Hank Balling: In Defense of Gary Bettman as the Coyotes Come To Town

harumph

wake up (frank)ers

Well hopefully tomorrow is better news, but could be 2-4 weeks with Josh. Getting a 2nd opinion.

Good one Baller!
I never knew the Sabres franchise was actually under league control briefly.
I, for one, have always appreciated Bettman’s stubbornness.

“...subsidize the Coyotes’ existence. That figures to be a tough sell considering the arid climate of Arizona and their lack of support for the Coyotes franchise.”
In all fairness to AZ locals, I think they did well when actually in Phoenix. But they were sharing the Suns arena which had obstructed views for hockey. (The Suns owner somehow had the power to keep the Yotes from sharing the Suns new arena.) their fans spent many seasons wondering how long until the coyotes move? It’s hard to fully invest in a team when you wonder every year that they may/will be leaving the state in the very near future.

Edit, I’ll have to try and find it, but if their plan is accepted, it’s a big development including much more than the new arena.

Good one Baller!
I never knew the Sabres franchise was actually under league control briefly.
I, for one, have always appreciated Bettman’s stubbornness.

“...subsidize the Coyotes’ existence. That figures to be a tough sell considering the arid climate of Arizona and their lack of support for the Coyotes franchise.”
In all fairness to AZ locals, I think they did well when actually in Phoenix. But they were sharing the Suns arena which had obstructed views for hockey. (The Suns owner somehow had the power to keep the Yotes from sharing the Suns new arena.) their fans spent many seasons wondering how long until the coyotes move? It’s hard to fully invest in a team when you wonder every year that they may/will be leaving the state in the very near future.

Edit, I’ll have to try and find it, but if their plan is accepted, it’s a big development including much more than the new arena.
- Ratsreign

1.7B Dollar sports Complex with Shopping but looks like the City Council might defer to a Public Vote and if that happens it won't be voted on until sometime in 23

Hank Balling: In Defense of Gary Bettman as the Coyotes Come To Town
- Hank Balling

Nice Blog

The Mullet Center does have jalapenos

1.7B Dollar sports Complex with Shopping but looks like the City Council might defer to a Public Vote and if that happens it won't be voted on until sometime in 23
- Buff36

https://www.nhl.com/coyot...gs/t-277437086/c-11867029

The arena reminds me of the saddledome.

Nice Blog

The Mullet Center does have jalapenos
- homiedclown

they’re running around all over that campus

they’re running around all over that campus
- Ratsreign

OH MY

https://www.nhl.com/coyotes/video/coyotes-arena-project-renderings/t-277437086/c-11867029

The arena reminds me of the saddledome.
- Ratsreign

Glad I got to see the 3 pieces of hockey being played. Definitely know they ain't gonna sell the Complex with just Hockey

Yet Quinn and Krebs should be down, all the while you support Levy, a college kid to be in the NHL.

Your logic gives me neck cramps and headaches.
- IonSabres

Your absolute fear to confront what I say rather than make up up poop I've never said is telling. Like richardroma level.

Krebs has failed at the NHL level so far. He is still eligible for Roch. Where did I say Quinn should go down; furthermore, we have more Quinn's than we can shake a stick at. We have forward options, so sending Quinn down is at least an option. He's nothing more than an extra part right now.

Maybe this is hard for you to grasp, so im going to use bold and caps.

WE HAVE NO STARTING GOALIES IN THE ENTIRE ORGANIZATION!!!!!!!

So all shots are the same in terms of scoring chances then.
Got it! Lol.

No difference between a Dman's retreating shot from the blue line
Vs
A Left wing cross ice pass through the slot to an open RW in the crease.
(Comrie stopped 9 of 10 of these variety, but he sucks)

Laughable.
- IonSabres

When Comrie has some slug blast two point blank shots right into him Saturday night why are those high danger chances? Oh yeah, because they were in close. It has nothing to do with the fact a 4th line slug just shot two pucks right into Comrie I could have saved.

Why don't you tell me next what a great fielder IKF was for the Yankees this year? So amazing he was yanked in the ALCS. Yet expected nonsense and defensive WAR say he was a fancy defender at shortstop.

No, it sounds to me you only like the eye test and counting stats.

Take some time and read up on various advanced stats rather than dismissing
- IonSabres

You assume I haven't becaue I disagree with with your analysis, yet I NEVER have to misconstrue your opinion and you always have to mine. Hmph....

Oh, and while we're at it Linus Ullmark has a 2.05 gaa and .932%. He might have blocked salary for Peyton Krebs in a year though.

