- RT @martinhavlat: Excited to be in Minny where I was welcomed and appreciated by management. The real what happened in Chicago to come out. 26 minutes ago
- RT @DarrenDreger: Havlat has a verbal agreement with the Wild. details soon on www.tsn.ca 20 minutes ago
- RT @DarrenDreger: Sjostrom agrees to 2 year deal with Flames. $750,000 per year. TSN 23 minutes ago
- RT @BenThrashers: Who are the big names left? Tanguay, Antropov, Beauchemin, Zubov, Koivu, Kovalev, Antropov, Comrie. Anyone else? 25 minutes ago
- RT @phoenixcoyotes: Just spoke with Vern Fiddler. Check out my interview with him at phoenixcoyotes.com-vest 29 minutes ago
- @kash2112 Just saw Public Enemies, It was good. Made me want to watch the Michael Mann "Crime Story " series again 30 minutes ago
- RT @DarrenDreger: correction. Gaborik 5 years, $7.5 per year 31 minutes ago
- RT @DarrenDreger: TSN is reporting Gaborik to the Rangers. 5 years x $5.75 32 minutes ago
- RT @Sully26: Enjoying the Canada Day Fireworks with the family. Great way to celebrate July 1 40 minutes ago
- RT @DarrenDreger: Good scoop by Eklund. Madden agrees to 1 year, $2.75 mil deal with Blackhawks. 41 minutes ago
- RT @DarrenDreger RDS says Gionta to Mtl... 5 years, $25 mil. 41 minutes ago
- RT @DarrenDreger: Mathieu Garon to CBJ. 2 years x $1.2 mil. tsn 43 minutes ago
- Predators Resign Sullivan and Ward http://bit.ly/Zg0fW about 3 hours ago
- @stevens8204 I retweeted something that was a mistake by the original poster and it caused similar problems about 4 hours ago
- @insidehockey You are correct. My eulogy for Sully was a bit premature yesterday. Welcome back @Sully26, glad you got it worked out. about 4 hours ago
- RT @insidehockey: Buddy will be happy to hear. RT @DarrenDreger Sullivan agrees to 2 year extension with Nashville. $3.75 per year says TSN. about 4 hours ago
- RT @Sean_Leahy: TSN: Steve Sullivan re-signs with #Predators 2 years ext. $3.75 per #nhl about 4 hours ago
- RT @whatthepuck: Wow, Fids to PHX for $2.2 million over 2 years? Glad we let him go because I don't think he was worth that much to keep about 5 hours ago
- @SBombeck Yes, it was a premature enter by the poster 3 minutes ago
- RT @brandon_felder: @PredFans RT @Eklund: ZANON TO WILD (e5) | he did get the VK news right way early. . One more officially gone 5 minutes ago
- RT @Sean_Leahy: TSN: #Leafs deal Kubina to #Thrashers for Exelby. More to the package #nhl 8 minutes ago
- RT @Sean_Leahy: Sportsnet: #habs Cammalleri will get 5 year, $30 mill deal #nhl > Preds were never in this 9 minutes ago
- @SBombeck This was an incomplete post by @BlueJacketsBuzz Rest easy 14 minutes ago
- RT @Eklund: koistinen numbers 2.5 for 2 years in Florida > Best non-signing that we made 31 minutes ago
- RT @BlueJacketsBuzz: per TSN the Avalanche have signed Gonchar 32 minutes ago
- RT @Eklund: koistinen numbers 2.5 for 2 years in Florida > I'm glad it's Fla paying and not us 33 minutes ago
- RT @insidehockey: RT @DarrenDreger Oilers continue to court Heatley, but he hasn't waived yet. 38 minutes ago
- RT @Sean_Leahy: TSN: #Avs sign Sergei Gonchar destroyer David Koci - 1 year, $575K 38 minutes ago
- RT @Sean_Leahy: TSN/McKenzie: #Sharks re-sign Kent Huskins, 2 years $1.7 mill avg 39 minutes ago
- @esmeador From @kausatoday Nashville is still in the hunt for Steve Sullivan who has offers of two and three years. 42 minutes ago
- RT @kausatoday Nashville is still in the hunt for Steve Sullivan who has offers of two and three years. 46 minutes ago
- RT @brandon_felder The Joel Ward press conference is in 10 minutes. Makes me wonder if they are indeed done for the day with a presser. 59 minutes ago
- RT @mirtle The Penguins have signed Mike Rupp for two years, 825k per season. #NHLFA about an hour ago
- RT @Forechecker: A PP bust in Nashville, will a fresh start help? RT @FlaPanthers Cats sign UFA defenseman Ville Koistinen about an hour ago
- RT @GrossMisconduct: Someone to do Carcillo's hair apparently. RT @Sean_Leahy RDS: #Flyers sign Ian Laperriere 3 year,s $3.5 mill about an hour ago
