Max Giese: 2009 San Jose Sharks Draft Synopsis

William Wrenn, 2nd round 43rd overall, D, 6-1/190, USNTDP
A steady stay-at-home defenseman with strong character, Wrenn is a smooth skater and while he’s most noted for his defensive play, he’s also efficient on the offensive side of the puck. Does a nice job jumping into the open seems when they are available and he owns a seeking right-handed point shot. Wrenn is a solid defenseman that makes a quick first pass and is very aware defensively, with his head on a swivel and rarely out of position. His game has a lot of positives and no real weaknesses except for not being a dynamic offensive talent. Will play for the University of Denver next fall and has excellent leadership intangibles, as he garners loads of respect by those he goes to battle with because he leads by example on the ice and can be vocal when needed in the room.

San Jose Sharks Director of Scouting Tim Burke on Wrenn: “We talked to all of his teammates and a lot of people about him, the universal answer was that he’s a great leader. We liked that he’s going to Denver next fall. He’s going to be a shut-down defender in our league but I believe he can do more too, he has good hands and he really began to come on late in the year and just kept getting better as the season progressed. Above all he’s a leader and a stopper”.

Sharks scout Jack Gardiner on Wrenn: “He’s an excellent skater that moves the puck quickly and makes good decisions. He does not shy away from physical confrontations and plays with good overall technique in his own zone”.

Redline Report ranked Wrenn 37th overall: “The U.S. team captain’s name never seems to come up when discussing this year’s better defence prospects, perhaps because his game is not about flash-‘n-dash, but we think it should. He’s the twelfth most underrated player of this draft”.

McKeen’s ranked Wreen 108th overall: “He has great desire, is a capable open-ice-hitter, and is a strong defender that can excel in a stay-at-home role.”

ISS ranked Wrenn 70th overall: “This solid two-way defenseman has proven to scouts that he is the real deal and is a smart and reliable defenseman who keeps his game very simple and effective”.

An anonymous Eastern Conference NHL scout whose priority was to scout the USNTDP told Sharkspage after the draft “I thought Wrenn went a little bit too early to be honest”.

An anonymous Michigan based NHL scout who has followed Wrenn since he was 15 years old told Sharkspage after the draft: “I really like Wrenn as a player and he reminds me a lot of Ian Cole. He’s not flashy at all but just quietly efficient everywhere on the ice. Will never be confused for an offensive defenseman, but he makes a very solid first pass, gets his head up quickly, and makes safe and smart and correct plays, which coaches appreciate. He’s at his best in his own end, where he uses a very active stick and a distinctly physical style to be a disruptive force in all important defensive areas”.

Taylor Doherty, 2nd round 57th overall, D, 6-8/218, Kingston OHL The Sharks swung for the fences when they selected the colossal Doherty late in the second round and he should be seen as a project pick that will need to be coached up on many details of the game. Doherty has the type of size that is rare to find in a player that can skate and handle the puck as well as he can. On his good days Doherty can be a menacing physical presence and also push the puck up the ice with his skating ability. On his bad days Doherty struggles with his decision making and lacks confidence. He made a name for himself by shutting down and taking John Tavares out of the CHL Top Prospects game this past winter. If the Sharks can work with his decision-making and are patient, Doherty’s physical gifts are pretty good.

San Jose Sharks Director of Scouting Tim Burke on Doherty: “I don’t believe his hockey sense or confidence is an issue. We really watched him closely during his shifts against the top guys in the league and he did very well. We watched him in key divisional games and he shut their top players down. He’s a big kid and bigger guys take longer to develop. We believe eventually his athleticism is going to come through and I don’t mind that he’s facing some adversity right now with Kingston; I like to see how players handle it. Often times the kids that are on bad teams that are trying to do too much are often hungrier and turn pretty good because of it. I actually think Kingston will be a good team next year and they have a lot of returning players”.

Sharks scout Rob Grillo on Doherty: “Doherty has tremendous size and is a steady defender. He’s a stay-at-home defenseman that is a good puck mover and is strong in his own end”.

Redline Report ranked Doherty 113th overall: “List of attributes: he’s 6-foot-8 and… well, he’s 6-8”.

McKeen’s ranked Doherty 79th overall: “Doherty is the most noticeable player on the ice for his huge frame and his skating is decent considering his size but he lacks hockey sense and will make a lot of questionable decisions with the puck”.

ISS ranked Doherty 52nd overall: “A big player who has a physical presence when he is on the ice, Doherty gets around the ice fairly well considering his size and there is lots of potential with this young rearguard who already has extensive international experience. He’s the fifth best stay-at-home defenseman of the draft”.

Kitchener Rangers scout Ed Roberts on Doherty: “He’s a complete boom-or-bust proposition. He may have the absolute lowest hockey sense grade of any top 120 prospects. 6-7 defenseman who can skate like he does should be top 10 picks so there is a reason he fell to where he did and it’s a between the ears issue. I’ve seen him dominate shifts when he plays aggressively and with confidence, only to look like an idiot five minutes later when he coughs up the puck in a bad spot. He’s not getting developed well in Kingston, there is a losing culture and mindset there, not where a kid who lacks smarts and confidence will improve”.

Philip Varone, 5th round 147th overall, C, 5-10/186, London OHL
A fast, abrasive forward with good hand skills, Varone is a streaky scorer with a goal scorer’s mentality that outperformed top-ten picks John Tavares and Naze Kadri in the OHL playoffs. He surprises defenseman with his determination and can also create plays off the rush. Varone lacks size and some wonder if his body will break down because of his feisty style of play, so he will need to bulk up to remain effective at the next level.

San Jose Sharks Director of Scouting Tim Burke on Varone: “We kept watching him get better and better this year and then he had a great playoff. He’s sturdy on his feet and makes a lot of plays. His size doesn’t concern me because he’s thick and is an offensive guy that can execute in traffic. We wanted him but didn’t want to reach on him either and we are happy with the value that we got by making a small move up to get him in the right spot. Because he’s a guy that spends a lot of time in traffic people come to the conclusion that he’s an abrasive guy, but he knows how to pick his spots. You watch he’s going to put up some big numbers in the Ontario Hockey League next year”.

Sharks scout Rob Grillo on Varone: “Varone is a skilled two-way forward that can kill penalties and play in all-situations. He’s a good skater and has good hands. He plays with a lot of grit and had a great playoff”.

Redline Report Ranked Varone 55th overall: “He’s a true game and competes hard, especially in offensive situations”.

McKeen’s ranked Varone 90th overall: “He has a nice mixture of speed, skill, and grit. His individual skill set and creativity allows him to play either wing and make clever plays with the puck.”

ISS ranked Varone 107th overall: “He has the explosive speed to gain separation and demonstrates a willingness to take a hit in order to make a play”.

