According to a Report in the Dallas Observer this morning...
A group led by Wayne Gretzky, Mike Modano and Brett Hull has emerged as a serious bidder. "It's nothing formal, as if they're about to sign on the dotted line," says one source. "But it's gone past kicking the tires. This could happen."
Mike Modano was quoted by TSN as saying..."“I haven’t spoken to Gretzky about any possible ownership situation. I don’t know anything about this.”
However, a source at the NHL confirmed the possibility as well, and while I am not going to tell you Mike Modano is lying, I can also tell you that were Modano involved he wouldn't be able to discuss it at all.
Whether or not they are talking, or how far along they are is mildly interesting, but what I do find more interesting is what this may say about Gretzky's continued involvement in the Ice Edge Group in Phoenix who is reportedly on the brink of signing a new lease deal with the city of Glendale.
Wayne was involved in this Ice Edge group, but perhaps he isn't anymore. The Ice Edge group is running neck and neck with White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf as to who will end up buying the Yotes. The NHL and Glendale have been very hard at work making this lease work for whichever party steps up.
I am hearing Jerry Reinsdorf is the more likely owner for the Yotes but by a hair at this point.
There were reports of a new lease deal being done, but it is definitely not completed...
Also reports are out there right now the NHL is in discussions to expand into Southern Ontario in the next ten years. In the report Gary Bettman was telling potential new owners of the possibility of strong revenues from a new TV deal as well as franchise money close to half a billion dollars from the Ontario expansion project.
Both rumors were denied by the NHL.
The following speculation is purely my own, but don't forget Jim Balsillie. He was a thorn in the NHL's side with the way the Coyotes went down, but he did walk away without appeal and saying all the right things. We don't know what was said between the NHL and Jim in those final days, but at some point Jim did change his tune and he did step down. The NHL's issues with Jim could be overlooked at some point and I could completely see Balsillie being allowed to bid for a Southern Ontario franchise in the next 5 years.
The difference with Jim buying an expansion franchise in Ontario, and him buying an existing franchise and relocating it to Ontario is huge. It's all about who gets the money. In Jim's failed scenario the other owners saw very little...in the expansion option they would see it all..
Remember this...
more to come in few hours here as we enter a great week of hockey!
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