A sandstorms brewing in Phoenix

Today we are going to take some time out to talk about the situation that is developing in Glendale, Arizona and how it effects us in a way. A financially troubled team who was at one point competition for the Islanders for last place is in the middle of a possible move to southern Ontario if BlackBerry CEO has his way. Following Coyotes owner Jerry Moyes filling Chapter 11 Bankruptcy, Jim Balsillie offered to pay $212.5 million to purchase the fledgling Coyotes team on the condition he can move the team to a southern Ontario city. But NHL commissioner Gary Bettman wants to do everything in his power to keep the Coyotes where they are. Chicago White sox owner has intentions of purchasing the team and keeping them there but his offer is significantly less money than Balsillie’s offer of $212.5 million. The players and coaches of Phoenix were shocked upon the news of the potential buy/move, TSN’s Darren Pang said “they were preparing for a sale and everything moving forward.” The situation is undoubtedly more complicated than that, the league has questioned the validity of the chapter 11 bankruptcy claim and has removed Moyes as an official of the team. Another odd situation that comes into play is can an Arizona bankruptcy court tell the league it has to accept the offer with stipulations attached. Moyes goes to court on Thursday to hash out the first part of this desert soup opera. So where do the Islanders come in you may ask, well today commissioner Bettman said "We generally try to avoid relocating franchises unless you absolutely have to," while speaking at a Wall Street Journal-sponsored session with the commissioners of the four major North American professional leagues. He went on to say “we don’t run out on cities,” this is sort of a sigh of relief for Islander fans who fear the team will leave if Wang doesn’t get his Lighthouse Project approved. Wang for months has said will explore all his options of he doesn’t get word for the OK by the start of next hockey season. This includes selling the team which also ties into this Arizona desert sandstorm. Most likely a potential buyer for the Islanders would move the team to Kansas city, Hamilton(maybe), Las Vegas or any other NHL hungry city but with the move come the probable opposition by Bettman(who has been a vocal supporter of Wang’s Lighthouse Project). He would most likely try to have Wang sell to someone who intended on keeping them on Long Island, but it would come no where close to the situation at hand in Phoenix.