Kitchener Rangers scout Ed Roberts on Varone: “He’s a kid I like a lot, when he was in Kitchener he was no trouble off the ice and is a mature kid that looks you in the eye when he speaks. The only issue is how well his game will translate to the pro-level. He has very good puck skills, quick hands and very good release. Plays an agitating game, motor is always running and isn’t afraid to stick his nose into dirty areas. May end up being a solid organizational depth guy, who can put up good numbers in the minors, but with his determination and grit I wouldn’t put anything past him”.

Marek Viedensky, 7th round 189th overall, C, 6-4/185, Prince George WHL
A big and savvy centerman that does a great job at positioning himself on the defensive side of the puck, Viedensky is a useful penalty killer that suffocates his man with his defensive coverage. He endeared himself to scouts this past winter when he centered the overachieving Slovakian World Junior Championship team’s top line and then continued to battle hard on a bad team with the Prince George Cougars of the WHL. Viedensky skates with nice looking, long strides that eat up a lot of the ice once he gains a head of steam, although he will need to add more explosion to his first step which is a bit slushy. His puck skills are serviceable, as he can let go a crisp snap shot at full speed and he receives difficult passes well. Not a soft player and does own a long reach, but Viedensky will need to become more physical and continue to get stronger to play in the NHL.

San Jose Sharks Director of Scouting Tim Burke on Viedensky: “He’s more of a two-way guy and we actually had him rated highly in his original draft year. We really liked him at the World Juniors and we made our guys follow up on him in the WHL. We went in and saw him on the road and saw him in the playoffs with Prince George and there is definitely something there in Viedensky. He’s another guy that’s going to put up some more points in his league next year and really come on. He plays the whole sheet of the ice and we had him targeted so we made sure to get him”.

An anonymous Eastern Conference scout based in the Czech Republic on Viedensky: “A decent skater with agility for a player of his size that would be more effective if he would be more explosive. A decent stickhandler and a patient puck-possession player that could make better moves when pressured in traffic and be more of a force in one-on-one situations. Doesn’t shy away from traffic, but not a player who would initiate physical contact very often. Needs to bulk up so he won’t get pushed out of scoring lanes easily”.

McKeen’s chief scout David Burstyn on Viedensky: “Has size but lacks mass, as he is very wiry. Offensively he thrives in down-low situations where he uses his size to shelter the puck while getting closer to the net. He’s a good presence on the ice, constantly around the puck and has no problems engaging himself physically. On the downside he’s erratic handling the puck, he has long arms so in most cases he tends to skate with the puck far ahead of him only to pull it back in at any sign of a pokecheck”.

McKeen’s WHL scout Randy Gorman on Viedensky: “He has a lot of untapped potential, too much of a perimeter offensive player, big, and skates well for his size, needs to develop a better compete level and grit. He compliments WHL rookie of the year Brett Connolly well and did improve on his defense as the year progressed. He rotated between the 1st and 2nd line and was on the power-play unit”.

Dominik Bielke, 7th round 207th overall, D, 6-3/190, Eisbaren Berlin
Bielke is miles away from playing in the NHL, but he has some natural instincts and tools that can’t be taught. His skating definitely will require some work. He’s stiff in his upright skating style and he lacks the agility to execute tight turns. Most of his problems stem from coordination issues and lack of strength. The Sharks have to be intrigued by his offensive tools, as he’s in his element inside the offensive zone where he will instinctively pinch into the attack and acts as a triggerman on the point. He has a blossoming presence with the puck and he shelters it well with his big frame. Defensively he gets himself into trouble trying to do too much, but he does control his gaps well and positions his long stick properly.

San Jose Sharks Director of Scouting on Dominik Bielke: “We really like his range, he has a good reach, has a good stick, and he can shoot the puck. You can say that he has a little bit of Ehrhoff in him. We liked him at the World Juniors and we had our guys follow him in the second half of the season. We saw him again at a Swedish tournament late in the year and all of our reports on him were very consistent. This is a kid that is in a good situation over there for his development. His skating need works, like all tall kids we need to get him to bend his knees more and get him stronger”.

Sharks Notes

This coming September the San Jose Sharks will be hosting a three day tournament in which their prospects will be taking on those of the Anaheim Ducks. The event will be held in San Jose from September 7-9th. Currently the Sharks are in premature discussions with other Western teams about having a four team prospects tournament in 2010.

Doug Wilson and Tim Burke stressed that they didn’t want to cannibalize their 2010 draft picks for more picks in this years’ draft. Currently the Sharks possess their own first, second, and third round picks next year as well as a second round pick from the Buffalo Sabres. The Sharks were not happy about entering the 2009 draft with only four picks, but that is the result of trying to win so much now that eventually trading away those picks can come back to bite you. Doug Wilson wants to provide Burke and his staff with plenty of ammunition for the 2010 draft and likely won’t be trading away picks this time around.

The fact that the Sharks didn’t issue qualifying offers to former first-round picks Marcel Goc, Lukas Kaspar, and Mike Morris surprised some, but more than anything it had to do with the unsettling economic landscape that teams are weary of that prompted the Sharks to be frugal with their restricted free-agents. The fact that the salary cap is expected to drop quite a bit for the 2010-2011 season played a significant role in the decision not to qualify the players listed above. Under the current collective bargaining agreement, if a team qualifies a player and that player defects to Europe or doesn’t do anything with it, the qualifying offer still swallows up cap room. The Sharks also wanted to keep roster spots vacant for this year and especially next year to provide them with flexibility moving forward.

[Update] Getting To Know William Wrenn - Fear the Fin.

[Update2] Wrenn Goes 43rd Overall In NHL Draft - Doyle Woody for the Anchorage Daily News.

Defenseman William Wrenn of Anchorage was selected 43rd overall, the 13th pick of the second round, by the San Jose Sharks in the NHL entry draft today in Montreal. That makes Wrenn, who is headed to the University of Denver, the fifth-highest draft pick in history among Alaskans.

The 6-foot-1, 190-pounder, who is 18, is viewed as a defensive defenseman with a bit of edge to his game. He has played the last two seasons in USA Hockey's National Team Development Program and captained the Americans to the World Under-18 championship earlier this year.

Anchorage native Matt Carle, now playing for the Philadelphia Flyers, was originally drafted by San Jose 47th overall in 2003. Former Sharks enforcer Scott Parker was a 20th overall selection in the first round by Colorado in 1998.

[Update3] Sharks bolster blueline at NHL Draft - SJsharks.com.

Does "The Monster" know the way to San Jose? -- Dallas, Colorado, Toronto and Sharks via for free agent Swedish goaltender Jonas Gustavsson

Part I of the Gustavsson highlight video is here, part II here.

