The Coyotes last night were swept out of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and their fans now will see if the team is "swept away to blustery Winnipeg this summer," according to Mike Sunnucks of the PHOENIX BUSINESS JOURNAL. Prospective Coyotes Owner Matthew Hulsizer attended last night's Red Wings-Coyotes Western Conference Quarterfinal Game Four, and a source said that he "was telling some fans and arena staff at the game that he is still confident a deal can get done to keep the team in the Phoenix market." The city of Glendale today will meet with conservative watchdog group the Goldwater Institute "to discuss the city's $100 million bond plan" to keep the team, and NHL officials "also expect to be in attendance." Sources "point to a couple possibilities to keep the team" from relocating. The "most recent of those is the NHL's new $2 billion, 10-year deal with NBC and Versus." The deal "could offer some more revenue to teams including the Phoenix franchise, which could help the league forge a deal with Hulsizer." Other options "include Glendale using cash reserves and a $50 million bond sale to make the deal happen, finding other investors to supplement Hulsizer or the unlikely scenario of finding another owner" to buy the team (BIZJOURNALS.com, 4/20). Hulsizer said, "I feel very good that there will be a future (in Arizona)" (ARIZONA REPUBLIC, 4/21).
NO ANNOUNCEMENT IMMINENT: NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman yesterday reiterated that the league is "still committed to keeping the troubled Phoenix Coyotes in Arizona." When asked if last night's game could be the Coyotes' final game in Phoenix, Bettman said, "The speculation that we've been holding some announcement waiting for them to stop playing is absolutely wrong. We're still focused on trying to make it work in Phoenix." He added, "Do we have an infinite amount of time? The answer's obviously not. But we haven't been holding an announcement waiting to see when the Coyotes are done playing. I assure you of that." Bettman "declined to confirm reports" that he has been in discussions with True North Sports & Entertainment Chair Mark Chipman "about a possible 'Plan B' option that would see the Coyotes relocated back to Winnipeg" (GLOBESPORTS.com, 4/20). Bettman said that the league "will obviously have to know where the franchise will be by the time it sets next season's schedule" (CP, 4/20).
