If only the NHL's Gary Bettman and Bill Daly had fought as publicly for the Atlanta Thrashers to remain in the Southeast as they have in insisting the team isn't essentially already a Winnipeg franchise. Despite virtually all of Canadian sports media agreeing the deal will be formally announced Tuesday morning or Wednesday at the latest, Daly's holding firm, as is his job. To do otherwise would be foolish, but it's still grimly amusing to watch.
The NHL deputy commissioner told WXIA's Matt Pearl that there's nothing scheduled yet and the deal isn't yet done. All of Winnipeg has reportedly been put on red alert for Tuesday morning by True North itself -- sure, the deal isn't yet done, but the deal is done.
The good news, for Atlanta hockey fans: you may not ever have to deal with either the Atlanta Spirit Group or Bettman and company ever again.
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