Coyotes Purchase Still Ongoing, According to Ice Edge CEO | IXGAMES

Although there are rumors surrounding the acquisition of the Phoenix Coyotes by Ice Edge Holdings, the head of the aforementioned company insists that the company is still in line to acquire the Coyotes. Transactions ongoing Anthony LeBlanc, CEO of Ice Edge moreover states that the company has obtained the legal services of attorney general Grant Woods to conclude a lease agreement with Glendale City. LeBlanc even made use of the famous Mark Twain quote, “Reports of my death are greatly exaggerated,” through an email sent to The Associated Press during Monday evening. Bill Daly, NHL deputy commissioner, has released a statement earlier in the evening saying that the league does not conform to the Phoenix Coyotes moving to Winnipeg or even anywhere if the owners themselves are unable to maintain the team in Arizona. The focus of the league, according to Daly, rests mainly on keeping the team in Glendale. Furthermore, based on the information sourced by the NHL, involved individuals remain confident in the completion of the said transaction. This response by Daly was issued after a report in the Phoenix Business Journal claimed that Toronto-based billionaire David Thomson currently has an agreement in principle to possibly shift the franchise to Winnipeg if the team cannot secure a buyer that will maintain the team in Arizona. Moving back to Winnipeg Presently, the league has talked with Thomson and Mark Chipman, who are managers of the company that own the Winnipeg arena. According to Daly, the talks have centered mainly on their possible interest in possessing an NHL franchise. This is also in line with their plans to bring an NHL franchise into Winnipeg again. Daly has also said that while there is a possibility on the acquisition, and that the company would make considerations on the matter should there be any suitable circumstances, no new report can substantiate the issue at this point in time. The change It was in 1996 that the Winnipeg Jets made the move to Arizona and was known since then as the Phoenix Coyotes. However, the team has not been able to deliver a stellar performance as expected. While participating in the Paul McCartney concert at Jobing.com Arena, which was the Coyote’s home, LeBlanc recalled the rumor on Paul McCartney’s death a long time ago. He also reiterated that any report regarding the demise of Ice Edge is also untrue. He has also said that efforts are underway between Ice Edge and the city of Glendale as well as the NHL in the finalization of this highly intricate transaction. Accordingly, hiring Woods for the new lease agreement serves to be the final piece of the puzzle in bringing the rest of the issue to finality. Coyotes acquisition by NHL It was last year when the Coyotes were bought by the NHL in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. This came after Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie attempted to buy the team and move it to Hamilton, Ontario, but such efforts were not able to push through. The league has agreed to move the team in the event that no local owner will be found in June. If a sale that would allow the team to stay in Arizona has been made, this would require a new lease agreement with Glendale City.