In today’s Arizona Republic Craig Harris discussed how teams in the valley are losing out to the economy:

Every professional sports team in metro Phoenix, along with Arizona State University’s football team and the annual Fiesta Bowl, has had trouble selling tickets this year as growing unemployment and declining wages are keeping fans home.

Teams have been forced to try promotions once considered unthinkable as the drop in attendance cuts deeper into revenue and costs jobs. For example, the Phoenix Suns saw their 153-game streak of sellouts at US Airways Center end Nov. 1, and a few days later the team laid off about 10 percent of its workforce.

My thought is that this is an important article for people to read.  If the established teams like the Suns and Cardinals are doing poorly, how can the Coyotes who aren't as established, with a poor economy and an out of the way arena expect to draw big numbers.

Now that being said, if the NHL finds the team local ownership, how long before you think the team rebounds and the crowds start coming back?

From the Globe and Mail:

Bankruptcy court judge Redfield T. Baum has rejected both bids for the Phoenix Coyotes.

“In hockey parlance, the court is passing the puck to the NHL, who can decide to take another shot at the sale net or it can pass off the puck,” Judge Baum wrote.

Judge Baum threw out a bid by Jim Balsillie saying it could not succeed because he cannot properly satisfy the NHL’s rights regarding relocation.

“In the final analysis, the court cannot find or conclude that the interests of the NHL can be adequately protected if the Coyotes are moved to Hamilton without first having a final decision regarding the claimed rights of the NHL and the claims of the debtors and [Balsillie],” the judge ruled.

He added that bankruptcy law requires that the court “shall prohibit” any sale where various interests cannot be adequately protected.

For complete article, click here.

Read on Habs Inside/Out:

Robert Lang, whose season was ended prematurely last season by a sliced Achilles tendon, has agreed to contract terms with the Phoenix Coyotes contingent upon his passing a physical.

Here's hoping that Lang, who was injured when he was leading Canadiens scoring, will land on two strong feet in Phoenix. He deserves to be playing in the NHL.

For a look at the complete article, click here.

Good egg.  As long as he can maintain his health, should be a good addition.  If he passes his physical where does this put him on the Yotes?

For all the talk about the Chicago Blackhawks being one of the best young and up-and-coming teams in the NHL, the Blues often get overlooked; well, that is a mistake on the part of many fans because this team simply should not be underestimated.

Led by a management team that includes John Davidson, Larry Pleau and Doug Armstrong, the Blues are in great hands. The combination of experience and knowledge among the aforementioned three managers is tremendous and the Blues’ plan moving forward is indicative of just that.

After surprisingly making the playoffs last season, the Blues may be the surprise team in the National Hockey League in 2009/10. Without further ado, let’s explain why that will be the case.

To read the entire preview, click here.

Input welcome.

Rich went to last night's Tampa & Edmonton tilt, and he had the opportunity to assess the game as well as interview Vincent Lecavalier and Rick Tocchet.

With Tampa Bay seemingly playing their 100th pre-season game last night, I had a chance to catch the Bolts in action in Winnipeg against the Edmonton Oilers. 

First off, I have to say that I am thankful that the Lightning dressed basically their entire regular season roster for the game.  In the lineup for Tampa Bay was Vincent Lecavalier, Alex Tanguay, Martin St. Louis, Steve Stamkos, Victor Hedman and every other significant Bolt you can think of.

Here are my thoughts on the Bolts’ forwards from last night’s contest:

• Martin St. Louis is the heart and soul of this team.  He never stops working, is always in the right position, is smart with the puck and makes everyone around him look better.  He is, in my opinion, a shoe-in for Team Canada.  In fact, when asked about St. Louis last night, Tocchet touched on how lucky Team Canada will be to have him in Vancouver.

• Playing center for St. Louis the majority of the game was Steven Stamkos.  Stamkos makes the game look easy with his fluid stick-handling and lethal shot.  It looks like his confidence has carried over from the second half of last season, just by the way he carries himself, both on and off the ice.

For a complete look at his assessment, click here.