04-01-2010, 07:14 AM
Good April 1st story here for you.
8 NHL teams go bankrupt, Leafs make playoffs
by Sympatico.ca
Phoenix, Nashville, Atlanta, Colorado, Columbus, Tampa Bay, Detroit and St. Louis have all declared they no longer have enough money to pay their players or bills.
Effective immediately, all 8 teams have removed their clubs from NHL competition and will make plans to pay back any existing ticket holders for future games.
NHL president Gary Bettman released a brief statement earlier today:
The NHL is sad to see teams with such potential close their doors to the fans today. The NHL is already underway searching for new markets for these franchises, including Inuvik, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Winnipeg and New Orleans. We feel these are all viable markets for NHL franchises, and look forward to exploring all our options.
Well known veteran of trying to buy flailing hockey clubs Jim Balsillie was critical of the NHL, "How could you not consider Hamilton? It already has hockey-mad fans, and a hockey rink that is just a few hundred-million dollars away from being NHL-ready."
Probably the most interesting news of this mass-bankruptcy is the fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs are now playoff-bound.
Leafs GM Brian Burke was quick to respond, "I knew it. I said it all along that we would make the playoffs before anyone expected, I would think we could refer to this day as Brian Burke day."
When asked about whether he thought Rio de Janeiro was a good location for an NHL team, Burke didn't hold back his disdain for the NHL's comment. "I'm not sure they even know what hockey is in Mexico City – I think Bettman just wants a nice place to vacation at on the NHL's dime."
This would have been the Maple Leafs' sixth straight year missing the playoffs, Leaf fan Tyler Kingsnett had this to say. "Thank goodness. I was ready to become a Habs fan. Or cheer for another Canadian NHL team. Are the Jets still around?"
The playoff picture looks pretty good for the Leafs who face a pretty easy opponent in the first round.
8 NHL teams go bankrupt, Leafs make playoffs
by Sympatico.ca
Phoenix, Nashville, Atlanta, Colorado, Columbus, Tampa Bay, Detroit and St. Louis have all declared they no longer have enough money to pay their players or bills.
Effective immediately, all 8 teams have removed their clubs from NHL competition and will make plans to pay back any existing ticket holders for future games.
NHL president Gary Bettman released a brief statement earlier today:
The NHL is sad to see teams with such potential close their doors to the fans today. The NHL is already underway searching for new markets for these franchises, including Inuvik, Mexico City, Rio de Janeiro, Winnipeg and New Orleans. We feel these are all viable markets for NHL franchises, and look forward to exploring all our options.
Well known veteran of trying to buy flailing hockey clubs Jim Balsillie was critical of the NHL, "How could you not consider Hamilton? It already has hockey-mad fans, and a hockey rink that is just a few hundred-million dollars away from being NHL-ready."
Probably the most interesting news of this mass-bankruptcy is the fact that the Toronto Maple Leafs are now playoff-bound.
Leafs GM Brian Burke was quick to respond, "I knew it. I said it all along that we would make the playoffs before anyone expected, I would think we could refer to this day as Brian Burke day."
When asked about whether he thought Rio de Janeiro was a good location for an NHL team, Burke didn't hold back his disdain for the NHL's comment. "I'm not sure they even know what hockey is in Mexico City – I think Bettman just wants a nice place to vacation at on the NHL's dime."
This would have been the Maple Leafs' sixth straight year missing the playoffs, Leaf fan Tyler Kingsnett had this to say. "Thank goodness. I was ready to become a Habs fan. Or cheer for another Canadian NHL team. Are the Jets still around?"
The playoff picture looks pretty good for the Leafs who face a pretty easy opponent in the first round.