NHL Asks Bankruptcy Judge To Throw Out Balsillie's Coyotes Bid

Balsillie's $212.5M Offer Contingent On Moving Coyotes To Hamilton

The NHL in a Friday motion asked U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Redfield Baum to "throw out" RIM co-CEO Jim Balsillie's bid to buy the Coyotes "based on the league's overwhelming rejection of him as a potential owner," according to Bob Baum of the AP. The 26-page motion, "accompanied by declarations from" Bruins Owner Jeremy Jacobs and Wild Owner Craig Leipold," said that the owners "have concluded that Balsillie would be untrustworthy and that the court has no right to overturn their July 29 vote" against Balsillie becoming an owner. Jacobs, who serves as Chair of the NHL BOG, indicated that the BOG "voted 26-0 against Balsillie's application," with three reps abstaining and one absent. Jacobs: "We voted to deny approval to Mr. Balsillie because we concluded he lacks the good character and integrity required of a new owner." The NHL's filing Friday "came in advance of a hearing scheduled" for tomorrow. Judge Baum last week ruled that the September 10 auction of the Coyotes "could include bids to relocate the franchise and specifically mentioned Balsillie's $212.5[M] offer, which is contingent on moving the Coyotes to Hamilton" (AP, 8/8).

DROPPING THE GLOVES: The GLOBE & MAIL's David Shoalts wrote the NHL's filing comes "on the heels of filings" by Coyotes Owner Jerry Moyes and Balsillie, meaning "what was supposed to be a scheduling hearing [tomorrow] will be a donnybrook." Moyes and Balsillie "fired first when they asked the court to rule at [tomorrow's] hearing that the NHL has to turn over documents relating to the sale and consent to the examination of commissioner Gary Bettman and deputy commissioner Bill Daly by Moyes' and Balsillie's lawyers." The joint request from Moyes and Balsillie indicated that they "plan to ask Bettman and Daly about a relocation fee and the NHL's methods for determining the fee." Moyes and Balsillie also "want to grill them about the decision by the NHL's governors to reject Balsillie as an owner and their refusal to consider his application to relocate the Coyotes." Bettman and Daly "will also be asked to explain their argument that it is not possible to move the Coyotes in time for the opening of the 2009-10 season in October" (GLOBESPORTS.com, 8/8).