Doug Maclean To Join Balsillie Group, Does This Make him a Hypocrite?

(Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

Written By: Mark “The Hard Hitter” Ritter

NHL fans from coast to coast will be watching their Twitter accounts closely today in hopes of finally getting some closure and clarity regarding the auction for the Phoenix Coyotes franchise.

It’s a two horse race right now, with neither the NHL nor the Balsillie group emerging as the favorite to win. There is also a scenario where Judge T. Baum would exclude both the NHL and Balsillie from the bidding process, electing to seek other, more suitable offers.

Clearly, Jim Balsillie has not been given the nod as the victor in this fiasco, but he has taken another step in the right direction, hiring Former Columbus Blue Jackets coach, general manager and current Toronto media member Doug Maclean as an adviser to his company, PSE Sports and Entertainment.

From Balsillie’s side the move is very solid. Maclean is well respected in NHL circles and his experience as both a GM and member of the media should prove to be invaluable if Balsillie does indeed win the bidding war for the Coyotes.

The thing I question is the fact that Maclean has publicly attacked Balsillie on more than one occasion for the way he had tried to get an NHL franchise, especially his handling of the Phoenix bid. Maclean had clearly aligned himself with NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Now, just as the clock is about to strike 12, he comes out of the woodwork and aligns himself with the “Devil”. What’s up with that?

Clearly the opportunity to work for an NHL franchise does not come about everyday and I am sure that Mr. Balsillie is going to reward Maclean handsomely for his help and guidance. I do however question Maclean’s earlier words and wonder how the two sides finally came together?

So, I ask our readers, does Maclean’s flip-flop expose him as a hypocrite? By turning over and essentially going against everything he has stated in the past, has Maclean lost his media credibility?

Until next time,

Peace!

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