatolo, who waxed a little poetic about the Broadstreet Bullies.

Ron Hextall – The man was the definition of a Flyers goaltender. had heart, soul and a temper. My idol growing up!

And, last but certainly not least, the most enthusiastic reply and my selection for tweet of the day goes to Patrice Leonard.  Patrice also chose Ron Hextall, and in did so in most convincing fashion. I wonder if she’s ever seen his naked interview?

The news may be slow, but there are still entertaining hockey conversations going on, so feel free to participate.

Not sure I’ll be running out to get a tattoo of an NHL player’s autograph any time soon (although it’s really hardcore), but calling someone the “badassiest of all bad asses” is now on my bucket list.

Which NHL player would you choose to be and why? Drop your answer in the comments – I’d love to hear from you!

NHL Enters Bid To Buy Coyotes

Today the National Hockey League officially filed a bid in U.S. Bankruptcy Court to purchase the Phoenix Coyotes and keep the team in Arizona.

In what some would have you believe is an “unexpected turn of events” in the Phoenix Coyotes drama, we talked about from day one of the legal proceedings here on NHL Digest.

Eerily prophetic, if I do say so myself, here is a direct quote from our May 22 overview of the Coyotes situation:

The NHL raised its line of credit from $70 million to $200 million Monday, citing low interest rates and the need to be prepared for the future. These reasons seem hollow and the timing suspect at best.  A US bank holds the credit, whose rates are directly impacted by the Federal Reserve. The next scheduled Fed meeting regarding rates is June 23-24, or well after the Cup finals. If interest rates were the true motive, they will likely still be there after the Cup is awarded and the deal did not have to be executed the day before the first major hearing.

Could the NHL potentially be a bidder to stabilize a market they obviously believe in? Could they be ready to run the team and bankroll its operations throughout a prolonged legal battle? Or is the financial health of other franchises far worse than anyone knows, with this being the first of many dominoes to fall during the recession?

Banning Balsillie

It has become more and more clear that the National Hockey League will do anything in its power to prevent Jim Balsillie from owning a franchise. And, with Balsillie’s bid looking strong in comparison to the fledgling bids of two other groups – one from Jerry Reinsdorf (Update: Reinsdorf’s bid has mysteriously been pulled off the table) and the other from a group called Ice Edge Holdings the NHL decided to take the step of entering it’s own bid for the team.

The League’s position is that if they are successful in bidding for the franchise, they would then turn around and sell it to whomever they believe is a suitable owner – which they could do at their leisure outside of bankruptcy protection.

A quote from a statement released today leads us to believe that this is indeed what the league believes is the most likely scenario:

“We believe this step was necessary at this time in order to best preserve and maximize the value of the club asset for benefit of the club’s creditors and for the community of Glendale”, said NHL deputy commissioner Bill Daly in a statement.

“The bankruptcy petition and subsequent events have been incredibly damaging to the club’s business, and the sooner the club can be extricated from the bankruptcy process, the sooner club personnel can begin to restore the team’s vitality and local fan base. In the event the league’s bid proceeds and ultimately is the one approved by the court, we intend to conduct an orderly sale process to a third party buyer outside of bankruptcy.”

It’s not surprising in the least to see the League become the major suitor in competition to Jim Balsillie. No businessman or investor would sanely bid enough to satisfy creditors and keep the Coyotes in Phoenix; it’s just not a prudent investment.

Outbidding Balsillie

So, how much could the league bid be?

It’s clear that the League will have the upper hand in negotiations with the City of Glendale, seeing as how the other major potential bid has now pulled out.  Glendale may now make concessions to the League that they were unwilling to make to other bidders – simply because they are out of options.

This bodes well for the National Hockey League because they will likely need all, and more, of the $200 million credit facility to out-bid Balsillie at auction.

The season is just around the corner and the long, drawn out, saga has to end sooner or later.  It’s been a long race, but we just might be in for an exciting finish!

Historical NHL Free Agent Signings on July 6

July 6th has typically been a busy day over the course of history. With some quality free agents still available, is there any reason to believe that this season will be any different?

If history is any indicator, we might see some of those available free agents signing contracts today!

Historical July 6 NHL Free Agent Signings

July 6, 2004 – Phoenix Coyotes signed free agent defenseman Sean O’Donnell, who had been with the Boston Bruins.

July 6, 2004 – Ottawa Senators signed free agent goaltender Dominik Hasek.

July 6, 2004 – Los Angeles Kings signed free agent Craig Conroy, who had been with the Calgary Flames.

July 6, 2001 – Minnesota Wild signed free agent Andrew Brunette. Brunette went on to lead all 2001 Free Agents – in scoring, with 69 points in 2001-02.

