Samson
10-21-2008, 12:19 PM
NHL ponders 2 teams in Toronto: report
NHL governors are talking informally about placing a second hockey team in Toronto alongside the Maple Leafs, according to a report in Tuesday's edition of the Globe and Mail.
According to The Globe and Mail, NHL governors have had informal talks about putting a second team in Toronto.
"Why shouldn't we put another team in the best and biggest market in the world?" said one governor, who spoke anonymously with the newspaper.
The governor also confirmed that there have been conversations about Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of Waterloo, Ont.-based Research in Motion Ltd., being rewarded with an expansion team in Toronto after helping to restore financial ballast to the Nashville Predators.
"I've heard this exact scenario," a second governor told the Globe.
In recent years, Balsillie has made attempts to buy the Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins amid speculation he would move the team to the southern Ontario region.
Richard Peddie, president of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, said his organization would not automatically reject efforts to put a second NHL team in Toronto.
''When and if the league brings expansion to the table, we'll listen and decide what is best for hockey,'' Peddie told The Globe and Mail. ''The Maple Leafs would not be hurt one bit. In fact, it would help them. They could make all kinds of money renting the Air Canada Centre to the other team.''
Weird. I guess if New York can pull off aswell as all those Californian teams then maybe they have a chance. I would rather see a team back in Winnipeg though before Toronto.
NHL governors are talking informally about placing a second hockey team in Toronto alongside the Maple Leafs, according to a report in Tuesday's edition of the Globe and Mail.
According to The Globe and Mail, NHL governors have had informal talks about putting a second team in Toronto.
"Why shouldn't we put another team in the best and biggest market in the world?" said one governor, who spoke anonymously with the newspaper.
The governor also confirmed that there have been conversations about Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of Waterloo, Ont.-based Research in Motion Ltd., being rewarded with an expansion team in Toronto after helping to restore financial ballast to the Nashville Predators.
"I've heard this exact scenario," a second governor told the Globe.
In recent years, Balsillie has made attempts to buy the Predators and Pittsburgh Penguins amid speculation he would move the team to the southern Ontario region.
Richard Peddie, president of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, said his organization would not automatically reject efforts to put a second NHL team in Toronto.
''When and if the league brings expansion to the table, we'll listen and decide what is best for hockey,'' Peddie told The Globe and Mail. ''The Maple Leafs would not be hurt one bit. In fact, it would help them. They could make all kinds of money renting the Air Canada Centre to the other team.''
Weird. I guess if New York can pull off aswell as all those Californian teams then maybe they have a chance. I would rather see a team back in Winnipeg though before Toronto.