The Hockey Stop

Could the Tampa Bay Lightning be the next troubled NHL franchise following the Phoenix Coyotes saga?

According to multiple reports, ownership group OK Hockey has defaulted on its loan payments and the National Hockey League had to bail them out to make payroll.

In addition to the league advancing the team money for January's payroll, the reports say the Lightning also received a $2 million advance from Sun Sports to make the final payroll of the 2008-2009 season.

With the sale of Palace Sports a possibility, the sports & entertainment company may want to drop the Lightning from their assets list.

Therefore, their could be an ownership change in the future for the franchise. The search for new ownership/investors has been fruitless so far.

Look for the financial situation of the Tampa Bay Lightning to possibly become a major issue this offseason.

Click here for the full story in the Tampa Tribune.

But the bigger underlying issue with franchises such as Phoenix and Tampa Bay is the failure of ice hockey taking off in some warm weather climes such as Florida and Arizona.

The southern trend started with Wayne Gretzky moving from Edmonton to Los Angeles in 1988, instantly putting hockey on the Southern California map and paving the way for the Sun Belt relocation frenzy.

Commissioner Gary Bettman's southern strategy has had mixed results. While franchises such as the Kings, Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks have prospered, other teams like Tampa, the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricanes, Atlanta Thrashers, Nashville Predators and Phoenix Coyotes have struggled.

Perhaps these franchises will eventually move back north to cities like Winnipeg, Quebec City, Hamilton, Kansas City, Salt Lake City or Seattle.

In the meantime the NHL should look to emulate the success of the California teams. After all, they are living proof that hockey can thrive in places with palm trees.

Hollywood certainly believes hockey can be lucrative -- at least on the bigscreen. "Tooth Fairy," starring Duane Johnson as a tooth-busting hockey player sentenced to be a real tooth fairy, is expected to do big business at the box office this weekend.



The film was shot at the Great Western Forum using real L.A. Kings players.

There are sure to be many seats filled at the cinema with moviegoers in places such as Phoenix, Tampa Bay and South Florida. Maybe after seeing this movie they will want to attend an actual real hockey game and in the process support these struggling Sun Belt franchises.