BALSILLIE NOT WANTED

It seems apparent that current NHL owners want nothing to do with Jim Balsillie and the way he conducts private business in clear view of the public. How else would you explain Craig Leipold accepting an offer of $50 million less for his team to another owner who has similar intentions to relocate the franchise?

He rubbed Mario Lemieux, the Penguins' front office, Gary Bettman, and more than a few owners the wrong way during the failed bid for the Penguins six months ago. He sold seat licenses to an arena before even having a formal agreement to buy the Preds, let alone a clear path to relocate them.

But, there may be another explanation as well...
Last week at the NHL draft, Bob McKenzie broke the news that Balsillie's bid for the Preds was off until further notice because Leipold didn't see any progress in the way of a deal. Balsillie didn't act fast enough and that allowed William "Boots" DelBaggio to step in and get the team at clearance price. Craig Leipold is very, very eager to sell and Balsillie thought his feet-dragging wouldn't be a problem at the price he was intending to pay.
Perhaps his time would have been better served getting the deal done with Leipold rather than Hamilton and Copps Coliseum.

The fact remains that Balsillie isn't well regarded around the league after the two failed purchases. Perhaps, down the road, if Balsillie plays his cards right he could be in line to win an expansion franchise for Southern Ontario. But the owners are careful of who they let into their fraternity - and this guy will have a lot of bad 1st (and 2nd) impressions to overcome should that day come.