The club was in trouble in 1927, both on the ice and legally. Querrie lost a lawsuit to Livingstone and decided to put the St. Pats up for sale. There was a $200,000 bid from a group in Philadelphia. However, at J.P. Bickell's direction the Toronto Varsity Graduates coach Conn Smythe headed an ownership group and made a $160,000 offer for the franchise. With the support of St. Pats shareholder J. P. Bickell, Querrie rejected the Philadelphia bid, Smythe arguing that civic pride was more important than money.