NHL on the fritz…

There is something strange happening to the landscape of the NHL. Since the lock-out, things haven’t been the same, but right now, trouble is on the horizon.

First you have the fact that in the U.S.A., the NHL is currently only broadcast on VS. A channel currently exclusive to Direct TV who is in a legal battle with VS and is currently not broadcast them. Apart from a few games on NBC, the U.S. audience basically have no NHL coverage at this point. And who is to blame for this? Well who else than the great Gary Bettman of course. Bettman decided that it was a good idea to get a few extra bucks from a virtually unknown network over ESPN… great move Gary. But I won’t get on his case again, I think over the last few years, I’ve made it quite clear how I feel about him.

Second, you have the powerhouse that is the Detroit Red Wings… who can’t seem to put it together. Now, let’s keep in mind that they have been plagued with injuries, but you are going to tell me that the team that owns half of last year’s all-star team can’t overcome a few injuries? I think something is going on in Detroit that merits some looking into. Detroit being in the western conference for some reason doesn’t get a whole lot of coverage in the east, but I will keep an eye on them. If someone wants to give me their thoughts on what is happening in the motor city, please post your comments.

Now I think everyone is aware by now that the National Hockey League is the proud new owner of the Phoenix Coyotes… yes, even after reading it over again, it still says that the NHL now owns the Coyotes. Can you say conflict of interest?? I mean think about it for a second, because Bettman was too stubborn and didn’t want to lose face in front of the NHL Board of Governors, he did everything to bloke the legitimate sale of the team to Jim Balsillie (RIM CEO) saying they didn’t want him to move the team to southern Ontario… funny that Bill Daly, Bettman’s lap dog, said publically today that a new team in southern Ontario is a very real possibility… Well get your stories straight guys cause this is starting to sound very fishy to me. Not that it didn’t in the first place. Everybody knew that there were many under the table business reasons why people wanted to keep the team in Glendale. Lots of people that wouldn’t get their pay-off if they moved… well someone isn’t getting his pay-off regardless.

Wayne Gretzky, the great one, part owner of the Coyotes who invested $8M in the team is going to get back a big fat nothing from the sale of the team to the league. So the league says they should be allowed to dictate who the franchises are being sold to… but they have no problem buying them out themselves. I don’t know. Give me your thoughts on this but I find this very strange and don’t like where this is heading. With all these backdoor deals, no wonder the NHL is having so many problems…

Last but not least, let’s talk about the Toronto Maple Leafs for a quick minute. So after an abysmal start… the worst start in the history of the franchise, the leafs have won 2 games in a row and are starting to click. Now, let’s not jinx them, but it looks like they are turning a corner. Really, anyone that has been following the leafs can’t argue that they have been playing very well, even dominating most opponents just to get into penalty troubles or let in weak goals. Well that time seems to be over. The leafs are now playing a simpler, more solid penalty kill then they have all year, and Gustavsson seems to be making the difference in net with his size and key saves. Now I don’t want to get on Toskala’s case because I happen to think he’s a good goalie. I just think that the pressure plus the injury and surgery got to him. But regardless, it looks like the leafs are getting it together. It will be interesting to see how they do tonight and in the coming weeks…