From Burnside:

“It would make more sense than trying to ram yourself down the league’s throat, as Balsillie seems intent on doing ... again.”

No, seriously.  He really did type that.

Posted by HockeyinHD on 05/06/09 at 03:02 PM ET

I know the NHL likes to protect fanbases as much as possible, and hates the idea of relocating teams in weak markets (for some crazy reason), but this guy has all the attributes to be one of the two or three best owners in the league. As Kelly says, he’s got the passion and desire to have a successful franchise. He’s got as stable of a financial background as you could ask for.

The NHL is just hurting itself in the long-run by preventing itself from adding a guy that would likely be a great owner to the league. I think the owners like Jacobs want to keep this guy out because they know he’ll just be one more ally for the Ilitches and Sniders of the league that go against the grain of the small-market owners that want their own failure subsidized by the quality clubs’ success.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 05/06/09 at 03:08 PM ET

Nathan… Balsillie is absolutely not the kind of owner Bettman wants.

Keep in mind, Bettman and Jacobs want to run the league.  They don’t want to have to deal with other competent people who might threaten them.  They have their own little thing, and they want to be able to enforce all policy and not have anyone oppose them, ever. 

They most CERTAINLY don’t want an outspoken owner who would dare disagree with anything Bettman or Jacobs cook up between themeslves and foist on the rest of a league filled with, being kind, somewhat absent ownership.

Balsillie is going to have to force the NHL to sell him a team through the court system in order to get one.

Posted by HockeyinHD on 05/06/09 at 03:21 PM ET

Jim Ballsillie would fail as an owner in the NHL.Gary Betteman must have his reasons for keeping him out of the league.

Posted by davomack34 on 05/06/09 at 04:00 PM ET

Reasons? Try control issues.

Posted by sv on 05/06/09 at 04:18 PM ET

Reasons? Try control issues.

Bingo.

Posted by Nathan from Jonny Ericsson's ice cream truck on 05/06/09 at 04:24 PM ET

Clearly, Bettman has his reasons.  I don’t know why you’d possibly question him.

Len Barrie and Boots Del Biaggio are pretty clear proof that Bettman has the highest of possible standards.

Posted by shanetx on 05/06/09 at 05:29 PM ET

Len Barrie and Boots Del Biaggio are pretty clear proof that Bettman has the highest of possible standards.

I just snorted beverage all over my keyboard.  Thanks for the laugh, Shane. 

Was Bettman involved with Wang, or was that before his time?

Posted by Baroque from Michigan on 05/06/09 at 05:35 PM ET

Bettman has been affiliated with the word ‘Wang’ for years.

Posted by HockeyinHD on 05/06/09 at 05:38 PM ET

Balsillie is a thug and a thief.  If he succeed’s they should call the team the Kitchener RIMjobs!

Posted by Tero from Tacoma on 05/06/09 at 06:13 PM ET

Let’s get serious. under Bettman’s watch, the owners went for the quick cash and got it through the expansion fees. They also got a leveraged a salary cap and convinced prospective owners that hockey would succeed in fringe markets.

Bettman is scared to death of Mr.Blackberry, because he will build a working and profitable team and other owners will look to follow his blue print and Gary doesn’t want teams in Hamilton or Winnipeg and Mr.Blackberry will speak up and could easily prove to the owners that his thinking is either best then the crap that comes out of Bettman and Daily’s Mouth

Posted by FlyersFan on 05/06/09 at 06:52 PM ET

Blackberry and RIM under Balsillie have a history of “taking” things they don’t own through extra legal means. This article from TechWorld outlines their past practices. It appears they are trying to use the same tactics with hockey. Mr. Balsillie tries to get things anyway he can!

”Why are they talking about shutting down the BlackBerry wireless network?
Because about two years ago BlackBerry vendor Research In Motion (RIM - of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada), lost a patent infringement lawsuit in US courts brought by a company called NTP. The court awarded NTP damages amounting to US$53.7 million and issued an injunction that would shut down the operation of the BlackBerry network in the US. RIM got a stay of execution for the injunction, but NTP is expected to seek to have it reimposed later this month. ”

Posted by Tero from Tacoma on 05/06/09 at 08:30 PM ET

Tero, RIM have been sued twice (the NTP case was settled 3 years ago btw) and have successfully sued other companies four times.  Let’s stick to the matter at hand, shall we?

Posted by davids from mtl on 05/07/09 at 09:47 AM ET