The NHL emerged from the 2009 Entry Draft with more ripples than major trade waves, but it could be a prelude before the free agency storm that kicks off on July 1st. One player rumored to sign prior to that date, as early as yesterday or today according to ESPN's Scott Burnside, is 6-foot-3, 192-pound Swedish goaltender Jonas "the Monster" Gustavsson.

Jonas Gustavsson helped lead Farjestad to their 8th Swedish Elite League Championship this season. His regular season record is not readily available, but a rough look at the Elitserien gamelog shows he registered a 24-9-2 record with a 1.96GAA, .931SV% and 3 shutouts. He finished with the top save percentage and the best goals against average in the SEL. According to friend of the blog Risto Pakarinen, "the Monster" helped Farjestad sweep the first two rounds of the playoffs, outscoring Brynas 10-2 and shutting out Skelleftea AIK 3 times. Risto also notes he extended the SEL consecutive shutout record to 240 minutes and 25 seconds. Jonas Gustavsson represented Team Sweden in the 2009 IIHF World Championships, finishing with a 3-2 record, .913SV% and 2.83GAA in 5 games played.

The frenzy surrounding Gustavsson has taken on draft lottery overtones, but reports on his decision have outpaced actual news. The Swedish newspaper Aftonbladet reported earlier today that he narrowed down his choice to two teams, Dallas and Toronto. That rumor was also carried by the CBC. Excellent Colorado Avalanche beat reporter Adrian Dater checked with a Swedish source, who spoke with Gustavsson today. "I did an interview with Aftonbladet just the other day and I told them that all four clubs were still on my list. That’s still true today," Gustavsson said.

Rough google translation of the Aftonbladet article that was disputed by Gustavsson earlier today:

Now Jonas Gustavsson tentatively decided to reject Colorado, allegedly to Sportbladet. The reason for Gustavsson thank no to Colorado is that his gut was not really there when he visited Denver, and that much is uncertain in Colorado right now with a new lagledning.

San Jose also received signals that they are not Gustav's first.

Brandon Worley of the SBN Defending Big D Stars blog writes that the Gustavsson news has essentially remained unchanged, but that the Toronto-based media is pushing hard for a Leafs outcome. Jonas experienced the Toronto hockey media fishbowl firsthand on his earlier 4-team NHL tour to scout possible destinations. Before he even left the airport he was nabbed by a Toronto Star paparazzi photographer.

In Toronto he would play behind the consumate professional Vesa Toskala, and he would have the benefit of one of the best goaltending coaches in the game in Francois Allaire. On the flip side the weight of the media and public scrutiny would magnify each mistake to an unhealthy level. The porous defense in Toronto also let in a league worst 293 goals against, at times visibly flustering a Toskala who was known for his consistency and patience while in San Jose. It should be noted that general manager Brian Burke admitted during the Entry Draft that the Maple Leafs were not at the stage yet where they could acquire a Chris Pronger. This is a team in the early stages of a long rebuilding process.

Earlier this month Dallas Morning News beat writer Mike Heika wrote that Dallas Stars Swedish scout Johan Garpenlov, and several Swedish players including last year's free agent steal Fabian Brunnstrom, a blossoming Loui Eriksson, and defenseman Nicklas Grossman, all make Dallas a front runner. The group would make Gustavsson's transition to North America smoother. Three-time Stanley Cup winner Andy Moog, the Dallas Stars goaltending coach, also would be an invaluable resource. Injuries hampered the 2008-09 season in Dallas, but with issues surrounding starting goaltender Marty Turco and questionable moves by new general manager and former player Joe Nieuwendyk, the Stars could be a team that breaks either way in 2009-10.

The Colorado Avalanche's best selling point, that Gustavsson could assume the number 1 role quickly, could be considered a feature instead of a bug. The truth is that Colorado has holes up front, on defense, and in goal. Instead of pushing hard for defenseman Jay Bouwmeester at the Entry Draft, division rival Calgary traded for his exclusive negotiating rights. After nearly a 10 year run near the top of the Conference, the Avalanche need to make broad sweeping changes in order to begin the rebuilding process. Making a move for a free agent defenseman and landing Jonas Gustavsson would be a significant step in the right direction for new general manager Greg Sherman and head coach Joe Sacco, but this franchise will still be a work in progress. The Avs also had former greats Patrick Roy and Peter Forsberg reach out to Gustavsson. While in Stockholm this blog was introduced to Forsberg by a Swedish soccer player as the most famous person in the country. As selling points go, that is not a small one.

The last stop on the Monster train could end up in San Jose. Unlike Dallas, Toronto or Colorado, the Sharks finished 2008-09 with a winning record (53-18-11, 1st NHL) and a Presidents Trophy as the top franchise in the regular season. The Sharks were summarily dispatched by intra-state rival Anaheim in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, capping a run of 5 straight shaky postseason exits. General manager Doug Wilson tried to mould the Sharks into a more battle-hardened club last summer. It may have come to the point where familiar faces have to be moved out in order to obtain a different postseason result.

In San Jose, Jonas Gustavsson may have to compete just to earn a #2 spot on the NHL roster. At one point early last season Brian Boucher registered a 7-1-1 record and a 1.88GAA after 9 starts, most while Evgeni Nabokov was out with a leg injury. Boucher was used sparingly after that, and while it did appear to have an affect on his confidence he never complained once to the media. In his third season with the AHL Worcester Sharks, heir apparent German goaltender Thomas Greiss posted his best regular season to date (30-24-2, 2.47GAA, .907SV%) and impressed the Sharks organization through two Calder Cup playoff rounds (6-6, 2.43GAA, .900SV%). When asked which of Nabokov-Gustavsson, Nabokov-Boucher or Nabokov-Griess would be best in goal, Sharkspage/McKeen's and future Red Line Report scout Max Giese noted that Nabokov-Gustavsson would be the strongest tandem. Boucher is an unrestricted free agent, Greiss is a restricted free agent (corrected) who just received a qualifying offer, and Gustavsson could earn a nearly $900K entry level salary plus bonuses.

The Sharks garnered "The Goaltending Factory" nickname on the back of the exploits of Evgeni Nabokov, Mikka Kiprusoff and Vesa Toskala, but late goaltending coach Warren Strelow still casts a long shadow over the organization. In 8 seasons as a goaltending coach at the University of Minnesota, Strelow helped the team win 3 NCAA Championships. As the 1980 and 2002 USA Olympic hockey goalie coach, Strelow helped Team USA win gold and silver medals. In the NHL, Strelow worked with Vezina trophy winners Martin Brodeur and Miikka Kiprusoff, and 2008 runner-up Evgeni Nabokov. One college goalie coach told this blog that Strelow helped create the position of what a goaltending coach is.

