This is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard. This will not happen. Seems more like a marketing gimmick than an actual expansion plan. This is the same reason why the MLB wouldn't expand to South America and Asia. Keep the North American style of hockey in North America.

If the European teams get the 4th seed that would mean they have home ice, any idea how that one works?

Not interested.

I have zero interest in European teams playing in or being involved with the NHL.

Eklund: Is European Expansion the Wave of NHL's Long-Term Future
- Eklund

WOW! What a scoop! Glad your source FINALLY gave you permission to discuss this!

From the wikipedia page:

"Speculation as to NHL expansion to Europe took place as far back as the 1960s."

Ek's source has been telling him to keep this under his hat since the 60's.

WOW! What a scoop! Glad your source FINALLY gave you permission to discuss this!

From the wikipedia page:

"Speculation as to NHL expansion to Europe took place as far back as the 1960s."

Ek's source has been telling him to keep this under his hat since the 60's.
- hankthetank

LOL WAT? Love this.

WOW! What a scoop! Glad your source FINALLY gave you permission to discuss this!

From the wikipedia page:

"Speculation as to NHL expansion to Europe took place as far back as the 1960s."

Ek's source has been telling him to keep this under his hat since the 60's.
- hankthetank

I for one, like the idea of an 8 team European division.
For Toronto, the travel to most of these cities wouldn't be any farther than travel to the south Western USA cities. Just in the other direction.

But they would have to be real NHL teams, not some gimmicky use of second rate (talent wise) European teams stuffed in an NHL schedule as this idea seems to be.
I could very easily see the "European division" go 0-32 in this set up.
Yeah maybe some of these teams have been able to compete in training camp exhibition games versus players still trying to get into shape, but I don't think they would be competitive versus NHL teams working a real game plan with points on the line.

The team with the best record versus NHL teams would then make the actual Stanley Cup playoffs and be placed in the 4th position in one of the two conferences on a rotating basis

What's the tiebreaker when they're all 0-8 against the NHL?

NHL teams went 24-4 in preseason exhibition games vs European clubs from '07-'11, and for the most part went easy on them(didn't purposely run up the score). Does anyone think the Euros would win a game when NHL teams are in mid-season form with playoff berths on the line? Does anyone think they'd win a game in the playoffs?? It sure would be embarrassing to watch.

LOL WAT? Love this.
- PeskySens

Ek's source first had to see how things unfolded in 'Nam before going public with the European expansion idea. Didn't want any conspiracies about the NHL expanding to Europe on the heels of a war. A lot of government cover ups.

Im a swede that is perfectly happy with the NHL staying in NA.
The only thing I want right now is for the KHL to fold over.
I got no problem with the NHL having the best european players but for the KHL to be stealing the rest of the best is to much and its a corrupt league in a country where the rich dont have to pay taxes and the poor only gets poorer and the president is a homophobic remnant of a failed communist society.
It would be so fun to see the KHL fall apart and then have Kovalchuck crawling back over the atlantic begging for a second chance along with his friend Radulov.

One thing that everyone seems to not understand, is the watering down of the talent pool. The NHL is already stretched, talent wise. If we expand to Europe, it'll just dilute the talent level that we already have. Instead of two top scoring lines, everyone will have one and two third lines, plus a fourth. I'd rather see contraction, in pro hockey, not expansion. The league should jettison about 4 franchises that can't make it, for the good of the other 26. Europe is a wasteland, because the culture is totally different then the North American taste and by making our game more acceptable to the European fans, we'll lose North American fans, who crave for the old school game of blood and knuckles.

Ek's source first had to see how things unfolded in 'Nam before going public with the European expansion idea. Didn't want any conspiracies about the NHL expanding to Europe on the heels of a war. A lot of government cover ups.
- hankthetank

It's like the Gulf of Tonkin incident all over again...

Eklund: Is European Expansion the Wave of NHL's Long-Term Future
- Eklund

god i hope so...

One thing that everyone seems to not understand, is the watering down of the talent pool. The NHL is already stretched, talent wise. If we expand to Europe, it'll just dilute the talent level that we already have. Instead of two top scoring lines, everyone will have one and two third lines, plus a fourth. I'd rather see contraction, in pro hockey, not expansion. The league should jettison about 4 franchises that can't make it, for the good of the other 26. Europe is a wasteland, because the culture is totally different then the North American taste and by making our game more acceptable to the European fans, we'll lose North American fans, who crave for the old school game of blood and knuckles.
- PrinceLH

I don't think contraction is the solution. Getting responsible owners and putting franchises in hockey markets should be a priority for the NHL. It's unfortunate for fans who are attached but teams like Phoenix, Nashville, Florida, Carolina all need to be re-located. There are hockey markets out there. Quebec City, Seattle, Milwaukee, Southern Ontario etc... obviously with higher revenues comes inflated salaries but at the same time if they expand there will be a need for more quality players and you won't have quality players who have to run to Europe because of the cap crunch (no pun intended). Gary Bettman just needs to take his head out of his ass and stop trying to force hockey down the throats of people who are not interested.

the only real idea that could work would be to make an all canada division. and all american division. an all europe division and an all russian division and then who ever wins their divisions will compete in a 4 team tournament to see who is the WHL (world hockey league) champion. 15 teams per division.

