TORONTO — NHL governors are talking informally about placing a second hockey team in Toronto alongside the Maple Leafs, according to a report in Tuesday’s edition of The Globe and Mail.
“Why shouldn’t we put another team in the best and biggest market in the world?” said one NHL governor who spoke anonymously with the newspaper.
According to this governor, one idea floated is for prospective owner Jim Balsillie, the co-CEO of Waterloo, Ont.-based Research in Motion Ltd., to be rewarded with an expansion team in Toronto after helping to restore financial ballast to the Nashville Predators.
“I’ve heard this exact scenario,” a second governor said.
Calgary Flames co-owner Harley Hotchkiss, a former chairman of the NHL board of governors, is also aware of the Balsillie movement.
“I’ve heard bits and pieces of this scenario, although not in that kind of detail,” he said. “Our priority is to have the existing franchises solid.
“ It is an interesting scenario,” Hotchkiss added, “ but I can only speak generally.”

The Globe and Mail reports that Balsillie, the co-CEO of Research in Motion Ltd., angered league executives by attempting to buy the Nashville Predators with the intent of moving the franchise to Hamilton.

One governor said that the league will never allow Balsillie to move a team to Hamilton for two reasons. First, it would harm the Sabres franchise down the road in Buffalo. Second, because the league doesn't think Hamilton is an NHL town.

“It's a minor-league town,” the governor said of Hamilton. “How could we sell a team from Hamilton? Do you think the New York Rangers want to put the Hamilton Steelers on their marquee at Madison Square Garden? Do you think anyone in Manhattan would buy tickets to see them?”

He also said a team in Hamilton would mean thousands of fans in the Niagara Peninsula who attend Sabres games would simply drive to Hamilton to avoid border lineups.

“We do not want to kill the Sabres,” the governor said. “But if there was a second team in Toronto, that would not hurt Buffalo.”
 

Richard Peddie, president of Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment, said the organization would not automatically reject the idea of a second team in Toronto.
“When and if the league brings expansion to the table, we’ll listen and decide what is best for hockey,” he said.
As to the potential impact on the Maple Leafs, the first governor dismissively waved his hand.
“The Maple Leafs would not be hurt one bit. In fact, it would help them,” he said. “They could make all kinds of money renting the Air Canada Centre to the other team.”