A Second NHL Team in Toronto?

I don't usually delve into outside National Hockey League issues, but after withstanding three weeks of Phoenix Coyotes-Jim Balsillie madness, this one is too hard to pass up.

TSN, Canada's sports network leader and American comparison to ESPN, reported today that a group of investors led by Andrew Lopez would hold a press conference in Toronto to discuss its plans to bring a second NHL franchise to the Golden Horseshoe, the Canadian metropolitan hub.

According to the report, the investors have formed a group called the Toronto Legacy Group and the proposed expansion team would boast the same name (without the 'group'). Lopez and his fellow investors have reportedly allocated $1 billion (Canadian) to finance the franchise, as well as help build a 30,000-seat arena on the north side of Toronto.

At some point, the league has to take notice.

For years, commissioner Gary Bettman has spent the majority of his expansion teams on southern U.S. cities, those that have no professional sports teams or would be considered a non-traditional hockey market. I know, the most trite expression in the NHL.

The Florida Panthers, Phoenix Coyotes and Nashville Predators have all experienced severe financial trouble in the past five years, and eventually losing all this money will come back to haunt the NHL. Getting investors in the league that truly care about hockey and that have deep pockets is only a good thing for the game and the NHL--yet for some reason, the Bettman administration does not think the same way.

I understand that these non-traditional market teams are his little project, and he refuses to see them die. But before too long, the losses are going to become insurmountable, and the Phoenix situation is no exception.

Sure, Balsillie is a different guy--he chooses not to abide by the league rules for acquiring a team and uses his multi-billion dollar wallet to do the talking. Using the round about way to buy a team is not a good method to endear yourself to the head honchos, but the BlackBerry founder sure has enough coin to make the NHL listen.

Since when were passion and dedication deemed bad things for people with money? Wise up, NHL, and grant these people their teams before you lose even more revenue.