Regular season success is not going to satisfy either the management or the fans in San Jose, so the franchise could be looking for a goaltender who can push Evgeni Nabokov for starts, and one who can steal games when given the opportunity. Jonas Hiller and Simeon Varlamov demonstrated the benefit of a 2-goaltender solution in the playoffs, and it could be a possible option for San Jose moving forward. On a recent interview with KNBR, television analyst and former assistant coach Drew Remenda said one problem facing Nabokov and the Sharks is the lack of a dedicated goaltending coach. Assistant Sharks GM Wayne Thomas, a former NHL goaltender with Montreal, Toronto and NY, works with the goaltenders in San Jose. Thomas is also a GM for the Worcester Sharks, where former NHL'er Corey Schwab is a development goaltending coach. Former Sharks goalie Wade Flaherty was a coach/player for the ALIH affiliate China Sharks, earning league best goaltender honors for the 2008-09 season before moving to the Blackhawks as a development coach.

San Jose would unquestionably put the best team in front of Jonas Gustavsson and give him the strongest opportunity to succeed at the NHL level. While the Stars landed Brunnstrom, the Sharks were the choice of young free agents Mike Moore, Matt Jones, and Kevin Henderson based on the strength and character of the organization. The Swedish selling point for the Sharks would have to consist mostly of Douglas "Crankshaft" Murray, a punishing defenseman and creator of the ubertap, and Atherton, a city just up the penninsula from San Jose which could be the Au Pair capital of the US.

Whether or not Gustavsson would be willing to compete for the #2 role, or even spend time in the AHL adapting to the North American game, remains to be seen. Gustavsson did tell the Toronto Star that he would accept a role behind Toskala, or even a minor league assignment as long as it was not permanent. "We think he's ready to play (in the NHL), but if the organization feels he needs some games in the minors, we're not afraid of that," his Swedish based agent Par Larsson told the Star.

Elite Prospect's Ulf Andersson describes Gustavsson as a "long and tall" goalkeeper, with a good range covering the crease. They go on to call him "a bit of a late bloomer". Judging by the highlight videos above "the Monster" looks to be tremendously agile for his size with an ability to get across the crease well. In a prospect profile for McKeensHockey.com, Max Giese described Gustavsson as a "large... athletic... buttefly goaltender." He also noted that he was aggressive at the top of the crease, that he quickly shuts down a large 5-hole, and that his size and fundamentals allow him to take away large areas of the net while in the butterfly.

Described by several media sources as the "best goaltender outside the NHL", many are looking for Gustavsson to provide an immediate impact at the NHL level similar to what Finnish goaltender Niklas Backstrom was able to accomplish. Backstrom's impressive entry into the league in 2006-07 included a 23-8-6 record, 1.97GAA, and .929SV% after 4 seasons in the Finnish Elite League and 1 in the SEL. That may set the bar too high. The leap from large European and international ice surfaces is not an easy one, and the increase in speed and physicality of the NHL shock many a developing European goalie. There is very little room for error. There does not appear to be too many Gustavsson critics (there may be a KHL goalie or two with a beef about the best outside of NHL status), but he can prove them wrong with a strong showing next season.

[Update] Idolen ska locka "Monstret" till Colorado - Expressen.SE Flickr photo.

[Update2] Good/Bad/Ugly: The top 10 free-agent goaltenders - Yahoo's Puck Daddy.

GJ Berg: Circus in the Desert (6/28 update)

Welcome back to the continuing story of life and conflict surrounding a NHL franchise, the Phoenix Coyotes.

Since we last "met", there has been one hearing (Monday, June 22) and the deadline to submit an application for interested owners for a local franchise was Friday, June 26th. The Coyotes also held an open house Thursday 6/25 at Jobing.com arena.

Backtracking for a bit, one legal pundit is encouraged by Baum's 6/15 ruling as it gives bankruptcy creditors more say than some of the recent mega-bankruptcies where the government stepped in and quashed their rights.

On Friday, June 19, Balsillie and the "Make It Seven" PR campaign held a rally in Hamilton, Ontario. A few thousand attended. Balsillie did not attend, perhaps due to the business media criticism of him paying more attention to his purchase attempt than running Research in Motion; the day of the rally was the same day that Apple released its new iPhone, a major rival to RIM's Blackberry. There were some demonstrators at the rally supporting the AHL Hamilton Bulldogs who may be ousted from the Copps Coliseum in favor of a NHL franchise. A Phoenix blogger wonders if the Canadian public and media are growing tired of the makeitseven.ca PR; perhaps not.

It was revealed that the Reinsdorf group had incorporated as Glendale Hockey LLC on June 1st and is the only potential group of the four who previously indicated an interest in local ownership that have gotten so prepared to make an official offer by 6/26. Current minority owner Breslow later pulls out of the bidding.

In preparation for the 6/22 hearing, Balsillie's group and the NHL submitted their respective plans for a combined (relocation and non-relocation) auction and a two-step auction (first non-relocation and if needed a relocation auction).

The NHL submitted documents yesterday that called for all parties interested in buying the Coyotes to have their applications to the NHL by June 26. Preliminary bids are expected by July 20, with final bids due Aug. 10. NHL approval for all bidders will come Aug. 24, and the auction will occur Sept. 10.

Moyes and Balsillie want to revise the previously agreed upon schedule, asking the judge to force the NHL to consider all relocation bids by July 20, offer a decision on Balsillie's ownership, the transfer to Hamilton and the relocation fee by July 31, and all other bids including relocation by Aug. 24.

The Monday 6/22 hearing in bankruptcy court before Judge Redfield T Baum had at least one unique activity, that being hearing from the Reinsdorf/Glendale Hockey LLC camp for the first time, with a promise of submitting a local bid for the Phoenix Coyotes by Friday. One of the concerns was the short timeframe for bidders other than Reinsdorf to negotiate a new arena lease; the City of Glendale has endorsed the Reinsdorf effort.

As a result of the hearing the following non-relocation schedule was set:

• June 26 – submittal of applications

• July 24 – Bids filed with court

• July 30 – NHL approval of ownership groups

• July 31 – Objections to the sale

• Aug. 3 – Responses to objections

• August 5 – auction

And the alternate relocation auction schedule was also set:

• Aug. 5 – Notice of auction.
• Aug. 7 – File ownership and relocation applications.
• Aug. 24 -- Bids filed with court.
• Sept. 2 -- Objections to sale, including any NHL rejections of ownership groups or relocation applications.
• Sept. 4 -- Responses to objections.
• September 10 -- auction

The Reinsdorf team includes former Mighty Ducks of Anaheim CEO Tony Tavares. (Note that he is also involved in a group looking to purchase the NHL Florida Panthers. See Article 13 of the NHL constitution on cross-ownership at non-controlling owner levels.)

