Balsillie Out, Del Biaggio In

FF Staff | National Hockey League

Jun 28, 11:18 PM | Hype this story!

For the second time in a year, Jim Balsillie has lost out on an NHL franchise. This time, it’s the Nashville Predators.

Current owner Craig Leipold has pulled out of a deal that was rumored as being imminent as early as last week. ESPN is reporting that an anonymous source stated that the reason why Leipold has soured on the deal was because, “he wants Balsillie to play ball with the NHL and take it one step at a time, not two steps at a time”, the second step being the impending move of the franchise to Hamilton, Ontario.

Dodging the Balsillie bullet, Predator fans now have to worry about Del Biaggio and his connections to the Anschutz Entertainment Group which has plans on moving the team to Kansas City. TSN is reporting that Del Biaggio’s bid to buy the team is $50 million less than Balsillie’s bid of $238 million. Del Biaggio is currently a minority partner with the San Jose Sharks.

What seems to be the only hope for the franchise to stay in Nashville lies with a group of local businessmen lead by two healthcare executives, Herb Fritch and David Freeman. The group’s spokesman, Chase Cole, has stated in the Tennessean that they are “encouraged by the broad support, but challenged by the difficulty of identifying serious investors. We’re aware of the fact there’s competition and the clock is running. So we’re just doing the best we can with all those factors in play”.

Comments

  1. DaBich

    Jun 29, 03:12 PM

    Jim Balsillie seems to be looking for a cheap deal he can move AWAY from their hometown. I don’t trust the man. Seems DelBaggio is cut from the same cloth. I hope Nashville fans get lucky like we Pittsburgh fans did, and that someone from their area rescues their team for them!

  2. Pete Patsilevas, Jr.

    Jun 29, 05:11 PM

    Thanks for the response.

    I wouldn’t really call $238 million a cheap deal when the St. Louis Blues were sold for a paltry $150 million back in 2006. He knows hes going to have to pay more than the average buyer because his motives are well known.

    At least the Penguins had history on their side, no franchise that has won a Stanley Cup has ever relocated and of course the Mario Lemieux factor. I’m afraid the Predators’ luck is running thin. Hopefully those local investors can put together a solid offer to keep the team in town. No one should have to go though what we went through the past few years.

  3. DaBich

    Jul 1, 08:54 PM

    I agree with you 100% Good luck to the Preds!

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