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June 08, 2009
Coyotes filing reveals secret NHL constitution
As expected, the Phoenix Coyotes bankruptcy lawsuit is turning into great entertainment, if not exactly the kind the NHL wants as competition during the Stanley Cup finals. Already we've seen the release of the heretofore super-secret NHL constitution (bylaws here and here) as part of Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes' evidence filings over the weekend; Moyes claims the clause allowing the Toronto Maple Leafs veto power over another team moving into Ontario violates Canadian competition laws, which is like metric for antitrust laws.
Meanwhile, in an attempt to head off the purchase of the Coyotes by his arch-nemesis Jim Balsillie, NHL commissioner Gary Bettman filed an affidavit listing Toronto Argonauts owners David Cynamon and Howard Sokolowski as interested in buying the team and keeping it in Phoenix — except that Toronto Star sportswriter Damien Cox insists the pair is really only interested in getting dibs on a second Ontario franchise themselves. And that's not even counting the guy who wants to build a 30,000-seat arena in the Toronto suburbs and get an NHL expansion team. At this rate, it's only a matter of time before Rick Horrow shows up.
Is there anything about said constitution and bylaws that are germaine to the issues at hand? Interesting as I'm sure they are in and of themselves, has anyone, for instance, been able to find anything which contradicts the NHL's claims in this case?
Posted by Thom on June 8, 2009 03:41 PM
Wow, quite a few quotes from "he who shall not be named" in the court filings on behalf of Moyes.
Posted by Thomas on June 9, 2009 10:04 PM
In answer to Thom's question. The interesting tid-bit here is that the Gary Bettman and the NHL governors were very much relieved when -- to the surprise of most Canadians -- the competition bureau came out in favour of the NHL owners. Ever since that ruling in 2008 Bettman keeps crowing about how his cartel has been given the green light to do what ever it is they want to do. However, the ruling -- which was based on evidence presented by the NHL governors themselves -- clearly states that there would have been a problem if it had been discovered that individual teams held a veto on the location or relocation of other teams. It now appears from this "secret constitution" that the long held belief that the reason Hamilton has never been able to get its long lost NHL team back -- despite incredible fan interest, rich backers and jumping through all types of hoops (including building a publicly financed arena as requested by the NHL) is that both Toronto and Buffalo do indeed hold a veto.
Posted by Godot on June 10, 2009 01:19 PM