Yeah let's get rid of all the Canadian teams except the Jets!
- eichiefs9

And then move the jets back to atlanta!

Brilliant move to get the cap to 20m. Nyi could be profitable!

So in the matter of one day, I have seen on Hockeybuzz that the NHL is definitely going to 32 teams with Vegas being a guarantee to this morning there being 4 teams coming in to now Vegas NOT being a guarantee.

Can someone please get the story straight?
- stevens87

Roomers....

Seattle and Quebec are the only teams that make sense to me. Anything else would be stupid. I'm not with the whole expansion idea. 30 teams is enough.
- JVR_42_PK81

I agree. I'm not in favor of expansion but if they do do it then my choices are easily Quebec and Seattle.

I hate Bettman. AZ and Florida should not have teams. They should be given to city's like Quebec and Seattle. Remind me why Bettman put 2 teams in Florida again?
- JVR_42_PK81

The tv deal he promised to fund expansions rising salaries and the new have nots was predicated in growing in non traditional markets. All he did was bring the deal 20 years late and create a lot of teams on life support and welfare

So the NHL went back to ATL and failed, but KC deserves a shot because it didn't work there before either? Why are we moving teams back to failed locations? The jury is still out in Peg, ticket sales will be strong but the team will suck for the near future. How long will sales last then?

Seattle makes sense in the USA.

Seattle yes, Quebec no. The Western Conference has 2 less teams than the East so obvious fact is next two expansions should be located in the Western North America.
- xShoot4WarAmpsx

thats what I think to.

And not sure why quebec is a slam dunk. not that great of an economy there, weather isn't great, would be tough fans to keep happy if they have the old francophone issues like in the old days.

However, if PHX is moved. It might be lower risk to move to a canadian city.

Eklund: On Expansion...Vegas NOT a Slam Dunk. Rumors... Podcast Live at 1pm ET
- Eklund

"I have spent the majority of this morning talking to people in this world and I really don't see Vegas as anywhere near a slam dunk."


I for one am glad you have decided to stick with talking to people in this world as opposed to contacting people who are out of this world. Like I always say, you can never trust an alien.

League should go back to 6 teams to give a chance to the Cubs Leafs

League should go back to 6 teams to give a chance to the Cubs Leafs
- Symba.007

They would also have to go back to the days of no draft and just let teams sign juniors...Even then I'm not sure they could do it...

Eklund: On Expansion...Vegas NOT a Slam Dunk. Rumors... Podcast Live at 1pm ET
- Eklund

"Seattle is a possibility, but I am told not what is holding that up is the owner there would like an NBA team before they build the stadium. The NHL has tried to say start with the hockey team, but so far they haven't gotten very far. The NBA may not be getting back to Seattle in the next 5 years."



Grammar and spelling mistakes aside, this is just flat out false information. Ek, I recommend a basic google search to try confirm or deny what your sources tell you.

Ek,

Doing very quick research I cannot find any evidence that suggests KC is a good Hockey market. EVERY article I find suggests otherwise and also cites they barely support the Royals as well. Seems like Atlanta 3.0 to me.

I would have to say Quebec City for sure as they got a poop deal the 1 time around, but why has Milwaukee never been considered?

I would like to see Seattle, Portland or Quebec maybe even kc before Vegas or another Toronto team.
- jaumiller

Toronto is at least hockey country. Vegas? That's lame. No one will go.

Makes sense to move teams to cities in the East, but expansion will need to be out west. Otherwise the whole East/West Conference playoff set up would have to be changed, as would likely the way they schedule the regular season.
- atlsabsfan

I'm really surprised that people keep citing this as some kind of barrier to picking the most viable cities to expand to. All they'd have to do is move a team like Columbus back to the Western Conference, and they're right back to an even split between the conferences - which makes a lot more sense than ignoring hundreds of millions of dollars of potential expansion revenue just because it's not coming from the right part of the continent.

So the NHL went back to ATL and failed, but KC deserves a shot because it didn't work there before either? Why are we moving teams back to failed locations? The jury is still out in Peg, ticket sales will be strong but the team will suck for the near future. How long will sales last then?

Seattle makes sense in the USA.
- sammy87[/quote

The Flames moved because the owner's business (not the Flames) failed, which is why he sold the team. I cant say how many people attended back in those days.

