Phoenix is in some trouble

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

http://www.globesports.com/servlet/story/R...ortsHockey/home

December 6, 2008 at 11:15 AM EST

PHOENIX — The Phoenix Coyotes are expected to lose between $25- and $35-million (all currency U.S.) this year and with his primary business under financial duress, owner Jerry Moyes may not be able to cover the hockey team's losses any longer.

That leaves him three choices:

- Renegotiate the Coyotes' arena lease to effectively put the city of Glendale into the position covering some of the losses;

- Put the franchise into bankruptcy;

- Turn the keys over to the NHL, forcing commissioner Gary Bettman to find a new owner.

[habsfan87 0]

Cue Balsillie...get it back to the Peg!

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

its also 6-0 hawks not even halfway through the 2nd. boy o boy

Edit: now 7 nothing exactly as i hit post.

[Chadd 916]

Cue Balsillie...get it back to the Peg!

I take it you missed the article about how the Canadian teams are going to be in trouble now that the Loonie has been falling against the dollar again.

[RiSeOnFiRe 0]

this all rises and falls with the price of oil. i swear it runs the world. Gas prices are down, more money in pockets to invest in the economy and the dollar looks strong(er). its all about solar energy.

[Neal 41]

Cue Balsillie...get it back to the Peg!

I take it you missed the article about how the Canadian teams are going to be in trouble now that the Loonie has been falling against the dollar again.

That was some lousy spin from the owner of the Habs, but there is no doubt that the low Loonie value makes it more challenging. But the Loonie is worth more now than it was when the CBA was first signed. The issue is that the salary cap has increased, but I think a correction is coming soon with the poor North American economies.

But Winnipeg should not get a team and really there is a pretty good argument that Canada has all the teams it can support right now. With the possible exception of another southern Ontario team.

Phoenix appears not to be a viable market either, they have been there more than long enough to build up a fan base. Sure, they haven't been very successful, but if they can't break even or lose only a little money when they aren't a cup contender they won't work long term in that market. Perhaps if they had a run of success that might have built enough goodwill to support them during less successful times, but it looks like we'll never know.

[Chadd 916]

Cue Balsillie...get it back to the Peg!

I take it you missed the article about how the Canadian teams are going to be in trouble now that the Loonie has been falling against the dollar again.

That was some lousy spin from the owner of the Habs, but there is no doubt that the low Loonie value makes it more challenging. But the Loonie is worth more now than it was when the CBA was first signed. The issue is that the salary cap has increased, but I think a correction is coming soon with the poor North American economies.

But Winnipeg should not get a team and really there is a pretty good argument that Canada has all the teams it can support right now. With the possible exception of another southern Ontario team.

Phoenix appears not to be a viable market either, they have been there more than long enough to build up a fan base. Sure, they haven't been very successful, but if they can't break even or lose only a little money when they aren't a cup contender they won't work long term in that market. Perhaps if they had a run of success that might have built enough goodwill to support them during less successful times, but it looks like we'll never know.

You hit the nail on the head, they haven't really had any success at all in phoenix. There is a lot of potential in the group that they have, hate to see something happen now.

[Neal 41]

You hit the nail on the head, they haven't really had any success at all in phoenix. There is a lot of potential in the group that they have, hate to see something happen now.

I'm not so sure. There may be potential, but it is a ways off. There are only 2 players close to a point per game on the Coyotes, Doan and Jokinen. Both are 30 or older.

The remainder of the team is very young and not performing that well, yet. If it takes 2 or 3 years for them to reach their potential Doan and Jokinen may not be the same players they are now. Especially Doan. At 32 he is past his prime especially given his power forward style of play.

I guess what I'm getting is that right now the key players are Jokinen and Doan, but there isn't enough supporting tallent around them. If that talent doesn't develop quickly someone will have to replace Jokinen and Doan as the key players.

[chippa13 1844]

Phoenix has a lot of up and comers in guys like Mueller, Turris, Carcillo (personally can't stand him but he does his job well), etc, etc. This is probably the brightest that the Phoenix future has looked in some time. They seem to finally have given up on the Toronto model and are looking to follow the Pitt/Wash model and have been building through the draft. Give this team another 2 seasons and they'll be in the mix.

[Chadd 916]

Chippa is bang-on here. As for Doan and Jokinen, those guys are there to lead for the next couple seasons and could very well be gone before the team is ready to contend. Those guys will probably be moved for more pics/players before this team is ready to compete.

[Neal 41]

Phoenix has a lot of up and comers in guys like Mueller, Turris, Carcillo (personally can't stand him but he does his job well), etc, etc. This is probably the brightest that the Phoenix future has looked in some time. They seem to finally have given up on the Toronto model and are looking to follow the Pitt/Wash model and have been building through the draft. Give this team another 2 seasons and they'll be in the mix.

That may very well be, but 2 more seasons of lousy play before they contend for a playoff spot and more than a first round ouster means they won't be in Phoenix, in my opinion.

If the owners are losing $15M per year 3 years is nearly $50 M in losses before they can start making money. I'm glad I'm not invested in the team.

[chippa13 1844]

But won't be two years of lousy play. It will be two years of steadily improving play. The game as a whole is more exciting than it has been in years and that will also help them.