REPORT: Bettman tells Balsillie he could still...

[selanne405]

tsn.ca/nhl/story/?id=368346

Jim Balsillie's endless attempts to get an NHL team may prove fruitful after all.

According to Forbes magazine, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman has told Balsillie that he will get an NHL team in the future if he does not "create any more spectacles or bad publicity for the league".

Balsillie, who owns Research in Motion (RIM), has made previous attempts to purchase the Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators and Phoenix Coyotes and move them to southern Ontario.

The Coyotes may be up for sale again next summer when the deal with the city of Glendale expires. Last week, True North Sports and Entertainment bought the Atlanta Thrashers and are in the process of moving them to Winnipeg.

RIM has been advertising its Blackberry product on the NBC and Versus coverage of the Stanley Cup Final games as well as the league's website, NHL.com.



Ill believe it when I see it but Jim should call TNSE right away and get some help

[gilligan]

I had heard a few months ago already that Balsillie and the NHL were back on good terms, or at least a lot better terms than they were.

NHL sponsorship by RIM certainly doesn't hurt.

[Guardian]

The more teams in Canada, the better.

[buffalobrian]

Just goes to show you how desperate the league is for money.

[Puckschmuck]

Now that this won't affect Winnipeg's chances of landing a team, I could care less. But yeah, a team in Hamilton would be good.

[kev]

More billionaire hockey fan owners the better.

[johnd]

Jun 9, 2011 12:48:54 GMT -5 buffalobrian said:

Just goes to show you how desperate the league is for money.

I have to think the league is also desperate for some teams to be on solid financial footing.

And, yes, the more billionaires in the club the better.

[trigger204]

Hamilton would do well.

[mrconfusion87]

Jun 10, 2011 8:00:42 GMT -5 trigger204 said:

Hamilton would do well.

I'm sure they would! The Golden Horseshoe is afterall, the world's LARGEST hockey market! ;D

While Buffalo opposes this (for obvious reasons), they MIGHT let their stance loosen up somewhat if and when they finally win a Stanley Cup! If that's what it would take to get Buffalo to concede and allow Hamilton's entry, then we better hope the Sabres win a Cup in the near future! Just my useless two cents!