The Thrashers were bought as a package with the Hawks, with the owners thinking that the impending lockout would bring financial stability to the league and make te team easy to sell. During the lockout, the owners started with lawsuits against each other because of a basketball trade, which meant they couldnt sell the team until after that was cleared up. They ended up owning a team they never wanted, it was poorly managed (really - how bad could a team possibly be managed) couldnt keep any stars on the team (Heatly, Hossa Kovalshuk), and people arent coming out to watch crappy hockey - no matter how big a fan they are. When the Winnipeg ownership group came in and offered to buy the team which prompted the Thrasher ownership group to settle their legal issues, and it was a slam dunk.

A strong ownership group that could bring a reasonably good product into that market would support the team.

I love it if I were 90 on my last legs and the Laffs have still not yet won another cup....push for a century of suck Laffs....
- Iggysbff

Can I have your autograph? I need to take a dump soon

Can I have your autograph? I need to take a dump soon
- jimi james

Ek,

Doing very quick research I cannot find any evidence that suggests KC is a good Hockey market. EVERY article I find suggests otherwise and also cites they barely support the Royals as well. Seems like Atlanta 3.0 to me.

I would have to say Quebec City for sure as they got a poop deal the 1 time around, but why has Milwaukee never been considered?
- glove_was_stuck

They just make the drive down to Chicago.

Can I have your autograph? I need to take a dump soon
- jimi james

You are sooo butthurt....keep posting that...it doesnt get any funnier but I'm sure it makes you feel good...

They just make the drive down to Chicago.
- Iggysbff

Makes sense I guess. Just wondering as they support the Brewers and show up to Bucks games(god knows why)

Ek,

Doing very quick research I cannot find any evidence that suggests KC is a good Hockey market. EVERY article I find suggests otherwise and also cites they barely support the Royals as well. Seems like Atlanta 3.0 to me.

I would have to say Quebec City for sure as they got a poop deal the 1 time around, but why has Milwaukee never been considered?
- glove_was_stuck

Racist.

[quote=sammy87]So the NHL went back to ATL and failed, but KC deserves a shot because it didn't work there before either? Why are we moving teams back to failed locations? The jury is still out in Peg, ticket sales will be strong but the team will suck for the near future. How long will sales last then?

Seattle makes sense in the USA.
- atlsabsfan[/quote

The Flames moved because the owner's business (not the Flames) failed, which is why he sold the team. I cant say how many people attended back in those days.

The Thrashers were bought as a package with the Hawks, with the owners thinking that the impending lockout would bring financial stability to the league and make te team easy to sell. During the lockout, the owners started with lawsuits against each other because of a basketball trade, which meant they couldnt sell the team until after that was cleared up. They ended up owning a team they never wanted, it was poorly managed (really - how bad could a team possibly be managed) couldnt keep any stars on the team (Heatly, Hossa Kovalshuk), and people arent coming out to watch crappy hockey - no matter how big a fan they are. When the Winnipeg ownership group came in and offered to buy the team which prompted the Thrasher ownership group to settle their legal issues, and it was a slam dunk.

A strong ownership group that could bring a reasonably good product into that market would support the team.

I lived in ATL when the team moved (attended the last game) was not really a fan but there were other dynamics that made it difficult in ATL. Part was stadium location. The Braves are moving to the Burbs for the same reason.

Think about it though, if you're a UFA and Peg offers you 5 and everywhere else offers you 4, odds are most players will take their families to the better QOL. Or your a young draft pick in Peg, after your ECL is up, do you stay in Peg in your early 20's or go elsewhere? Team will always struggle and be forced to over pay UFA's.

I am all for relocation of failing teams to viable markets , but the greed for expansion teams entrance franchise fees and putting more pins on the map for the commish trumps all logic. it is his grand plan. So you will have another set of teams that could be on the dole and fail depending on which market you choose.

Vegas? Never.

The team would probably be as good as the awards show and we all know how much that s***ed. A fruit fly would have a longer life span. Bettman would be pouring NHL cash into another bleeding wound

Oh, and is the talent pool diluted enough ?

New teams made up of 3rd/4th liners, AHL players and many tanking to get top picks

Markham, Ontario, north if Toronto, has a ton of potential as well. The building is there, the fan base is there and the new team could be the Leafs version of the Chicago White Sox. (with the Leafs being the Cubs in this metaphor...so true in so many ways.)



Awesome....
- Iggysbff

Go Sox

You are sooo butthurt....keep posting that...it doesnt get any funnier but I'm sure it makes you feel good...
- Iggysbff

Says the guy that devotes his life to trolling the Leafs...

Dear Gary,

Learn from your own mistakes.

Expand the game demographically and culturally. Not so much geographically in terms of more franchises in places where hockey just won't take root (i.e. Vegas).

Watch the dollars roll in and hockey become more than the "4th" major sport.

Love,

JJ