- RT @GrossMisconduct: Oh dear, it just gets worse.... RT @darenmillard Habs have Hal Gill confirmed..... about an hour ago
- RT @andystrickland: Scott Clemmensen to get a 3 yr. deal worth 1.2 per season from the Florida Panthers. about an hour ago
- @MartyBuckley The Flyers with Emory, Cote, Pronger, Harnell, Carcillo and others will leave everyone bruised about an hour ago
- RT @NYRNation: Brashear and Avery on the ice causing havoc should be fun to watch next season. #nhl #nhlfa #rangers
- RT @dani3boyz: *snort* RT @BDGallof: Karl Malden dead. Bob Gainey signs him for 4 years at $20 million. It must be Free Agent Frenzy
- RT @andystrickland: sources say the Rangers, Oilers, and Maple Leafs are the leading candidates to land Chris Neil.about 2 hours ago from TweetDeck
- RT @insidehockey: Bob McKenzie reports that the Khabibulin contract is a 4-year $15 million deal. about a minute ago
- RT @DarrenDreger: Khabibulin to the Oilers. www.tsn.ca 2 minutes ago
- RT @DarrenDreger: Boston Globe is reporting Spacek to Mtl. 3 years, $11.5 mil. Ouch! 4 minutes ago
- RT @nhl_canes: The Hurricanes can confirm that we have re-signed Erik Cole. He will make $2.8 million in 2009-10 and 3.0 million in 2010-11. 4 minutes ago
- RT @Forechecker: Bob McKenzie saying Erik Cole will re-sign with Carolina for 2 years... 9 minutes ago
- RT @Forechecker: TSN: "TSN has confirmed that goaltender Brian Boucher has signed with Philadelphia - two years, $1.85 million." 16 minutes ago
- RT @Forechecker: Woohoo!!! TSN: Nashville has re-signed Joel Ward. Two years at $1.5 million per season. 59 minutes ago
- RT @schuylerb: TSN: Scott Niedermayer - 1 year $6M plus incentives to stay in Anaheim about an hour ago
- RT @andystrickland Washington capitals have signed Mike Knuble to a 2 yr. deal worth $2.8 per season. about an hour ago
- RT @NYRNation: Brashear deal is done, he is a New York Ranger. #nhlfa #nhl #rangers about an hour ago
- # RT @reporterchris: Wonder if Hossa and Kopecky came as a package like the twins? Both are Slovak and enjoyed playing together in Detroit. less than a minute ago
- # RT @TheYotesDiva: ESPN NHL - Panthers re-signed LW David Booth (31 goals last season) to 6-year contract worth 25.5 million about a minute ago
- # RT @kausatoday: Hawks also sign Tomas Kopecky good role player with some up-side. He showed signs of beng able to score. He's 6-3, has grit 2 minutes ago
- # RT @StarsScene: Oilers have zero goaltending right now. Screw Heatley, they need someone who can stop a puck! 4 minutes ago
- # RT @Sean_Leahy Newsday: #Isles sign Roloson http://bit.ly/ZdkCz #nhl 4 minutes ago
- # RT @DarrenDreger: Hossa's deal heavily front loaded. 53 mil for the first 7 years of the 12 yr deal. TSN 12 minutes ago
- # @Cypha23 Should be plenty of competition between Mason and Conklin 15 minutes ago
- # RT @dani3boyz: Hossa for 12 YEARS? Did anyone learn from the DP contract? Look at this way: DP gets paid less for the same level of futility 16 minutes ago
- # RT @andystrickland: Ty Conklin Signs 2 yr. deal with Blues. $1.3 million average 20 minutes ago
- # RT @JonJordan: To elaborate, that's Matt Walker to Tampa Bay on a four-year deal, 6.8 total 20 minutes ago
- # RT @TheFourthPeriod: Avs sign Craig Anderson to 2-year deal, it;s done 35 minutes ago
- # RT @Forechecker: TSN: "Darren Dreger says sources are telling him that the Hossa deal to Chicago is done. Waiting for confirmation." 41 minutes ago
- # RT @TheFourthPeriod: Devils re-sign Andy Greene... Colorado talking to goalie Craig Anderson 52 minutes ago
- # RT @Forechecker: From TSN: "The Leafs have signed Colton Orr - a tough guy. Four years at a million per year." 8 minutes ago
- # RT @jrs1940: Team 990 in Montreal reporting Alex Kovalev has re-signed with Canadiens. 2-year deal, $8.75 million 22 minutes ago
- # RT @Sean_Leahy: TSN: Florida re-signs Radek Dvorak. 2 years, $3.4 mill total 32 minutes ago
- # RT @predsbuzztap: Inside Predators >> Sullivan, Ward are on the market http://tinyurl.com/ma3mh4 33 minutes ago
