The NHL is "renewing its bid to assume control" of the Coyotes, "thereby further thwarting efforts" by RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie to acquire the franchise, according to Daniel Nolan of the HAMILTON SPECTATOR. The league first filed this court request in May "after the team skated into the bankruptcy court, and revived it in a court filing yesterday after court-ordered mediation did not produce any results." The NHL in the new court filing indicated that it "wants to assert 'lawful control' of the team to prevent further financial harm to it, and the interest of legitimate creditors," by Balsillie and current Owner Jerry Moyes. The league alleges cases filed by Balsillie and Moyes were "not filed in good faith to stave off an impending financial crisis or to effect a reorganization for the good of the creditors," but rather are "part of a self-serving scheme to advance the interests of just two parties" ( Hamilton SPECTATOR, 8/19 ). ON THE ATTACK : In Toronto, Paul Hunter notes the NHL filing argues that Deputy Commissioner Bill Daly should "manage the business efforts of the Coyotes, rather than Moyes, and a bankruptcy trustee should replace Moyes at the team's helm." The filing serves as "another assault on Balsillie and his motives in advance" of the September 2 hearing that will determine whether he can participate in the September 10 auction of the franchise. The NHL in the filing contends Moyes "sold out to Mr. Balsillie and his bankruptcy scheme, electing to advance his self-interest while dishonouring his fiduciary duties to the NHL, the City of Glendale and the other creditors." The document also alleges that Moyes attorney Earl Scudder "passed information" to Balsillie lawyer Richard Rodier about a $14.6M tax subsidy that Bulls and White Sox Chair Jerry Reinsdorf was proposing as part of his bid to acquire the Coyotes. E-mails in the NHL filing show that Rodier and Scudder "discussed leaking the information" to Phoenix-based government watchdog the Goldwater Institute ( TORONTO STAR, 8/19 ). However, both Rodier and the Goldwater Institute "denied any communication." Goldwater attorney Carrie Ann Stiren: "I've never heard of Richard Rodier before, and neither has anyone else at the Goldwater Institute that I'm aware of." Rodier said, "I have never had any contact whatsoever with anyone from the Goldwater Institute" ( ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 8/19 ). WAITING ON SOME ANSWERS : The GLOBE & MAIL's David Shoalts reports Bankruptcy Court Judge Redfield Baum yesterday "did not issue an immediate ruling" on whether Rodier "would be barred from taking part in the questioning of NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and other league executives." The league also asked the court to "rule that no matter who wins the auction" on September 10, that the team "cannot be moved from suburban Glendale for the 2009-10 season." Daly argued against a move "on a number of fronts from scheduling problems to television contracts to travel bookings" ( GLOBE & MAIL, 8/19 ). BLACKBERRY JAM : In Ottawa, Mark Sutcliffe wrote Canada "needs more business leaders" like Balsillie, and the NHL "should be welcoming him with open arms." Balsillie "does seem to relish going outside normal channels, even if it infuriates others," including using a "bankruptcy law expert to help him craft a risky strategy that could steal the franchise away from other bidders against the will of the league." But "battling for opportunities doesn't make Balsillie a demon, it makes him a capitalist." Sutcliffe: "In a league that is still dominated by an old boys' club that is keeping the sport in the last century, Balsillie would be a breath of fresh air. He's clever, innovative and in touch with the next generation of customers. He'd probably do more for the league in a month than Gary Bettman has done in 10 years" ( OTTAWA CITIZEN, 8/15 ).
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