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Bill Daly denies rumors that NHL is rebuilding bridge with Jim Balsillie

Jim Balsillie

FILE- In this Feb. 5, 2009 photo, Jim Balsillie, co-CEO of BlackBerry maker Research In Motion, checks his Blackberry at an Ontario Securities Commission hearing in Toronto. Balsillie is looking to buy the financially ailing Phoenix Coyotes NHL hockey team and bring them to Southern Ontario. “The current team ownership asked that I table an offer to purchase the Coyotes and significant discussions resulted in an offer that is in the best interests of the franchise, the NHL, and the great hockey fans of Canada and Southern Ontario,” Balsillie said in a statement Tuesday, May 5, 2009. (AP Photo/The Canadian Press,Nathan Denette)

AP

It wasn’t very long ago (even if it seems like it happened forever ago) that Jim Balsillie upset NHL executives by trying to sneak his way to owning (and ultimately moving) the Phoenix Coyotes. That attempted backdoor deal forced the league to step in and find themselves in the paused crisis they’re in right now.

While Balsillie failed to “Make it Seven,” True North Sports and Entertainment succeeded in his “mission.” With that in mind, many thought of the Research in Motion owner once again. There are two simple reasons why he remained a seemingly viable candidate for ownership: his company is a league sponsor and he has huge gobs of money to make it happen.

Earlier this week, Matt took a look at rumors that the NHL might give Balsillie a chance to own a team after all if he simply “behaves himself.” While league denials are frequently used to smoke screen events that are actually happening behind the scenes, it might be wise to take Bill Daly’s denial of the reports at face value.

The assurance for Balsillie has been reportedly extended by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, and appears to forgive previous, perceived ownership transgressions by Balsillie, who has bid on the Pittsburgh Penguins, Nashville Predators and Phoenix Coyotes.

But if Balsillie has been offered an olive branch by the NHL, it’s news to the league.

“No, we have not had any conversations or communications with Mr. Balsillie or any of his people regarding the potential acquisition of an NHL club,” NHL vice-president Bill Daly replied in an email Thursday.


As is the case with most ownership rumors, it’s rarely safe to trust anything unless an official announcement of an ownership change and/or relocation takes place. There’s a good chance we’ll hear about Balsillie again in the future, but it’s hard to imagine the Blackberry figurehead becoming an NHL owner as long as Gary Bettman is the league’s commissioner.

Crazier things have happened, though.