- # RT @DarrenDreger: Hossa is close to signing in Chicago...says TSN. 42 minutes ago
- # RT @brandon_felder: Everyone should know, as good as Kevin Allen is (1 of the best) @JonJordan broke the Ohlund news 1st Give a guy his due. 44 minutes ago
- # RT @TheFourthPeriod: Steve Sullivan will weigh his option, but Nashville still very much an option about an hour ago
- # Happy Canada Day Updates http://bit.ly/2pWQy and POTG Twitter Feed for Updates during the Frenzy http://bit.ly/14POW6 (THX to @ozman51) about an hour ago
- # RT @nhllive: E.J. Hradek and Rob Simpson will have all the free agency updates from 12-2 ET. NHL.com, NHL Network, XM 204, Sirius 208. about an hour ago
- # RT @kelceybrade: Sedins Sign: TSN's Bob McKenzie has also confirmed the Canucks have resigned the Sedins. 5 years, $6.1million per year. Ea. about an hour ago
Showing posts with label nhl. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nhl. Show all posts
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
POTG Twitter Feed with Free Agent Frenzy Tweets - Day One
Twitter Archive From Day One of Free Agent Frenzy
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
POTG Talks to the Balsillie Camp
Tuesday afternoon, via conference call, I attended the Make It Seven media briefing regarding Jim Balsillie's NHL application for relocation of the Phoenix Coyotes franchise to Hamilton, Ontario . Tom Wright, former CFL Commissioner, who authored the relocation application and Bill Walker, spokesman for Jim Balsillie, were made available for questions by the Make It Seven camp.
Wright pointed out that the Coyotes had never been profitable in Phoenix and that total losses amounted to $316 million. After a few more statistics painting a grim future for hockey in Phoenix, Wright pointed to another batch of statistics that predicted a highly profitable venture in Hamilton that would benefit the entire league.
After more opening statements confirming that the application for relocation had been filed, and that Jim Balsillie would be the best deal for creditors, the floor (or phones) were opened for questions. I was somewhat surprised that the Phoenix area and GTA press were the only ones participating with questions.
Following are some key points discussed by Walker and Wright:
As things were winding down, being the only person with a view from the outside, I jumped in and asked three questions that I have never heard asked regarding the Phoenix situation.
First, "Why the intense interest in Phoenix which has ruffled the feathers of the NHL Commissioner and owners versus working within the system for an expansion team?" Clarifying, I asked "Why are you fighting to become a part of a group that clearly opposes what you are doing?"
Walker responded with a legitimate answer that the NHL has not shown a willingness to consider expansion or another team in the Hamilton area.
My next question went to the "fairness" topic that we have heard so much about. I asked, "Much has been made of the "fairness" issue. Why is it fair (to the other 29 NHL owners) for Mr. Balsillie to buy a team for $212 million and then move it to Southern Ontario where it has been estimated that an open bid could produce a value of $300 to $400 million dollars with Mr. Balsillie receiving the windfall profits of $100 million or more?"
Walker explained that the figures I presented were speculative at best. Further he explained that many folks felt that their offer for the Coyotes was too high. He assured the audience that the Balsillie camp had done due diligence and felt that it was a fair price and would be the best deal for the creditors.
Finally I asked, "As a compromise, if the NHL would agree, would Mr. Balsillie be willing to drop his bid for the Phoenix franchise in exchange for an open bid situation for an expansion franchise in Southern Ontario?"
My final query received a response that the question was outside the scope of the press conference and that I could speak with him later. I did send Bill Walker an email and he sent a very nice response and agreed to talk on Wednesday.
