NHL owners in trouble

C3

Dave Deline

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- If you listen to NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, you would think all is fine in the world of NHL ownership. Unless he keeps his money in coffee cans under the front porch, it's time to stop drinking the Kool-Aid and wake up!

At present, there are a minimum of no fewer than six NHL franchises that are in deep financial trouble. Take a look at what has gone on in the financial markets in that past few months and you do the math.

It has been reported that on more than one occasion Jim Balsillie's Blackberry has been abuzz with teams inquiring about a possible cash-injection for a percentage of ownership.

Balsillie seems to be an all or nothing guy, so it is only a matter of time before he announces an offer to take over majority ownership of an existing franchise to move it to southern Ontario - again!

My question is, who is going to stop him? He will artificially boost the value of struggling franchise that might be looking to sell as well. I say welcome him into the club!

- The Tampa Bay Lighting finally made their first good move under new ownership. This was to fix their first move and fire Barry Melrose less than two months into his return behind the bench in 13 years. Barry has been a colorful character on ESPN as the south of the border version of Don Cherry.

What Cherry does with outlandish suits and fabrics, Barry does with a mullet and a cigar. Who did not see this one coming, as even Al Strachan got it right on the Hot Stove early in the season on CBC when he predicted Melrose would be gone by mid-November.

The promotion of Rick Tocchet in his place is a great move and one that was done to win the confidence of the players, and of course win more hockey games. That is why you hire a coach; and not to be a media pal during interviews while trying to be the face of the organization.

That's what the players are for!

- My hat goes off to Todd Burtuzzi of the Calgary Flames. He's currently is fourth on the team in points and only second to Jarome Iginla in goals. Can you imagine the demons and daily struggles this guy lives with when he comes to the rink?

Ask any player who has ever been a teammate of this guy and they will all tell you what a great person he is. I'm not defending him on what he did to Steve Moore. I'm just commending him on how he is moving past it, at least on the ice.

A civil suit is still pending as this is long way from over but hopefully something good can come out of a horrible situation. Credit also needs to go to Darryl Sutter and Mike Keenan for taking a chance and signing this guy when it looked like he was all but done.

- So the worse kept secret in the world of sports has gotten out; the Toronto Maple Leafs are interested in Brian Burke. This one is hilarious to follow, as both sides do the dance as Burke has resigned as GM of the once Mighty Ducks.

Give him the keys to the ACC, and all things hockey, and tell him to turn the lights off when he is done. This is the answer, and the cure, for a 41-year Stanley Cup drought for us true fans of Leaf Nation.

He will turn this franchise around and give it an identity that it has lacked since the early 1990s. Welcome aboard Burkie, even the Leafs ownership can't screw this one up! Or can they?

(Dave Deline is a Rothesay-based sports announcer and journalist. His column appears twice a month in the Bugle-Observer. You can contact him at dave.deline@rogers.com)