Yipping over 'Yotes

All eyes are on Tuesday's city council meeting in Glendale, Az., where a deal to keep the NHL's Coyotes in Phoenix will be discussed. Meanwhile, the Interwebs are buzzing with speculation and scenarios that could see the return of an NHL team to Winnipeg if the Glendale deal with Ice Edge Holdings falls through. Hockey fans were most chatty about a report the Manitoba government might chip in money to bolster a bid by Toronto-based billionaire David Thomson and Mark Chipman, chairman of Winnipeg-based True North Sports and Entertainment Ltd. Here's a taste of the online buzz.

WHAT really interested me was the politics that transpired over the last few days. It was of interest to see what the present government was doing with mine and your tax money $165 million US no less. Where did you get that money from when you have already given a "ton" of money for the Bombers? Then it kind of dawned on me...there never was going to be a hockey team brought to Winnipeg. All "double-speak!" You could afford to throw that kind of money as you knew nothing would come of it. Nice politics.

-- Elizabeth, Winnipeg Free Press comments

FIRST [Premier Greg] Selinger hands over $90 million in taxpayer money to a football club that has shown it couldn't maintain a lemonade stand, let alone a new stadium. $90 million that everyone knows the taxpayers will never get back. Now he's ready to hand over millions to True North in a quest to "Bring back the Jets". A move he and his party laughed at when [Tory Leader Hugh] McFayden said it.

-- Taxpayer, Winnipeg Free Press comments

IT just amazes me how dumb Ice Edge Holdings are. They know right from the get go that the Coyotes are gonna lose money next season. I really hope the city of Glendale shuts this down 6-0. Then they look bad and Bettman becomes the hero...

-- Chadrex, JetsOwner.com forum

MY guess is that there will be a lease announcement this week and everyone will crow about how hockey was saved in the desert (as some articles are even now saying by the mere fact that a [memorandum of understanding] is in place!). But I can see IEH not being able to put together enough cash to get the deal done. No way, no how. And if they sign a 30-year lease I would really have to question their thought process. After all, [would-be buyer Jerry Reinsdorf] was supposed to be the shrewdest businessman around and he only would agree to five years before an opt out.

-- King_Stannis, hfboards.com

I really cannot see the NHL wanting to stay in Phoenix another year. They've maintained since last summer that they would not own the team for more than a year, even going as far as to form a contingency relocation plan (TNSE/Winnipeg) and creating their own schedule. If IEH and the [city of Glendale] can complete a deal by June 30, then I believe this team will stay in Glendale and the relocation rumors will stop. But if they cannot, I think the NHL will cut the cord and move the team. It's been an entire year and they're back exactly where they started. I don't think they want this gong show to continue.

-- Running Riot, hfboards.com

I have a feeling the NHL is using Winnipeg to try and strong arm the city of Glendale into taking on losses, I hope they end up back in Canada, though. I also wouldn't mind if a team like the Islanders would move west so that Detroit can be in the Eastern Conference where it belongs.

-- Plagueorific, ESPN.com comments

I like that Winnipeg is ready to jump all over this in a finger-snap while Phoenix him-haws over the details necessary to keep them where they are.

-- wmryan96, ESPN.com comments

WITH Bettman in charge, the team has a better chance of moving to Arkansas than to Winnipeg or Hamilton.

-- Brent06, cbcsports.ca comments

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition May 9, 2010 A12