In reading over the decision passed down by Arizona bankruptcy judge Redfield T. Baum, one thing has been made crystal clear: Jim Balsillie shot himself in the foot by demanding a decision had to be made by June 29th.

The fact that Gary Bettman ‘literally left the June 9th hearing in Phoenix in the afteroon so he could be present at game six of the finals’ (as written in the ruling) proved to Baum that this was the busiest time of year for the NHL and to try and force a ruling in so short of time wouldn’t be prudent given the complexity of the case.

Further, the judge ripped out the key points that Balsillie and current owner Jerry Moyes were using to state the court had the right to enforce both the sale and relocation, despite the NHL bylaws regarding such matters.

The judge did rule, however, that Balsillie was and still is approved to become a member of the NHL, and could technically become owner of the Coyotes still. The NHL cannot deny him that, but the judge effectively killed his current plan by denying the original motion of sale and relocation.

Does that mean Balsillie is dead in the water? Likely. Could he still buy the Coyotes? Absolutely, but he’d have to agree to any NHL request about the location of the franchise. By trying to force the NHL into a quick decision, or a court-ordered relocation, he’s hurt his chances badly.

Right now, short of the NHL doing an about-face and actually negotiating with Balsille, it appears hockey will go on in the desert and Hamilton will be left with nothing again except empty promises. How long they can keep going on that, I don’t know. But eventually, Balsillie’s grandiose staging will wear thin.

Now where did that Toronto Legacy jersey go?

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