Kukla's Korner Hockey

Kukla's Korner Hockey

More of the same Coyote-relocation-talk wackiness via 'ridiculous and irresponsible' story

06/30/2015 at 11:10pm EDT

So I'm working the late shift on Free Agent Eve for Paul, and I come across this baffling story from the New York Post's
Josh Kosman
...

Sin City is getting hockey, two sources close to the situation told The Post.

The NHL is arranging the sale of the Arizona Coyotes to billionaire William Foley who will move the team to Las Vegas giving it its first major professional franchise, one source said.

Uh, Foley wants his own franchise...

“Las Vegas has reached 10,000 season ticket deposits,” enough to justify a franchise, the other source said.

That's not what the NHL suggested.

Foley said in January that he needed 10,000 ticket deposits to get an NHL team.

Yes, that's true, but the principals in the story are issuing simple denials...

A Coyotes spokesman said, “The Coyotes are committed to playing in Arizona.” When asked for how long, the spokesman reiterated it was committed to playing in Arizona. “Period.” Arizona last year ranked 28th in attendance.

...

The NHL denied the story.

And as you might expect, the NHL is not happy with this fluffernutter...

When you go with two sources discussing a franchise relocating based upon guesswork, that's downright dangerous.

And where would they play?

Gary Bettman isn't happy with this, either, as the Toronto Sun's Mike Zeisberger reports:

In fact, commissioner Gary Bettman told a FOX affiliate in Arizona that the story was “garbage,” adding that the Post was told prior to the publishing of the report that it was false and should not be run.

The piece, which indicated that prospective Vegas owner Bill Foley would take over the franchise, was called “100 percent false” by Coyotes co-owner Anthony LeBlanc.

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Paul Kukla founded Kukla’s Korner in 2005 and the site has since become the must-read site on the ‘net for all the latest happenings around the NHL.

From breaking news to in-depth stories around the league, KK Hockey is updated with fresh stories all day long and will bring you the latest news as quickly as possible.

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