Reports of Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie's latest attempt to purchase an NHL franchise  - this time, the Phoenix Coyotes - caught many observers by surprise, including it seems the league braint trust, which scrambled frantically to gain control of the situation.

Whether or not he's successful this time remains to be seen but it's certainly fueled some talk amongst Canadian hockey fans not only over which Southern Ontario city Balsillie could move the Coyotes to (I'm guessing Hamilton), but also if other troubled US-based franchises might soon be moving to Canada. 

Reports frequently  popped out of the Canadian media this season  fingering troubled franchises in Phoenix, Atlanta, Tampa Bay, Miami and Nashville as potential relocation targets. They usually recommended Bettman finally admit the Sun Belt expansion was a bust and shop around for buyers willing to relocate these struggling teams to more viable markets, preferably Canadian, specifically in Southern Ontario.

If Balsillie should be successful in purchasing and relocating the Coyotes to Southern Ontario it'll only stoke further speculation of other struggling American-based franchises being moved to markets in Canada.

Despite Balsillie's efforts I suspect other American cities will get the nod over Canadian ones for potential destinations for relocated franchises.

Kansas City already has an NHL-viable arena - owned by Anschutz Entertainment Group, which also owns the LA Kings and its arena - just waiting for an NHL franchise.

The Penguins and Predators were once believed headed to KC before their respective shaky ownership situations were resolved. Now the NY Islanders have been rumored as possibly heading to Kansas City if their owner finally tires of waiting for a new arena on Long Island.

Las Vegas has also been speculated for some time as another possible destination for a relocated NHL franchise. Film producer Jerry Bruckheimer was once rumored interested in helping to bring the NHL to Vegas. It's uncertain if he's still in the market or who else might be involved but one has to believe it's more than poker or the nightlife that has the NHL holding its annual awards ceremony in Las Vegas this year.

And while there's no doubt that some of the Sun Belt franchises are struggling one shouldn't assume they're going anywhere.

Bettman, his lieutenants and the NHL Board of Governors have demonstrated strong determination in this decade to find buyers for financially floundering teams. The Pittsburgh Penguins, Buffalo Sabres, Ottawa Senators and Nashville Predators owe their continued existence to the league's efforts to find local buyers willing to keep those franchises where they are.

Even the recession won't prevent Bettman and company from beating the bushes to find local buyers or outside investors willing to keep the teams where they are.

Let's not forget that Toronto aside there really aren't many viable markets that could be successful in today's NHL.

Sure, Toronto could handle another NHL franchise but the Maple Leafs could fight tooth and nail to prevent another team, one that might be more successful than the Leafs, setting up shop in their backyard.

Winnipeg and Quebec City will never again have NHL franchises. Even if they were to build big, shiny new arenas that could seat over 18,000 fans both cities lack the population base to adequately support them.

Apart from "Blackberry Balsillie" there aren't exactly a large number of potential investors in Canada beating down the NHL's door seeking a franchise.

Hamilton's been waiting for a franchise for over twenty years but a combination of NHL unwillingness to put one there combined with the Leafs aforementioned distaste for rivals in their same neighborhood kept them out of the loop.

Balsillie didn't hide his willingness to move the Predators from Nashville to Hamilton in the summer of 2007 so it's possible he might be looking at Canada's Steel City once again.

It appears the dream of a seventh NHL franchise in Canada could be soon coming true, but Canadian hockey fans shouldn't get their hopes up too high for more than that.