Local story on hearing.

The Toronto Star noted:

An offer that keeps the team in Glendale solves a lot of tricky issues, saving the judge from ruling on the legality of the NHL's bylaws and the hockey team's lease with the city of Glendale. Also, the judge noted the longer a team remains in bankruptcy, the more debt it runs up, which makes matters worse for all creditors.

And Canadian Press commented:

Baum had stern words for the NHL after its lawyers indicated it would be difficult to come up with a decision on Balsillie's bid to move the team by the Sept. 2 deadline the judge set.

The judge said the league's board of governors would "either have to reach a decision or have a very good explanation of why they've been unable to."

After the hearing, Daly said Balsillie -- who failed in bids to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins and Nashville Predators -- hasn't endeared himself to NHL owners with his behaviour in the Coyotes case.

One of the issues that came up needs some negotiation between the NHL and NHLPA:

Additionally, Baum suggested that the NHL and its players’ association get together “in good faith” to determine if the prospective buyer automatically assumes all the players’ contracts the team holds or whether it can select which contracts it will retain.

Balsillie has no plans to participate in the non-relocation auction.

NHL Deputy Commission Bill Daly comments after Monday's hearing.

Q: How soon can you rule on Balsillie’s applications?

A: That’s a good question. As we’ve said all along, a relocation application, properly looked at and reviewed, is something that takes several months. It’s not something that takes several weeks. I think we’re going to focus, in the first instance, on a local sale process, an auction process, but it doesn’t mean we aren’t going to continue to process Mr. Balsillie’s applications . . . We’re going to update the Board of Governors on the status of the Phoenix situation at our Board meeting on Wednesday, and I’ll have a better sense where the Board wants to go in terms of processing those applications.

Q: Would you be surprised to see them approve a relocation – especially to Mr. Balsillie, after what the League’s been put through?

A: Two separate issues. I’m not going to presume what the Board might do, because it’s totally within their power. But certainly, I think the Board has legitimate questions as to his suitability as an owner.

On Wednesday, 6/24, the NHL Board of Governors met, prior to the NHL Entry Draft. One of their agenda items was to talk the Balsillie camp about their applications for ownership and relocation.

And from the Globe and Mail:

Breaking his long silence on the quest by Canadian businessman Jim Balsillie to buy the NHL team and move it to Hamilton, Gretzky said that once the ownership situation is clarified, he would be willing to sit down with the owners “and make it where everybody’s comfortable and happy. It’s as simple as that.”

With some backlash.

Meanwhile Brian Burke also made some comments:

And the Maple Leafs president and general manager said yesterday that he believes the Coyotes should remain in the desert and be given an opportunity to succeed rather than moving to Hamilton or whatever locale NHL commissioner Gary Bettman may give his blessing.

"For every situation like Phoenix, you have to look at Washington and Pittsburgh," [and Chicago, Boston a few years ago] ... "I hope we're looking back at Phoenix in a couple of years saying: 'Remember when they were in trouble?' I think we've got to find a way to keep that team there and let them develop. They've got some good young players."

One pundit provides some unsolicited advice to Reinsdorf, namely suggesting renegotiating of the lease agreement, find cheaper coach (or negotiate lower deal) and "hire a John McDonough clone and start a new marketing campaign."

Players are now hopeful they'll stay in Phoenix.

Thursday, the Phoenix Coyotes hosted a rally at Jobing.com with player, food and more. More than 3,000 fans attended.

“It was a tremendous turnout by the fans,” Coyotes President Doug Moss said. “They were an energetic crowd and really showed their support for the Phoenix Coyotes and Glendale. The players enjoyed it too and they received a lot of support from the fans.”

Asked to characterize the mood of the fans, Moss said: “They were very positive, very upbeat and very passionate about things. I think it was very cathartic for them. There was an electricity in the air. They can’t wait to come back here in September and watch some games.”

On Friday 6/26, the Reinsdorf/Glendale Hockey LLC submitted their application at the same time the Phoenix Coyotes were at the podium in Montreal taking their first round draft pick. (Local story, Reuters; Canadian criticism) And the only one before the end of the day.

But there is a wrinkle that could scuttle the bankruptcy court sale to the Reinsdorf/Glendale Hockey LLC, namely the Goldwater Institute, a conservative tax-payer rights organization, has sued the City of Glendale for not releasing in-progress documentation of their negotiations with the Reinsdorf/Glendale Hockey LLC over a new lease for the Jobing.com Arena.

The city issued a statement criticizing the lawsuit.

"The legal action filed today in Maricopa County Superior Court by the Goldwater Institute is without a factual or legal basis," the statement reads. "The city has and will continue to honor Arizona Public Records Law."

"Releasing documents at this time related to a matter in bankruptcy court and subject to complex business negotiations is not in the best interest of the public," Glendale added.

And

“The Goldwater Institute’s assertion that the city has said in numerous media reports that the city plans to offer tax payer subsidies to potential new owners of the Phoenix Coyotes is incorrect. The city has stated that appropriate and legal modification of the existing arena-use agreement may be necessary. Any modification must be approved by the City Council, which will be done in open session and in accordance with law,” the city statement said.

So...

So it will be fascinating to see if and where Baum draws the line. The NHL may well feel it's justified to continue campaigning to retain its powers to designate franchise ownership, but bankruptcy is about creditor interests, not league constitutions. The puck still belongs to Baum.

But the offseason business goes on. With some concerns about other teams that may tender offer sheets to the Phoenix RFA players.

Does the NHL tell the rest of the league to back off, thereby skewing the free-agent market? Daly says there will be no interference from the league. Given the obvious conflict-of-interest and collusion implications, that is the wise thing to do.

...

"No disrespect to the players, but I could get similar types of players as unrestricted free agents and not have to worry about paying compensation [in the form of draft picks to the Coyotes]," one GM said, requesting anonymity to avoid tampering charges.

Still, the situation could have implications for the free-agent market, serious enough that Paul Kelly, the executive director of the NHL Players' Association, passed along word through a spokesman that the union will be watching "very carefully."

In the meantime, Daly said the club's budget for the 2009-10 season is still being worked out between the league and current owner Jerry Moyes, who stopped paying the bills last season and put the club into bankruptcy. Daly would not give a number for the Coyotes' player salaries but did say, "I do not anticipate mandating a minimum payroll."

So, it is still to be seen if the team will use the mythical phoenix bird for marketing with the team remaining, or if the franchise will be moved.

