From Eric Duhatschek of the Globe & Mail:
The war between the Rangers and the NHL started over who controls the rights to new media and the potentially lucrative revenue streams that it produces now and down the road. Three times, the Rangers’ lawsuits have gone to court; three times the NHL won its case. Instead of understanding the old maxim that three strikes and you’re out, the Rangers have challenged the NHL on an anti-trust basis – essentially arguing that everything the league does is unlawful.
In effect, Wednesday’s filing by the NHL is a counter-attack – what a source with knowledge of the situation described as “trying to put the Rangers at risk” after failing to abide by previous court rulings. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman, passing through the lobby of a downtown hotel, declined comment. However, sources said the league was asking the court for permission to fine, suspend or in a worst-case scenario, forfeit the franchise, if it MSG persists in its action.
Read more about this bizarre story here.
It doesn’t get any more odd than this scenario. Don’t expect this to end up with MSG forfeiting the Rangers to the NHL but this story sure makes you wonder who hates who behind the scenes.
