No news wasn't good news Tuesday at Jobing.com Arena.
It was just more of the same.
Did you really think NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman's presence in the Valley signaled the end of the Coyotes' ownership saga?
Shame on you. You haven't been paying attention.
This 2-year-old story is bigger than Bettman. No amount of political or public pressure will bring this deal to a close.
In the span of 10 days, prospective buyer Matthew Hulsizer, Glendale Mayor Elaine Scruggs and Bettman have taken aim at the Goldwater Institute, calling it the only impediment to a long and happy existence for the Coyotes in Glendale.
"In light of their conduct in this matter, I question whether this is really an organization that is concerned with the public interest, despite a mission statement that calls for expanding free enterprise and support for the public interest," Bettman said Tuesday.
All the bullets have been fired. But Goldwater is still standing with its heels firmly planted in the dust, resolute in its stated mission to determine the constitutionality of the Coyotes deal.
It's impossible to know where the truth lies in all of this mess.
Bettman insists two independent law firms have vetted the sale and declared it legal.
But a public records request by The Arizona Republic to obtain those documents and prove the legality has yet to be honored.
Goldwater also insists that the city of Glendale has played fast and loose with the Institute's public records request, heaping reams of new information on the Institute periodically that make Goldwater wonder what's still missing.
For its own part, Goldwater refused Bettman's request to meet behind closed doors and talk Tuesday, insisting that any meeting be held with the presence of the media.
Bettman's request was neither unreasonable nor uncommon, but Goldwater wouldn't agree, giving this all the feel of a playground spat between petulant children.
The motivations of the NHL and Glendale are clear. The league believes Phoenix is a more viable market long-term than the alternative, Winnipeg. Bettman also believes Hulsizer will provide the stable and capable ownership this franchise has lacked since arriving in the Valley 15 years ago.
Glendale is simply protecting its investment. The city committed $180 million to build Jobing.com Arena in 2003. Losing its main tenant would be a financial disaster that would cost jobs, revenue, prestige and elected officials' heads.
But Goldwater's motivations aren't as clear. If they are, indeed, serving the public by properly investigating the deal, then they are simply doing their job. If there are other, more insidious motivations, they have not come to light.
"I have no idea what their motivation is," Bettman said. "They won't meet with me."
So where do we stand?
Despite predictable posturing by the league, we have not reached the 11th hour. It would be a P.R. blunder of the greatest magnitude if the NHL announced the Coyotes were moving less than a month before the playoffs begin.
In reality, the NHL probably doesn't have to move the team until June, which would still allow it enough time to market the club, sell tickets and establish all the other roots necessary for a club's daily well-being.
But is there another end game besides a move?
Goldwater isn't flinching and all indications are it won't. With the threat of a lawsuit still lingering, the bond rate will remain high and scare off potential investors.
So unless Hulsizer is willing to cough up more money
