The NHL's Demise In Phoenix: Gary Bettman's Mistake

Combined with the emergence of the NFL's Arizona Cardinals as Super Bowl finalists and the perennially powerful Arizona Diamondbacks of the MLB and Phoenix Suns of the NBA, the Coyotes have been lost in the mix in the Arizona sporting scene.

Since the move from Manitoba, the Coyotes have lost over $300 million.  On the ice, the Coyotes have only seen post-season action five times, never advancing, only winning a combined 10 games in those five playoff appearances.  Even worse, the team has only finished over .500 five times.

In a place where ice and snow are rarely, if ever, seen, the Coyotes lack of success and big name talent as of late, has crippled the franchise. And now Bettman, for the third time, has been faced with the issue of what to do with the team.

In the first move, Bettman cited having a business model for growth into both American and European markets as a good enough reason to move the Jets, despite the over 20,000 supporters who cried "Save Our Jets".

Now, Bettman's business model is starting to show some cracks and he is surely not going to be the first to admit he made a mistake.

Still fighting to keep the Coyotes in Phoenix, Bettman's delusion that a team in the desert can make money still lives on.

Let's hope that, for all hockey fans, Bettman smartens up sometime soon.

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