30 Days Before the NHL's Self Imposed Deadline to Keep Coyotes In Phoenix

December 31st.

We've all heard about the NHL's supposed self-imposed deadline to keep the financially-strapped Phoenix Coyotes in the desert where they don't belong and never did.

The problem is, do you actually believe them?

I don't. I've figured all along this was a hypothetical deadline to scare an owner (Matthew Hulsizer is the latest sucker) into possibly buying the team.

Hulsizer, a former collegiate hockey player, apparently only has a net worth of some $300 million or so based on published reports as his name surfaced a few months ago as the latest possible owner.

Let's consider that for a moment because the math just doesn't add up:

$300 million (supposed net worth, according to the Glendale Star)- $140-$160M NHL "asking price" for the Coyotes would leave Mr. Hulsizer with "just" $160M if the team was bought on the conservative, low end (as I'd suspect just to rid the league of babysitting the team).

This would mean Mr. Hulsizer's net worth would be cut by approximately 46% after this purchase, and that doesn't take into account the fact he's going to lose probably $20M a season (based on history since the team relocated from Winnipeg after the 1996 season).

So, in doing that math, it would take him only eight years to lose everything and surely he'd pull out and sell the team to Canadian investors long before it ever reached this point (which I ultimately think will happen regardless if his purchase would temporarily save the team for a few seasons in Arizona).

So in reality, even with a new trumped-up lease (which I think is proving to be impossible, just see how previous would-be owners Ice Edge Holdings and Jerry Reinsdorf failed before both fading away) the team will stay in the desert for, what, maybe five more seasons at best?

This is what all the commotion is about?

I wonder if the league isn't just hoping for a five year window so by then Quebec will have a new team. Atlanta for sure, and probably Columbus will relocate North of the border so as to stagger the inevitable relocation explosion which will change the face of the league.

Another missed deadline for Phoenix, what a shock

Arena Digest.com ran an article on Monday talking about how it was obvious at that point that the NHL and Hulsizer weren't going to reach the December 1st deadline they'd hoped for for the sale of the team.

All we ever seem to hear from Hulsizer is hopeful estimates and enthusiasm when it comes to securing a new lease and thus, the team. Stuff along the lines of "We remain hopeful that an announcement will soon be made that will keep the Phoenix Coyotes in Arizona for many years to come" that kind of political rhetoric.

Still, you can't blame him. I mean, what is he supposed to say? "We aren't close to a deal. I wish I had something more productive and positive to say but the fact remains we aren't close (as The Hockey News reports) and I sincerely question what I am doing here or if anything will ever get done."

Yeah, that would go over well with the hundreds of Coyotes fans left in the desert.

That Hockey News article, written in Ken Campbell's column was written yesterday and if they weren't close to a deal then, how are they going to get everything submitted in just 30 short days?

I will be waiting and watching if the NHL tries to pull the old "We've seen significant progress being made, therefore we feel its only best to extend the deadline in order to better get a deal done." (translation: they have no clue when, if ever, it would actually get done). I can't wait to see how they spin it.

What is going to be their excuse for a delay this time?

By then, shouldn't it be time for the old joke, Ice Edge Holdings to come crawling back into the picture for the third time? I mean, we haven't heard from them in what, 5 months? You know they are lurking.

The other joke will be what, if any announcement is made on New Year's Day.

Hopefully, its being made from Winnipeg City Hall announcing the Jets have flown back home.

Information and references from The Hockey News, Arena Digest.com, The Glendale Star, The Arizona Republic, and Edmonton CTV.CA directly contributed to the content of this article.

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