Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY

At this point we know this much: NOTHING! We do know Seattle, Las Vegas and Markham are pretty excited to have an opportunity to snag and established hard working team with an excellent coach. Also some people in Quebec City think they have an outside shot to dust off the Colisee Pepsi and house a relocated team for a few seasons until they build a proper arena.

Unfortunately for Canadian hopefuls the NHL will make too much money off charging them an expansion fee. Gary Bettman has vowed to stay in the Phoenix market and has remained patient for going on 4 years now. If the Coyotes were to leave there are a few spots here in the U.S. that will be priorities for Bettman. #1 is Phoenix which I suggested before I heard it anywhere. You have US Airways and if Glendale wants to play around with the possibility of losing the Coyotes and turning Westgate into a ghost town then let the angry East Valley residents fill up the Arena where the Suns play.

Seattle is putting a package together which includes possibility of reclaiming the Sonics by snaring the Kings from Sacramento.  An Arena to house them both is in the planning stage. Las Vegas is a bit of a reach with the gambling implications so close to home. No professional franchise has cracked into that market as of yet. Bettman wants to keep western teams in the US so Coyotes fans should take that into account when worrying about losing their team.

We get statements from all parties involved saying “We were not able to complete the purchase by the deadline give” and “We will continue to wok with the City of Glendale and Greg Jamison.”

Glendale claims they have a few other prospective owners who are ready to step up and make bids to secure a lease for years to come. Mayor Jerry Weiers is very smug about the position he newly occupies. I fear the Mayor and the city he presides over is missing the point. They need the Coyotes more than the Coyotes need them. Westgate and Jobing.com will die without them.

When the deadline came and went, no one stepped forward. The evil empire had been defeated. Like a shutout against the Red Wings, we expected something wicked to rear it’s ugly head. Indeed a shutout win for the Coyotes and their fans. Now Greg Jamison has nothing but clear sailing to the finish line. He will need to handle the funds and get the deal with the league finalized. There really are no excuses to not get this deal done. Any investors on the fence regarding anyone blocking the deal, that just isn’t the case anymore. Goldwater Institute got too much egg on their faces to even whimper in the end. Jones and his Glendale Angry Few committee also were no where to be found in the end.

Everybody HOWL! Sound the horn. The PHOENIX COYOTES appear to be here to stay.