Canada:

1. vancouver
2. calgary
3. edmonton
4. quebec city
5. montreal
6. toronto
7. halifax
8. ottawa
9. winnipeg
10. 2nd toronto team
11. saskatoon
12. regina
13. prince george
14. victoria
15. manitoba

USA division:
1. pittsburgh
2. philly
3. NYR
4. DET
5. CHI
6. BOS
7. Tampa
8. ANA
9. washington
10. minnesota
11. NJ
12. NYI
13. Buffalo
14. STL
15. LA

Europe division:
1. Sweden
2. finland
3. germany
4. england
5. france
6. italy
7. chech
8. slovakia
9. poland
10. norway
11. austria
12. belarus
13. spain
14. romania
15. hungary

Russia:
15 cities in russia lol

whoever wins respective divisions play for world championship
- boltsfan48

Are you happy now ek?

Eklund: Is European Expansion the Wave of NHL's Long-Term Future
- Eklund

Why would the best team Europe want to fly to NA to play maybe one round of playoffs, meanwhile missing out on the chance to play for their leagues championship?

A Europe NHL division or divisions that play their own playoffs and then are added to the playoffs after East West Champs are decided.

and then you pair off the 4 teams based on their intercontinental play.

NA East (1) vs EU West (4)
NA West (2) vs EU East (3)

Granted their won't be as many teams to start, and some people will complain that it is easier to make the playoffs in the EU. And that NA teams will be tired after a longer playoff drive then europe.
Then what you could do is add the Euro teams after the first round of the playoffs.
Take the 4 best Euro teams and add them to the 2nd round. two teams in Each Conference and then rank the teams based on their EU Records for the 2nd Round.

Nhl should just have a European affiliate each division can share a team
Pacific-Helsinki Atlantic-Stolkholm Central-Bratislava Metro-Prague
Eventually they could expand and have 8 teams
Also play on NHL ice

I am sorry but this is a bunch of nonsense if it happens this way. So you play 8-16 games against NHL teams and then you get to play in the Stanley Cup playoffs? What is this?
I hope this will never happen, I am perfectly happy with all teams being from North America.

This idea is dumber than the Fox Trax puck.....and that was pretty atrocious

- RealityChecker

This idea is dumber than the Fox Trax puck.....and that was pretty atrocious
- Pyzik

You think that is dumb, check this out:

First Round (Best of 5)

NA E 1 vs 8
NA E 2 vs 7
NA E 3 vs 6
NA E 4 vs 5

EU E 1 vs 4
EU E 2 vs 3

NA W 1 vs 8
NA W 2 vs 7
NA W 3 vs 6
NA W 4 vs 5

EU W 1 vs 4
EU W 2 vs 3

Second Round (base on Intercont records)

NAEU E 1 vs NAEU E 6
NAEU E 2 vs NAEU E 5
NAEU E 3 vs NAEU E 4

NAEU W 1 vs NAEU W 6
NAEU W 2 vs NAEU W 5
NAEU W 3 vs NAEU W 4

Second Round (Losers Bracket) - The top 4 teams(regular Season) that got knocked out in the first Round get a chance at redemption (I hear cheers in San Jose)

NA E 1 vs NA W 2
NA W 1 vs NA E 2
(East vs West becuase the loser should have to do some Cross Country travelling)

Third Round

NAEU E 1-6 Winner vs NA Loser Bracket 1E - 2W Winner
NAEU E 2-5 Winner vs NAEU E 3-4 Winner

NAEU W 1-6 Winner vs NA Loser Bracket 1W - 2E Winner
NAEU W 2-5 Winner vs NAEU W 3-4 Winner

Fourth Round (East/West Championships will be renamed or abolished)

Winner vs Winner

Winner vs Winner

SC Final

4th Round Champs vs 4th Round Champs

Stupid idea. Europes on the otherside of the (frank)ing world. How about expand to Seattle and Quebec before even considering this idiotic idea

Im a swede that is perfectly happy with the NHL staying in NA.
The only thing I want right now is for the KHL to fold over.
I got no problem with the NHL having the best european players but for the KHL to be stealing the rest of the best is to much and its a corrupt league in a country where the rich dont have to pay taxes and the poor only gets poorer and the president is a homophobic remnant of a failed communist society.
It would be so fun to see the KHL fall apart and then have Kovalchuck crawling back over the atlantic begging for a second chance along with his friend Radulov.
- Dalhabs

Agreed!