Did you happen to catch it? During all the celebrations of the Pittsburgh Penquins championship win and the presentation of the Stanley Cup NHL President Gary Bettman just had to slip it in there.
With his usual smug smirk and heres "up your north end Canada" attitude, Bettman pointed out that the Pittsburgh Penquins were once on the verge of bankruptcy and ready to fold or move until Mario Lemieux and his group saved the day.
And as Bettman pointed out, the Penquins and the city of Pittsburgh were now hoisting the Stanley Cup.
An obvious inference to you know who, who owns part of the Phoenix Coyotes and is expected to save the Coyotes from their desert wanderings.
Only problem Gary, there are a couple of differences. Pittsburgh is a hockey market.
Most of the folks in Phoenix don't know the difference between a hockey puck and a snow shovel. The Penquins also have had some great players who marketed the game well on the ice and not in a boardroom. Remember Jaromir Jagr and Mario Lemieux.
As great as he is, or was, its hard to get excited watching Wayne Gretzky stand behind the bench.
As well the Penquins benefited from the success of the Philadelphia Flyers and the cross state rivalry that was created. The fact that the Flyers could win a couple of Cups and bring them to Philadephia also created a want and a desire to do it in
Pittsburgh.
Bettman is hell bent on leaving the Coyotes in Phoenix. So be it. Moses wandered around the desert for forty years so leave the Coyotes there, in the desert, for another 40 years or so. Let the NHL pay their bills.
Speaking of deserts. Whats its been. 42 years since the Maple Leafs brought a Stanley Cup to Toronto. Take heart Leaf fans. Moses didn't get it done overnight either.
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