Max Giese: 2009 NHL Entry Draft Top 10 Goaltenders

2009 NHL Entry Draft Top 10 Goaltenders:

1. Robin Lehner, 6-3/220, Frolunda (Swe)
Similar stance to Henrik Lundqvist, big and in great shape, struggles with odd angles.
2. Jean-Francois Berube, 6-0/155, Montreal (QMJHL)
Some NHL scouts think he’s Steve Mason, limited play time this year kept him hidden.
3. Mikko Koskinen, 6-5/190, Blues (Fin)
Late bloomer compared to Olaf Kolzig, he’s a large hybrid goaltender with leadership.
4. Olivier Roy, 5-11/165, Cape Breton (QMJHL)
Remarkably quick and plays bigger than listed size indicates because he challenges well.
5. Mike Lee, 6-1/185, Fargo (USHL)
Similar to Brian Elliot, Lee is a big-game goaltender that forces shooters to go glove side.
6. Scott Stajcer, 6-2/180, Owen Sound (OHL)
Big, smart, and has good technique. Just needs to improve recovery quickness.
7. Matthew Hackett, 6-2/170, Plymouth (OHL)
At 6-2 with NHL bloodlines, Hackett won’t get past over at the draft again.
8. Nathan Lieuwen, 6-5/180, Kootenay
First round talent that has been setback by of concussion problems and technical flaws.
9. Edward Pasquale, 6-2/220, Saginaw (OHL)
Sizable goaltender was a workhorse for Saginaw, needs to work on agility.
10. Joni Ortio, 6-1/180, TPS Turku (Fin)
Typical Finnish butterfly goaltender, smart but gets exposed up high.

San Jose Sharks Mock-Draft
One thing we know for certain is that Doug Wilson will be active wheeling and dealing on draft day. The Sharks might make a move to acquire a first round pick and most likely it would take a roster player to get it done. This is a deep draft and the more picks the Sharks can accumulate the better. Below is an estimate at how the Sharks will draft if they stay put with their picks already in hand.

43rd Overall: D, Brian Dumoulin: No one scouts the Eastern United States better than Tim Burke and Jack Gardiner. Dumoulin has international experience, but played in the EJHL this year and that might scare some teams off. Dumoulin has the height, hockey sense, and natural athletic gifts to make him a high selection. His strengths are his ability to carry the puck and his booming point shot. He's raw, but is going to play for a strong college program at Boston College starting next fall.

57th Overall: LW, Ben Hanowski: The Sharks are ahead of the curve in terms of developing young talent and they believe that they can improve a players skating and develop them physically into men. Hanowski is a handsy winger uncanny hockey sense and finishing ability inside the offensive zone. He is going to a burgeoning program at St. Cloud in the fall and could be a home run, goal scoring winger by the time he's 25 years old.

146th Overall: D, Daniel Senkbeil: If the Sharks draft Senkbeil it won't be because he played for the Jr. Sharks, it will be because his play has warranted the selection and the upside is just too good to pass up. Only a handful of teams have scouted Senkbeil closely this year and the Sharks were one of them. Senkbeil is a tall, gangly offensive defenseman that can really skate and move the puck. He has NHL upside and just needs to get stronger and work on his defensive play against a higher level of competition, something he will do next fall in the USHL.

206th Overall: D, John Ramage: Usually a defenseman that is barely six-feet tall and has slow feet wouldn't get drafted, but Ramage is a very intelligent defenseman with great toughness and one of the hardest point shots available in the draft. The Sharks aren't afraid to take players with skating issues if they possess the anticipatory skills to get them into the right places at the right time. Ramage is going to play for the Wisconsin Badgers this fall.

Max Giese: 2009 NHL Entry Draft Top 10 Forwards

2009 NHL Entry Draft Top 10 Forwards:

1. John Tavares, C, 6-0/195, London (OHL)
A premier goal scorer that is as good of a sniper as you will find inside the hash-marks.
2. Matt Duchene, C, 5-11/200, Brampton (OHL)
Complete player with dynamic two-step acceleration and multiple offensive tools.
3. Evander Kane, C, 6-1/180, Vancouver (WHL)
Kane can skate, score, hit, and has 30-40 goal upside.
4. Brayden Schenn, C, 6-0/200, Brandon (WHL)
Gritty, smart two-way centerman with underrated hands, just needs to pick up skating.
5. Magnus Paajarvi-Svensson, LW, 6-1/200, Timra (Swe)
He’s a rocket that jets out of the gates with fantastic hands and a relentless motor.
6. Louis Leblanc, C, 6-0/180, Omaha (USHL)
Ready to blossom, Leblanc is gritty as hell, has powerful skating speed, and a lively stick.
7. Nazem Kadri, C, 5-11/170, London (OHL)
An electrifying, unpredictable talent, Kadri is a risky all-or-nothing type.
8. Jordan Schroeder, C, 5-8/175, Minnesota (NCAA)
Overrated prospect that can provide perimeter offense because his skill and smarts.
9. Scott Glennie, RW, 6-1/180, Brandon (WHL)
Compared to Scott Hartnell, Glennie is a determined and versatile two-way player.
10. Jacob Josefson, C, 6-0/185, Djurgardens (Swe)
Lack of explosiveness only glaring flaw, he’s a crafty and slick two-way centerman.

Sleepers: Swedish winger Carl Klingberg would be a gem of a pick for any team that is fortunate to have him fall to the latter half of the first round. Klingberg is a feisty winger that works his ass off and has an outside gear of speed. He doesn't possess high-end offensive skill, but he does go hard to the net and will score because of his determination. Ontario born center Ryan O'Reilly is a safe pick, even though he might not be taken until the second-round because of his lack of goal scoring ability. O'Reilly's hockey sense and character are off the charts, plus he's a dynamic penalty-killer that is as good as anyone in the face-off circle past or present. A real diamond in the rough is Ben Hanowski, a natural goal scorer who ended his high school career with 405 points. The Sharks believe they can work on a players skating and get them physically stronger, which is the only two areas of concern with Hanowski, but he owns a projectible frame and the goal scoring exploits that can't be taught.

Tough As Nails: Many Sharks fans want to see the organization begin to add more toughness through the draft, well there is plenty of that available in this draft. starting with Barrie's Kyle Clifford, a Chris Neil clone that can hit and fight with the best of them. Drummondville's Gabriel Dumont could be the next Maxime Talbot. He lacks size/speed but makes up for it with exceptional anticipation and a motor that doesn't quit.