Bettman saving the Sabres has always kept me from dragging him over the coals for not caring about hockey. He cares about the NHL, but he hates hockey. Some people can't separate the two.

https://www.buffalohockey...isplaying-star-qualities/

https://twitter.com/hsimo...amp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet

Bettman saving the Sabres has always kept me from dragging him over the coals for not caring about hockey. He cares about the NHL, but he hates hockey. Some people can't separate the two.
- lacaprup

The Sabres were a well-established team with a good amount of (at least regular season) success, a few years removed from a Stanley Cup Final a year after being in the Conference Finals. Plus the had a somewhat rabid fan base.

Arizona, on the other hand, has been putrid for its entirety, has been without an owner for well over a decade combined, has no marquee players, costs the NHL millions of dollars annually, and has never had any substantial fan base.

The idea that things will turn around in any meaningful way with a new arena, or that the team will magically become relevant and profitable in its current location, is nothing but pure stubbornness of Bettman's behalf, and is not good for the NHL.

The Sabres were a well-established team with a good amount of (at least regular season) success, a few years removed from a Stanley Cup Final a year after being in the Conference Finals. Plus the had a somewhat rabid fan base.

Arizona, on the other hand, has been putrid for its entirety, has been without an owner for well over a decade combined, has no marquee players, costs the NHL millions of dollars annually, and has never had any substantial fan base.

The idea that things will turn around in any meaningful way with a new arena, or that the team will magically become relevant and profitable in its current location, is nothing but pure stubbornness of Bettman's behalf, and is not good for the NHL.
- jmatchett383

Good Post

Good Post
- Buff36

Idk anything about AZ or the market. It has been a shot show since they left Phoenix. The Suns owner had the sole rights to new arena Phoenix (idk how that came about), Phoenix wasn’t going to build two arenas. Yotes were relegated to the suburbs, So this all strengthens your argument that the plug should be pulled.
But, in defense of the fans, it’s difficult to invest your heart and money into a team that looks to be only temporarily your home team. If they actually finally do it right, it just may work there. Idk.

Idk anything about AZ or the market. It has been a shot show since they left Phoenix. The Suns owner had the sole rights to new arena Phoenix (idk how that came about), Phoenix wasn’t going to build two arenas. Yotes were relegated to the suburbs, So this all strengthens your argument that the plug should be pulled.
But, in defense of the fans, it’s difficult to invest your heart and money into a team that looks to be only temporarily your home team. If they actually finally do it right, it just may work there. Idk.
- Ratsreign

My wife's Sister lives in Tempe, she thinks if the City Council defers and it goes to a Public Vote it could be years before they break grown.

The Sabres were a well-established team with a good amount of (at least regular season) success, a few years removed from a Stanley Cup Final a year after being in the Conference Finals. Plus the had a somewhat rabid fan base.

Arizona, on the other hand, has been putrid for its entirety, has been without an owner for well over a decade combined, has no marquee players, costs the NHL millions of dollars annually, and has never had any substantial fan base.

The idea that things will turn around in any meaningful way with a new arena, or that the team will magically become relevant and profitable in its current location, is nothing but pure stubbornness of Bettman's behalf, and is not good for the NHL.
- jmatchett383

Not saying I agree, but Bettman would say we don't have AM34 in the NHL without an AZ team. He'd also say AZ will succeed when the new $1+ billion arena complex is built. It will then solidify the South West as a place the NHL can have a division and make money.

I think all of this is terrible for hockey, but Bettman was right about Tampa, Carolina, Nashville, and Florida. Wrong about Atlanta. There are a lot of Northerners who live in AZ for the hockey season. The market does exist just like Florida. You need to do it right.

I want teams in Hartford and Quebec City, like real hockey fans do, but the NHL simply doesn't want teams there. I'd LOVE a team in Hamilton and/or a 2nd team in Toronto. The NHL doesn't want it, and, frankly, neither do the players else it would have become a real talking point for their union in the last 30 years.

Any commissioner's job is to #1 make money for his owners because that is who he works for. Bettman has had his job for a long time. They must love him.

Bettman saving the Sabres has always kept me from dragging him over the coals for not caring about hockey. He cares about the NHL, but he hates hockey. Some people can't separate the two.
- lacaprup

It always gets down to what a commissioner's job actually is: to make the owners money. What gets that done and what is "good for the game" aren't often synonymous.

ryan oreilly still only has one point

Now that the dust has settled, I have a question for the board: would you trade Josh Allen to the Packers for Aaron Rodgers?