July 6, 2001 – Boston Bruins signed free agent left wing Rob Zamuner.

July 6, 2000 – Philadelphia Flyers signed free agent Michal Sykora.

July 6, 2000 – Los Angeles Kings signed free agent Stu Grimson.

July 6, 1999 – New York Rangers signed free agents Valeri Kamensky and Stephane Quintal.

July 6, 1998 – Nashville Predators signed free agent Tom Fitzgerald, and named him the first Captain in team history.

July 6, 1994 – Philadelphia Flyers signed free agent Craig MacTavish

July 6, 1983 – Detroit signed free agent goaltender Ken Holland, who went on to play 3 games with the Red Wings in 1983-84, finishing with a 4.11 GAA.

*Incidentally, Holland was named the Red Wings General Manager in 1997.

July 6, 1983 – Boston Bruins signed free agent Geoff Courtnall

July 6, 1978 – The Islanders signed John Tonelli as a free agent. Tonelli went on to star with the Islanders’ four Stanley Cup Winners.

Breaking Down The Coyotes Bankruptcy Hearing

After the glory of the Stanley Cup Finals concludes and a Pittsburgh skates off into the sunset with their shiny new grail for a summer of parties, it will be back to reality for the NHL, Phoenix Coyotes, Jim Balsillie, and the fans. Last Tuesday’s six-hour bankruptcy hearing laid the groundwork for the heart of the case and the forthcoming ruling will decide the future of the Phoenix Coyotes.

A Capable Judge

It’s becoming clear that this case is in capable hands with Judge Baum.  This recent profile from the Globe and Mail makes clear that Baum is pragmatic, equal-handed, and a sports fan.  His decision will not be the culmination of a perceived “Canada v US” struggle for the soul of the NHL. Like any judge, Baum’s goal is to make as many creditors whole as possible.  As a practical matter for all parties, including himself, he will be making that decision in a timely manner. A ruling could come at any time, though Judge Baum will wait until after the Cup has been presented as a matter of courtesy not to interrupt hockey’s most sacred night.

Opposed to Relocation

One of the interesting revelations during the June 9 hearing was that Judge Baum is not philosophically opposed to franchise relocation. Citing the Baltimore Colts, he noted that the NHL’s claim of irreparable damage doesn’t always occur. However, it’s clear that Jim Balsillie or any other potential owner wishing to move the franchise will face additional financial responsibilities.   A $100m figure was floated, but that is not legally binding at this point.

Furthermore, an owner wishing to place a franchise in southern Ontario will not have the rights of the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres (depending on team’s location) invalidated.  This is consistent with what the Judge mentioned during the May hearing. These costs will likely take a $212 million bid to a real cost of $400m+. Is Balsillie or another owner willing to pay a figure close to the “market value” of a southern Ontario team?

Richard Rodier, lawyer for Balsillie, quickly told the court that the bid included an opt-out clause if a relocation fee was imposed. This is either another attempt to control the direction in court  like trying to push through a timeline unfair to any other competitive bids, wanting TV rights, and imposing a deadline for revoking the bid in full.  More likely, it’s the opening salvo in the larger negotiation in an attempt to minimize these fees.  Interestingly, these additional costs won’t be factored into the cost of the bid and the amount to which each bid repays creditors. They’re just a part of the cost of doing business in general.

The NHL Constitution

The other interesting revelation for law geeks with vivid imaginations revolves around the NHL constitution and tiptoes into anti-trust law (potentially Balsillie’s biggest ally). Unlike the other leagues, the NHL hasn’t revoked veto power from its franchises.  In real terms, the Toronto Maple Leafs have the power to reject any deal to bring a team to Southern Ontario unilaterally. There will be a tension between the court and the Leafs if the team is moved via bankruptcy court without the Leafs giving their approval.

For those with vivid imaginations, think of the ramifications if a court invalidates any part of the NHL constitution, even a part rarely invoked.  The sovereignty of the NHL to run its operations would seriously be in doubt and any future owner could easily make a legal assault upon a weakened league. Again, this is a doomsday scenario but food for thought.

During the hearing, the City of Glendale continued to assert a $500m claim, though the Judge has given a range of $7-550m.  The determination of that claim alone can tip the scales in favor of a certain bid.  In the eyes of the court, there has only been one bid so far- Jim Balsillie’s.

Other Potential Bids

The Judge went as far as to call other expressions of interest hearsay, a damaging blow to the NHL’s case. For the other potential bidders, it’s time to put up or shut up and welcome the Hamilton Coyotes!

This post was developed by a legal analyst source exclusively for NHL Digest.  This source wishes to remain anonymous due to privacy and security clearance issues.  Please direct all questions to the comment form below.

