Canucks' Owner Dropping the Gloves

Forget the fact the PPV game was a waste of a good $12.95.

The failure to truly answer the bell after Philly's Jesse Boulerice put the lumber to Ryan Kesler's face showed a lack of heart and grit.

After all if the team is losing, I at least want to see a good fight, something Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini is currently involved in.

Aquilini is part of the group that purchased 100 percent of the Canucks and G.M. Place from John McCaw between November 2004-06.

According to a civil lawsuit though, Aquilini allegedly acted improperly as he was involved with another group--consisting of Ryan Beedie and Tom Gaglardi--that was also bidding for the Canucks.

Gaglardi and Beedie claim that Aquilini went behind their backs and cut his own deal with McCaw for the team.

Aquilini insists he did nothing wrong and there has been a lot of venom throughout the trial.

The heated testimony concluded last Friday and it is up to Supreme Court Justice Catherine Wedge to decide the fate of the case.

I've been told by sources close to the Aquilini family that even if Justice Wedge rules in favour of Gaglardi and Beedie, ownership is not guaranteed to the two.

The Canucks are after all, an NHL franchise and ownership of the team is also contingent upon approval from the league's Board of Governors.

Either way it's more action than the on-ice product, at least so far.

Photo by Flickr user SkyeNott in the BR Photo Pool.