Max Giese: 2009 NHL Entry Draft Top 10 Defenseman

2009 NHL Entry Draft Top 10 Defenseman:

1. Victor Hedman, 6-6/220, MoDo (Swe)
His size, skating ability, and overall talent are nearly impossible to find in one player.
2. Oliver Ekman-Larsson, 6-2/180, Leksands (Swe)
A beautiful player that is like watching poetry in motion when skating with the puck.
3. Dmitri Kulikov, 6-0/185, Drummondville (QMHL)
The ease in which he sees the ice and moves the puck is already NHL caliber.
4. Jared Cowen, 6-5/220, Spokane (WHL)
Has vast potential with the size to become a franchise shut down defenseman.
5. John Moore, 6-2/190, Chicago (USHL)
He’s a wonderful skater that is in a class of his own with a Paul Coffey-like stride.
6. Dylan Olsen, 6-2/205, Camrose (AJHL)
A big, agile, and smart defenseman that already looks like a pro carrying the puck.
7. David Rundblad, 6-2/190, Skelleftea (Swe)
He’s a gifted offensive defenseman with superb vision and can rush the puck.
8. Ryan Ellis, 5-9/175, Windsor (OHL)
The best powerplay quarterback available and has one of the hardest point shots.
9. Nick Leddy, 5-11/180, Eden Prairie (USHSW)
He’s this years Jake Gardiner and will go in the first round because of his skating.
10. Simon Despres, 6-3/205, Saint John (QMJHL)
He’s big and can skate, but remains a project with questionable hockey sense.

Sleepers: A pair of defenseman from the QMJHL could find themselves picked inside the first round despite the consensus stating else wise. Charles Olivier-Roussel is the youngest player among the top players eligible for this years' draft and is a promising two-way defenseman that can contribute in all-situations. Lewiston's Eric Gelinas is a sizable defenseman with smooth mobility and offensive potential, but his defensive work requires improvement. Also, look for Michigan recruit Mac Bennett to rise on draft day. Bennett is a sleeper because of limited exposure due to injury, but he can skate like the wind and has plus offensive upside. Another defenseman that will rise on draft day is Brian Dumoulin, a tall American born defenseman that will play for Boston College next fall. Dumoulin has vast potential and a monster point shot.

The Local Boy: Daniel Senkbeil, a 6-foot-3 185 pound defenseman from the San Jose Jr. Sharks has an outside chance at being drafted. The only scouting service to have Senkbeil ranked is McKeen's, who slotted Senkbeil at 123 in their ranking of the top 125 draft eligible players. A gangly, puck moving defenseman with striking mobility and offensive upside, Senkbeil will need to get stronger and is headed to play in the USHL next fall.

War of the Heroes III brought a full night of professional and amateur kickboxing to Santa Clara

JONGSANAN FAIRTEX, DINO PAGTAKHAN, JOSH THOMSON, AND ANTHONY LIN

MARFIO CANOLETTI LANDS A RIGHT VS CHAZ MULKEY IN A K-1 RULES FIGHT

WAR OF THE HEROES III MUAY THAI KICKBOXING CHAMPIONSHIPS

A story I wrote on the WOTH III Muaythai kickboxing event for fairtex.com is posted below, a photo gallery from the event is up here, video highlights are up here.

War of the Heroes III brought a full night of professional and amateur kickboxing to Santa Clara

by Jon Swenson

2009-06-17 War of the Heroes III Results by Jon Swensen, www.sharkspage.com The United States Muaythai Federation and Xfight brought the War of the Heroes III Muaythai Kickboxing Championships to the Santa Clara Convention Center on Saturday June 13th, 2009.

A stacked 16-fight card featured 2 pro superfights with K-1 veteran Marfio "The Warrior Tiger" Canoletti facing M. Toddy trained Chaz Mulkey, and a Brazil vs Japan showdown with an imposing Gilmar China Sales vs Baba Shingeyasu. Two USMF National Kickboxing titles were on the line, and the WOTH III main event featured pro Muaythai fight of Fairtex's Nathan Willet vs Jose Palacios with Strikeforce Middleweight Champion Cung Le and Strikeforce Lightweight Champion Josh Thomson in his corner.

The fight of the night had to be awarded to Marfio Canoletti and Chaz Mulkey based on the sheer amount of damage each fighter inflicted during the 5-round full thai rules contest. Chaz Mulkey began the first with an explosive display of striking punctuated by a dangerous counter hook and high kick combination. Chaz Mulkey scored a knockdown and poured it on with a series of flurries and elbows to end the first round.

The momentum carried with Mulkey as he dictated action at the start of the second. 2002 K-1 Brazil World MAX Champion Marfio Canoletti tried to overload the right hand and land kicks from a distance. Chaz spun Marfio into the corner and finished with a series of knee strikes in the clinch.

Marfio chopped one leg out from under Chaz Mulkey at the start of the third, and he responded with several short elbows and hard knees in tight. The Sao Paulo born Canoletti nearly fell through the ropes trying to circle away from an attack in the corner to a roar from the crowd. Canoletti landed a hard hook which knocked Mulkey back into the ropes, and was blocked to the mat on a flying front kick attempt.

A large cut was opened up over the eye of Marfio in a very bloody fourth round. Chaz stalked him around the ring with a series of hard low kicks and finished with mutiple body shots and elbows up against the ropes. During the break Mulkey's trainers worked hard on the cut and wiped the blood off of him, the corner, and the mat, but they missed the press table. With a high pace at the start of the fifth, an elbow connected to open a deeper cut over the eye of Chaz Mulkey. He could not continue giving Marfio Canoletti the come-from-behind TKO 52 seconds into the fifth round.

In the other professional superfight held under K-1 rules, Fairtex Brazil's imposing K-1 veteran Gilmar China Sales broke down Fairtex Japan's Baba Shigeyasu and earned a first round TKO. The first three low kicks by Sales connected with the loudest sounds of the night. He went back to work on the lower leg and added several hard hooks up top. Baba Shigeyasu tried several push kicks to create distance for combinations, but eventually his corner stopped the fight when Shigeyasu had problems defending himself.

The fighter of the night award may have to be given to Fairtex's Nathan Willet after a strong 5-round unanimous decision win over a technical Jose Palacios. Muaythai kickboxing is the science of 8 limbs (elbow, knee, feet fist), and Willet's 8 limbs displayed a full range of strikes that slowed down and punished a quicker, unbeaten Palacios. Nathan Willet threw short elbows in close with bad intentions, and finished the 5th round with a pair of heavy knee strikes caught on the highlight video.

Two United States Muaythai Federation Amateur National Titles were on the line Saturday. In the first title fight at 112 pounds, Jill Guido (TNT) earned a 3-round decision over former model Florina Petcu (Renzo Gracie from NYC). With the win, Guido earned a spot on the USMF National Muaythai Team that will compete at November's IFMA World Cup in Thailand. Guido showed excellent movement and technical ability against a taller Petcu, but her strength is an aggressive defense. As Florina would start to throw a punch or a kick, Jill Guido was blocking the strike while at the same time initiating one of her own.

