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NHL, Coyotes Told to Head to Mediation by Judge. Ruling on Relocation Not Made PDF Print E-mail
NHL News
Written by Maury Brown   
Wednesday, 20 May 2009 04:49

CoyotesWho will have the right to control the Phoenix Coyotes will be made, but it was not by the courts today. A U.S. bankruptcy judge has ordered the National Hockey League and the majority owner of the Coyotes, Jerry Moyes, into mediation to resolve their difference on the issue, and report back by May 27. If not, the judge will make the ruling.

"You guys are either going to mediate this or I'm going to rule on it," said Judge Redfield T. Baum.

Baum said the reasoning for placing the parties into mediation was due to the impending sale of the club, one way or the other.

"Why are we arguing about who has their hands on the steering wheel of a car that's going to be sold in 60 days?" Baum said.

The 800 lbs gorilla in the room involves how relocation might factor into the equation, a matter that goes to the heart of league-based territories, and therefore impacts the Toronto Maple Leafs.

But, a non-league controlled relocation reaches past just the NHL; it impacts other sports leagues. On Monday, MLB, the NBA, and NFL all filed briefs in support (see The Biz of Hockey’s document archive on the Coyotes Chapter 11 proceedings)

As reported by The Canadian Press, the matter of relocation still needs to be ruled on by Baum:

The judge made it clear that a ruling needs to be made on whether the Coyotes can be relocated before an auction is held to sell the team. That's the best way to assure that the highest bidder comes forward -- and that everyone knows exactly what they're bidding on.

"It's very important to try and keep the playing field as level as possible," said Baum.

Calling a decision on relocation a "hot-button issue," Baum wasn't prepared to make an immediate decision on it.

He took note of the support the NHL received from the NBA, NFL and Major League Baseball in court documents.

"It appears that this issue has attracted a lot of attention from folks who are concerned about it," said Baum.

Look for more details on the Coyotes Chapter 11 saga on Puck Prospectus later this week

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Maury Brown

Maury Brown is the Founder and President of the Business of Sports Network, which includes The Biz of Baseball, The Biz of Football, The Biz of Basketball and The Biz of Hockey. He is contributor to Baseball Prospectus, and is available as a freelance writer.

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Sat., 3/26 - ESPN 910, Rochester (10:45am ET) - Maury Brown on Donald Fehr and the NHLPA, possible club relocation, more