Coyotes' Financial Troubles Become A Big Issue Around League

Coyotes May Have To File For Bankruptcy If They Break Glendale Lease

The "financial drain" being created by the Coyotes is "becoming a real issue" for the NHL, and it "won't be tolerated much longer," according to Dan Bickley of the ARIZONA REPUBLIC. The NHL "does not want the black eye that comes with a bankruptcy filing, a requirement if the Coyotes are to break their lease in Glendale" at Jobing.com Arena. Glendale does not "want to risk losing the team, and is willing to give the Coyotes room to breathe and time to court investors." Bickley notes the teams that "talk about relocation do it for financial leverage" and they have "no intention of leaving." But the teams that "play dumb are the ones that disappear in the middle of the night." The NHL "doesn't want to leave" Glendale. It would be an "indictment of the plan set forth" by NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman, who "orchestrated daring expansion into non-traditional markets." It also "would be a stain on the resume" of Coyotes Managing Partner and coach Wayne Gretzky. But there is "no shortage for potential suitors" looking to relocate the franchise (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 5/1).