from Ed Willes of the Vancouver Province,

The business of the game has been moving a certain way for awhile but it took a major turn earlier this month with the announcement of the Seattle group’s bid to bring the NHL to the Emerald City. Given the numbers involved — a US$600-million-plus reno of KeyArena, $650 million for the franchise — the plan seems audacious and more than a little risky.

But when you look at the names involved — Rangers’ owner Jim Dolan, movie mogul Jerry Bruckheimer, billionaire David Bonderman, former MLSE CEO Tim Leiweke, Live Nation, music mogul Irving Azoff — the Seattle group figures to have the resources to meet any challenge.

This also seems to be the NHL’s new model and it tilts very much to the U.S. There are more billionaires south of the border. They seem more inclined to invest in new facilities for new ventures and government is more inclined to help them....

For everything that’s happened over three lockouts, it seems the league is back in a familiar place and, right now, that place isn’t comfortable for some of the Canadian teams.

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