Curb your enthusiasm Canada

In addition to the fine display of stick handling and fancy skating found on the ice in Raleigh this weekend past, there was much of the same at the speaker's podium, as Commissioner Gary Bettman weighed in on some of the pressing issues of the NHL at this all star break.

With the latest perils of the Coyotes making the rounds, a bond issues that seem to have raised a few eyebrows in the desert, the future of Phoenix as an NHL destination once again reappeared on the radar screen.

As is the case whenever an NHL franchise stumbles into financial troubles, the call of migration north is heard, with Winnipeg and now more and more often Quebec City touted as potential havens for the troubled assets.

This year those calls have been provided the added incentive of the quest for a new rink from the Mayor of Quebec City, who is putting a little bit of political pressure on the federal government to inject federal money into the arena project in Quebec's capital city.

Winnipeg as always stands ready to accept their wayward puppies back, the one time home of the Coyotes willing to forgive and forget if only the team would come back home.

Even the players have gotten in on the relocation talk, though clearly expressing a preference for Quebec City over Winnipeg (perhaps with an eye on post game meals and nightlife on their minds) giving Quebec the nod by a rather large margin as the most preferred relocation site.

All of which seems to have given the Commissioner cause to offer caution to his Canadian audience, once again reaffirming that the NHL is working to keep its franchises in their current locations, while seemingly giving at least a wink that, hey you never know what the future may hold.

Some of the reviews of his relocation talking points can be found below.

Winnipeg Sun-- Facts in short supply in Coyotes saga
Winnipeg Free Press-- Quebec City vs Winnipeg. The real debate might be
Winnipeg Free Press-- Don't get worked up, Winnipeg: Bettman
Winnipeg Free Press-- No deadline for Coyotes
Winnipeg Free Press-- Gary Bettman says time is running out short on sale for Phoenix Coyotes
Winnipeg Free Press-- Coyotes saga has governors demanding answers
Winnipeg Free Press-- Coyotes deal looking shaky
Globe and Mail-- NHL considers a Winnipeg move
Globe and Mail-- NHL Commissioner cautions fans about Quebec arena
Globe and Mail-- Coyotes sale a never ending tale
The Province-- Bettman warns Canadian cities not to get excited
Toronto Sun-- Bettman downplays Winnipeg, Quebec City NHL talk
Toronto Star-- NHL team in Quebec City would thrive
City TV-- Bettman long on patience
Maclean's-- We don't want people building a building on our account'
TSN-- Bettman says NHL still has no plans to expand or relocate
Phoenix Business Journal-- Coyotes on the clock
Atlanta Journal Constitution-- Could it be the Mayflower trucks aren't coming after all

Finding favourable financials for would be Canadian franchises

When in doubt call in the accountants, and for those proponents of adding more Canadian franchises to the NHL's family of clubs, the numbers are measuring up very positively it seems.

The weekend past, the National Post provided the spread sheet so to speak as to the viability of such Canadian outposts as Hamilton, Winnipeg and Quebec City, all passionate hockey towns and all wishful that the NHL brings the game back to places where it once was played and where the fire for the game still burns hot.

The synopsis of the article from the Post is that a return to any of the three Canadian cities currently hoping to return to the NHL fold would be financially possible with Canada's strong currency, assisted by the era of the salary cap combining to provide a strong base for a successful franchise.

Mario Lefebvre, a Director of the Centre for Municipal Studies and participant with the Conference Board of Canada, provided the four pillars of support required for success, and the three most mentioned Canadian cities it seems all fit into those guidelines.

Mr. Lefebvre found favourable trends in such areas as the size of and  the financial wealth of at the potential fan base, a sound corporate presence for support and a level playing field , particularly in the area of economics.

With the Canadian dollar now at or above parity with its U. S. counterpart, the financials may never be better to relocate those struggling American franchises to homes north of the border, a move which considering the state of the American economy of late compared to that of Canada's could make the wish list perhaps more possible now than it ever has since the moving vans backed up to Le Colisee and the old Winnipeg Arena a decade or so ago.

The full review of the financials and some feedback from the NHL can be found from the National Post.