In the other USMF National Title fight at 155 pounds, an evenly matched Dino Pagtakhan (Fairtex) won a tight 5-round decision over Eric Faria (Art of War). Faria strutted into the ring loose and dancing to his entrance music. Eric caught an early high kick, and tripped Dino to the mat illiciting a large cheer from his fans early in the first round. Several toe-to-toe exchanges punctuated the second round. Dino gained the edge with several power punches and high kicks connecting. Eric Faria was able to launch knee strikes or shut the fight down in the clinch. The third round was a series of collision then clinch, collision then clinch, collision then clinch, which favored the Art of War's Faria.

At this point the fight could have been scored even with the first split, the second going to Dino, and the third to Faria. In one sequence in the fourth round, Dino trapped Faria in the corner and landed a flurry of punches and knees that seemed to slow him down and sap some of his energy. In the fifth and final round Dino Pagtakhan showcased his footwork before Faria again brought him into the clinch. Pagtakhan landed a combination, and long left hand and right hook that backed Faria off. A short counter left hook as Eric Faria came forward drew a large reaction from the crowd and put Dino Pagtakhan over the top for one of the most entertaining fights of the night.

The winners of the USMF National Muaythai Title will go on to represent the USMF National Muaythai Team at the IFMA World Cup 2009 in Bangkok, Thailand this November 27th to December 5th, 2009 in honor of the Authority King of Thailand's Birthday. There will be over 120 country teams competing under the International Olympic Committee (IOC), GAISF, and WADA recognition.

On the undercard, the American Kickboxing Academy's Eric Luna, Unlimited Kickboxing's Hector Cortes, and AKA's Alexander Namuski looked impressive en route to early stoppage wins. TNT's Ryan Ratcliff apparently knocked out Jason Andrada on a trip at the start of the second round. Andrada's head hit the mat while his legs were suspended above him in the ropes. Andres Salas, Katie Toliao, TJ Arcangel, Reggie Queja, Tal Segev, Troy Taylor and Agualuna Romeo all earned wins.

FEG's Mike Kogan (Japan’s K-1 Max and Dreams) was on hand to scout the kickboxers. According to a press release, there is a possibility WOTH could be used as a feeder program for K-1 Max. Mr. Scott Coker, ISKA Strikeforce Promoter, and Ricardo Santana, WBC Brazil Promoter, were also in attendance enjoying the action packed bouts.

War of the Heroes IV will return to the Santa Clara Convention Center on October 10th, 2009 with a mix of professional MMA and Muaythai bouts along with amateur Muaythai undercards. For more information, tickets or sponsorship opportunity, please contact Nissa Zbiczak at nissa@fairtex.com.

[Update] The World CSC MMA/Muaythai combined event held at the Kezar Pavilion in San Francisco last month can be streamed for free online at ibnsports.com. Thanks to camuaythai.com for the link.

GJ Berg: Circus in the Desert (6/15 update)

So it's nearly a week since the Phoenix Coyotes bankruptcy hearing before Judge Redfield T Baum on the issue of relocation.

And the sports world held its breath waiting on the judge's ruling.

But what was said at the hearing? Many things.

Using the basis of other lawsuits between the NFL and the Oakland Raiders, the court agreed with the NHL that the league owned the right to any new franchise in the Southern Ontario market and the appropriate fees (relocation and/or indemnification for territory incursion) could be levied. A strike against Balsillie's claim.

On Thursday, a brief statement was released that the judge would not be ruling separately on what the relocation fees might be, perhaps tipping his hand that he would not support the relocation.

Late Monday, a 21-page judgment was released. In it, Judge Baum rejected the PSE/Balsillie proposed schedule for a sale/auction to be completed by the end of this month.

This article from the Globe and Mail does a nice job of summarizing the June 9th hearing and the ruling of the 15th.

Instead, the league has proposed an August 10 deadline for bidders to pay a multi-million dollar deposit on the stationary Phoenix franchise along with the ownership application that the NHL Board of Governors could review, with the auction to occur with pre-approved bidders on September 10. The league and Judge would determine the winner. Should no acceptable offer be found, then plans can be put in place to hold an auction for a relocatable franchise (starting play in alternate location as soon as the 2010-2011 season).

From where I sit, how I see things right now....

First, the push to resolve the ownership and relocation by the end of this month is gone. In realistic terms, this means that Phoenix will operate out of JOBING.com for the upcoming season, at least. The NHL will fund the team (debtor-in-possession funding, which is top of the list to be paid back when the bankruptcy is exited), with the NHL and Moyes coordinating actions in operating the team.

I can see Moyes, the NHL and Judge Baum planning a salary budget between the floor and mid-point of the salary cap, preferably the lower end. I can also see the NHL and Baum pushing to remove Moyes' other entities from financial gain (IOW, move out of Moyes-owned office space, charter a private company unless the cost is greater than Moyes' travel). And perhaps re-negotiate with Gretzky a lower (monetary) salary and/or part ownership deal in lieu of (all/part of his) salary.

The team may be negotiating with the City of Glendale for a more favorable lease to lessen some of the monetary issues. However, the taxpayer watchdog group, the Goldwater Institute, is watching this situation closely so extreme concessions may not be available or possible.

Second, the team is still in bankruptcy and will only trade hands given the blessing of the NHL (by pre-approving bidders for auction) and the judge's belief that the best "bid" to provide funds for secured and unsecured creditors.

What the rules for such an auction will be, when it would happen, are currently nebulous. The NHL has proposed an August "interest" deadline (submit deposit, ownership application) with a September auction.

But as Baum seems to want to push the NHL and Balsillie to mediation, it could be that both non-moving and relocation bids would be accepted (with a period of negotiation as to any relocation fees and indemnity fees).

Obviously the "minimum" bid for a relocatable asset would be higher due to the damages the City of Glendale would seek for losing their major tenant.

Third, if the franchise sells as a non-relocatable (for seven years, or whatever) team, Balsillie may not participate. But that does not mean his dream of a NHL team in Hamilton is dead.

There are other teams out there that may be available to purchase and/or move before that seven year period is up. Atlanta for one, once their ownership gets straightened out (unless both sides agree to any sale with $$ put into escrow).

And the NHL may put expansion on the calendar and agenda.

Still a lot that can happen.

Stay tuned for more.

USMF and Xfight War of the Heroes III Muaythai Kickboxing Championship video highlights

This is a short handheld highlight video of Saturday Night's War of the Heroes III Muaythai Kickboxing Championships held at the Santa Clara Convention Center. The event presented by the United States Muaythai Federation and Xfight featured 2 title fights and 3 superfight matchups on a stacked 16 fight card. The Muaythai kickboxing championships return to Santa Clara October 10th.

A kickboxing report and photo gallery, and an updated report on ESPN's Friday Night Fight card live from HP Pavilion in San Jose will be posted soon.