So, it's almost a game of chicken.
I believe Hansen and Coleman must be in the lead in this game of chicken, because if they apply for NHL expansion, they'd be nearly assured the first crack at a team.
So Bartoszek must be waiting on their every move.
Bellevue of course is playing third fiddle and waiting on the other two, because by all accounts they really don't have their game together. Yet.
But Bartoszek has a unique situation here, in that if he does not apply for Expansion, he immediately puts himself in the situation of having to prove that his game is for real. He will have to make important sounding and convincing noises about relocation, which I'm sure will not be to the liking of the NHL brass. Bad position to be in. So perhaps he has extra motivation to apply, if indeed he is fully invested in this thing.
If Coleman does nothing, it's all in Bartoszek's court. If he moves, then Bellevue will stand pat. All of this assumes that the NHL are not total thieves and that they will be sharing the status of bids received by other parties to the principals in each jurisdiction.
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