I was very impressed with the discussion of Bill Walker and Tom Wright. Both gentlemen were very knowledgeable, highly professional, and fully committed to bringing hockey to the "largest under-served hockey market in North America."
I'm looking forward to further conversations and a better understanding of a situation that has become far too inflamed on both sides of the coin. I can't imagine that there is not a middle ground (such as the compromise that I asked about) that would benefit all parties including the NHL, Phoenix creditors (including the City of Glendale, which was not discussed), Jim Ballsillie and the great hockey fans in the Southern Ontario region.
Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass
Wright pointed out that the Coyotes had never been profitable in Phoenix and that total losses amounted to $316 million. After a few more statistics painting a grim future for hockey in Phoenix, Wright pointed to another batch of statistics that predicted a highly profitable venture in Hamilton that would benefit the entire league.
After more opening statements confirming that the application for relocation had been filed, and that Jim Balsillie would be the best deal for creditors, the floor (or phones) were opened for questions. I was somewhat surprised that the Phoenix area and GTA press were the only ones participating with questions.
Following are some key points discussed by Walker and Wright:
- In response to a "what if" question about what Jim Balsillie will do if the judge rules against his efforts, Walker explained that it would be disrespectful to the bench to pre-judge what the ruling might be.
- An argument was made that something which had not been considered by those concerned about the territorial rights of Toronto and Buffalo, is that the three teams, being regional, should bring increased interest to hockey because of the natural rivalry created.
- A question about what would happen to current Coyote staff if Balsillie wins was asked, and a general response was that there would be many decisions to deal with including arena construction, television, and other things.
- When a more specific question was asked about Wayne Gretzky, the response was that Jim Balsillie does not speak publicly about private conversations in this matter or any other dealings. Walker did point out that no one had greater respect for Wayne Gretzky than Jim Ballsillie.
- The financing for the renovation of Copps Coliseum was discussed. Jim Balsillie will fund the immediate renovations required to get the team going next season if that becomes a reality. The ice plant, media area, the dressing rooms and the scoreboard will need to be quickly upgraded to bring the arena up to NHL standards.
- The longer term $150 million dollar renovations have the backing of the local mayor, provincial leaders, and Canadian national government. Some type of financing specific to Canada will be done through funds that are available and related to the 20 to 32 year lease option that Balsillie has on the Copps facility.
As things were winding down, being the only person with a view from the outside, I jumped in and asked three questions that I have never heard asked regarding the Phoenix situation.
First, "Why the intense interest in Phoenix which has ruffled the feathers of the NHL Commissioner and owners versus working within the system for an expansion team?" Clarifying, I asked "Why are you fighting to become a part of a group that clearly opposes what you are doing?"
Walker responded with a legitimate answer that the NHL has not shown a willingness to consider expansion or another team in the Hamilton area.
My next question went to the "fairness" topic that we have heard so much about. I asked, "Much has been made of the "fairness" issue. Why is it fair (to the other 29 NHL owners) for Mr. Balsillie to buy a team for $212 million and then move it to Southern Ontario where it has been estimated that an open bid could produce a value of $300 to $400 million dollars with Mr. Balsillie receiving the windfall profits of $100 million or more?"
Walker explained that the figures I presented were speculative at best. Further he explained that many folks felt that their offer for the Coyotes was too high. He assured the audience that the Balsillie camp had done due diligence and felt that it was a fair price and would be the best deal for the creditors.
Finally I asked, "As a compromise, if the NHL would agree, would Mr. Balsillie be willing to drop his bid for the Phoenix franchise in exchange for an open bid situation for an expansion franchise in Southern Ontario?"
My final query received a response that the question was outside the scope of the press conference and that I could speak with him later. I did send Bill Walker an email and he sent a very nice response and agreed to talk on Wednesday.
I was very impressed with the discussion of Bill Walker and Tom Wright. Both gentlemen were very knowledgeable, highly professional, and fully committed to bringing hockey to the "largest under-served hockey market in North America."
I'm looking forward to further conversations and a better understanding of a situation that has become far too inflamed on both sides of the coin. I can't imagine that there is not a middle ground (such as the compromise that I asked about) that would benefit all parties including the NHL, Phoenix creditors (including the City of Glendale, which was not discussed), Jim Ballsillie and the great hockey fans in the Southern Ontario region.
Buddy Oakes for PredsOnTheGlass
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