I knew it had to be a slow news day in the hockey world when I read Dave Shoalts this morning in the Globe and Mail speculating on how the NHL Governors were considering a second franchise in Toronto.
According to the opinion of an unnamed owner (these silly stories always come from unnamed sources), if Jim Balsillie were to bail out the Nashville Predator franchise, the NHL would be so grateful that they would give Mr. Blackberry his own little franchise in Toronto to play with. That will happen about the same time peace breaks out in the Middle East, all four Beatles reunite Elizabeth May becomes Prime Minister of Canada.
For one thing, the NHL already has an expansion franchise in Toronto – have you seen the Maple Leaf lineup lately? But seriously, the NHL has thwarted every move by Jim Balsillie to acquire a franchise so he would be the absolute last person they would approach to help the league. Despite what fans on the call in shows might believe, the Toronto Maple Leafs are not interested in any local NHL competition. Sure the Leafs would still sell out, but a second team would cut in on their share of TV revenue and licensing fees in southern Ontario. But forget about the Leafs, they would survive. But another team in southern Ontario would kill the Sabres. Why bother lining up at the border for an hour to see the Sabres when you can just head over to Toronto/Hamilton/Waterloo to see NHL hockey.
Hey maybe John, Paul, George and Ringo can launch that reunion tour at the opening game of the Ontario Predators!
