The Hockey Stop

Senators Charles E. Schumer and Kirsten E. Gillibrand of New York are weighing in on Blackberry CEO Jim Balsille's attempt to buy the Phoenix Coyotes and move the team to Hamilton, Ontario. In a letter sent to NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, Schumer and Gillibrand expressed concern about the southern Ontario franchise infringing upon the Buffalo Sabres fanbase.

NHL.com reports that the Sabres receive "15-20 percent of their revenue from fans that live between Hamilton and Buffalo" and that "current NHL rules would prevent the Coyotes from being relocated within 50 miles of the Sabres without compensating the Sabres for lost revenue, and without obtaining the agreement of the NHL, and the NHL's 30 governors."

The bigger issue here is that Canadians, rightly or wrongly, feel "their" national sport is being taken over by the Americans and Europeans. The fact that the Great White North lost the Quebec Nordiques to Colorado in 1995 and the Winnipeg Jets to Phoenix the following year adds to the perceived exodus. Also, a Canadian team hasn't won a Stanley Cup since the Montreal Canadiens defeated the L.A. Kings in 1993.

So, the question becomes not one of if Canada deserves another team, but which team and where. The team should not be Phoenix, which Bettman recently remarked is "fixable," but rather the Nashville Predators. The small market, low attendance and bad management are unsustainable -- even with a competitive team on the ice.

And where? Not Hamilton. There is too much opposition from the Maple Leafs and Sabres. How about moving the Preds to either Winnipeg or Quebec City?

Here is the letter from Schumer and Gillibrand:

Dear Commissioner Bettman,

We write to express our support for the Buffalo Sabres franchise and to express our opposition to locating a professional team within their regional sphere of influence. We also wish to express our support of the NHL's efforts to protect its rights and enforce League rules regarding the ownership and location of NHL franchises, and we urge the NHL to continue those efforts. As you know, we strongly believe it is critical that the League protect these rights in order to protect the best interests of the sport, the League's current teams, and their host cities and regions that invest considerable resources in the sport.

Since the NHL originated in 1917 with just six teams, it has steadily grown to its current number of 30. This increase is indicative of hockey's growing popularity in the United States and Canada, and I know that your priority as commissioner of the League is to safeguard each of these 30 teams and to grow the sport. As you have publicly stated in the past, the NHL owes these commitments to its fans. We thus applaud the NHL's efforts to protect its rights as a joint venture to determine the ownership and location of its teams. When the Buffalo Sabres faced bankruptcy in 2003, it was protection of those rights that in large part preserved the team's presence in Western New York and has resulted in the team's successes both on and off the ice.

Professional hockey's history is closely entwined with Buffalo. Home of the "French Connection" and the infamous "Fog Game," Buffalo boasts some of the highest local ratings in the NHL, in addition to some of the highest national ratings in the league. These are remarkable statistics given the city's relatively modest size compared to other NHL cities. The region's hockey fans are rabid and the local youth leagues are vibrant. This marquee hockey status was recently recognized when it won the competition to host the prestigious 2011 World Junior Hockey Tournament. The Sabres franchise and its loyal fan base are important to the history of professional hockey, and, under the ownership of Tom Golisano, we know the Sabres look forward to many more years of making hockey history right here in Buffalo.

We know that you share our desire to ensure the continued viability of the NHL and it member teams, and we pledge to help your efforts in any way possible. If you have any questions or need further information, please contact our offices at 212-486-4430 (Schumer) or 202-224-4451 (Gillibrand). We thank you for your continued support of New York's franchises.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer, United States Senator

Kirsten E. Gillibrand, United States Senator