You can find a breakdown of the first hearing here.

Will it be Mr. Wonderful or Mr. Balsillie for the Phoenix Coyotes?

Hockey in the desert. A beautiful building in an inconvenient location. An owner/coach. One playoff series since 2000. A disadvantaged lease and poor attendance.  In this economy, is it any wonder that the Phoenix Coyotes have ended up in Chapter 11?  Quite unexpected, is the guerilla bid by Blackberry magnate Jim Balsillie and attempt to circumvent league rules on ownership and relocation and a distraction from an otherwise great spring for hockey.

The Court Hearing Issues

The hearing May 19 revealed several fundamental issues:

1. Who has control of the franchise?
2.  What is the nature of the franchise? Is it a franchise only in Arizona, one with unlimited relocation rights, or one with relocation rights pending Board of Governors approval?
3.  Can a league enforce territorial rights and dictate ownership, or can a court overrule these rights?

The judge’s decision to order Moyes and the NHL into mediation was a shrewd one and allows both parties to save face- something the NHL was doing for Jerry Moyes until his sudden Chapter 11 filing May 5. The court-ordered mediation is to determine whether Moyes or the league have control of the team and is a step to avoid a contentious court battle that would require the major players (Moyes, Bettman, Daly, et al) to answer questions under oath and answer to accusations of each side being a liar in court documents.

NHL Prepares for Bankruptcy Court

The NHL made a significant shift during the trial, conceding that the Coyotes are heading for an auction and bankruptcy court may be a suitable venue, even if Moyes lacked the authority to actually place the Coyotes in bankruptcy. This also removes the ability of Moyes or the league to set a reserve price on the franchise.

One interesting non-participant during the proceedings was the NHLPA, who have strongly supported a seventh Canadian franchise. Section 2018 (d) of the Federal Bankruptcy Code specifically gives labor unions the right to be a part of proceedings regarding any reorganization plans and how the plans impact their constituents. Since Mr. Balsillie attended the hearing without true standing before the and a litigator for the NFL addressed the judge, this is a surprising quiet position from the NHLPA.

The Relocation Issue

As expected, the city of Glendale asserted its rights as leaseholder before the judge and asked to be added to the list of nonsecured creditors if he rules that the franchise is a mobile asset. In that case, the lease could be broken and the $500 million penalty imposed. Like the Pittsburgh Penguins fighting the SEA during their 1999 bankruptcy for the right to relocate, Glendale does have both precedent and experience on their side.  The major risks to their claim are the discretionary powers of a bankruptcy judge to nullify contracts and a Congressional cap on punitive damages at one year’s rent ($500,000)- which has been untested in a case like this.

The determination of whether the franchise itself is mobile also has far-reaching implications in the quantity and type of bids received in the auction. If the franchise is a mobile asset, total liabilities jump to $610 million from the current $108,401,367.79 million (to the top 40 unsecured creditors per the filing) due to Glendale’s claim.  Under any scenario, secured creditors of $95 million will be paid first.  

• Under Balsillie’s plan, Gretzky will also receive a payout of $22.5 million If Glendale’s claim is upheld, Balsillie’s plan will pay $95,000,000 among $610,000,000 of claims, or 15.61%. 
• Reinsdorf’s reported bid of $130 million does not breach the lease or include a payment to Gretzky.  This plan leaves $35 million to be paid among the $108 million held by unsecured creditors, or 32.29%. It’s also likely that another ownership group eyeing a different location outside of Phoenix will step forward and outbid Balsillie. 

 So even if the judge rules against the NHL in the relocation arguments and opens the door for the Hamilton Coyotes, remember that the judge has the sole responsibility of making as many creditors whole as possible.

NHL Raises The Stakes!

The NHL raised its line of credit from $70 million to $200 million Monday, citing low interest rates and the need to be prepared for the future. These reasons seem hollow and the timing suspect at best.  A US bank holds the credit, whose rates are directly impacted by the Federal Reserve. The next scheduled Fed meeting regarding rates is June 23-24, or well after the Cup finals. If interest rates were the true motive, they will likely still be there after the Cup is awarded and the deal did not have to be executed the day before the first major hearing. 

Could the NHL potentially be a bidder to stabilize a market they obviously believe in? Could they be ready to run the team and bankroll its operations throughout a prolonged legal battle? Or is the financial health of other franchises far worse than anyone knows, with this being the first of many dominos to fall during the recession?

Balsillie’s Calculated Bet

Balsillie has taken a calculated risk with this strategy. The Board of Governors requires a three quarters vote (23 of 30) to approve a new owner, and they won’t quickly forget that Phoenix is #5 on the hit list. It’s unlikely that the previous four franchises would affirm his ownership. MLSE and Buffalo are wildcards, with true claims to territorial infringement. MLSE has made statements implying that there could be a satisfactory financial arrangement.

It’s doubtful that Buffalo would feel similarly, with recent estimates attributing 15-20% of revenues to southern Ontario. For a smaller market recently out of bankruptcy, this could spell long-term ruin. While other owners may see the revenue southern Ontario can bring, questions of trust regarding Balsillie and his methodology will remain.

Balsillie’s strategy is based upon a PR campaign to tap into nationalistic pride. He neglects to mention his play for the Ottawa Senators with hopes of moving them to Hamilton and instead reinforces the common stereotype of “Canada v Bettman.” He is banking that a league still in damage-control from the ultimate PR disaster of the cancelled 2004-05 season will eventually capitulate to quiet the media storm and save face.   What he didn’t certainly expect was the entry of NFL, MLB, and NBA into the fray with their combined influence, deep pockets, and army of litigators. 

Can one man rock the boat in all of mainstream professional sports?

It looks to be a tall task and one that would challenge anti-trust law more than bankruptcy law.  While the Canadian Competition Committee has sided with the NHL’s practices, the NHL lacks an anti-trust exemption in the US like MLB owns.  Balsillie may lose this battle, but his war is more appropriate for a different court of law.  Furthermore, precedent is based on older case law and now might be the time to challenge it before a progressive judge.  Balsillie may have led Moyes down the wrong path as a cohort, as Moyes stands to lose far more than he can gain.

What Is Moyes’ Angle?

Moyes’ gamble is also a tricky one. He certainly is tied personally and professionally to a sinking ship. Even if he didn’t have control May 5, the team was bankrupt without the tag.  The NHL strategy of keeping things quiet during the season was to protect the Coyotes and NHL brands and keep sponsorship and fan money flowing into Phoenix. If their true woes had been disclosed, corporate sponsorships would’ve likely dried up, and fans would have been less likely to support a lame duck team with their lean entertainment dollars.  By taking this to bankruptcy court, Moyes may lose nearly everything he’s invested in the team- unless a Mr. Wonderful appears.

Rumors have surfaced that minority owner John Breslow may be preparing a bid for the team to keep it in Phoenix.  When Mario Lemieux bought the Pittsburgh Penguins out of bankruptcy in 1999, he turned his $31million in deferred salary into ownership of the team, worth an estimated $100 million at the time.  Where did the rest of the money come from? Mr. Wonderful, a majority owner with deep pockets and a love for hockey, as Lemieux referred to him prior to presenting the bid to open court.  A quick look at the four teams still playing this spring shows that things worked out wonderfully for the Pittsburgh Penguins. Does Phoenix have a Mr. Wonderful ready to ride in on a white horse to keep the team in place, or will the players be packing their bags for Hamilton with Mr. Balsillie to become the seventh NHL franchise?

This article has been contributed to NHL Digest exclusively by a legal source well versed in diplomacy, international relations and mitigation. Because of confidentiality agreements and security clearances, the source must remain annonymous. 

Please feel free to direct any questions via the website comments section.

Curtis Joseph Chases All-Time Loss Record

With Martin Gerber’s referee shoving episode earning him a 3-game suspension, Curtis Joseph found himself looking at three straight starts.

Interestingly enough that may be just enough starts to break an NHL record this season.

Collecting his 351st career loss on Friday night, Curtis Joseph moved within one loss of Gump Worsley’s career loss record for goaltenders.

While the all-time record for losses by an NHL goaltender is not an enviable position to be in, Joseph also ranks 4th all-time in wins with 453 NHL victories.

Considering the length of Joseph’s career, it is obvious that the losses are the bi-product of a long career backstopping a host of mediocre teams rather than poor performance.

The Year of The Goalie

In a year when Martin Brodeur has set the record for most career wins, and has been hailed by many as the best goaltender in history, there is one category other than career losses where Joseph leads Brodeur. Joseph (26,707) has had more shots against him than Brodeur (24,842). in fact, Patrick Roy (28,353) is the only goaltender in history with more shots against than Joseph.

In his 19 seasons, Joseph has made nearly 54,000 saves, allowed more than 2500 goals against and has a career goals against average (GAA) of 2.79. Joseph was an NHL All-Star on two occasions in 1994 and 2000

Joseph’s worst full season came in 2006-2007 when he held the fort for a very poor Phoenix Coyotes team, and finished the season with 321 losses and a 3.19 GAA.

With those statistics and without winning a Stanley Cup, does Joseph deserve a shot at the Hall of Fame?