You hope. I am not as sure.
- powerhouse

People will have their doubts, and that's okay. I'm a glass half-full type of believer in this respect. I know both the Wings and the Pens could lose 4 players each depth wise and still field the same level teams if their stars and rookies are protected.

The Pacific Northwest really enjoys their junior hockey but the only NHL teams in the area are San Jose and Vancouver.

Yep, they are in the area...seven hour drive to the Bay area. Seven hour drive to Vancouver from the beaver lodge.

Two expansions teams and two relocations would work. Portland & Seattle in the west and Quebec and somewhere in the GTA in east.

If a team is created in Vegas...does that mean wenlose rights to the Vegas gold?

If a team is created in Vegas...does that mean wenlose rights to the Vegas gold?
- YouMeAndDupuis9

Oh I hope so.

The folks claiming (not necessarily in this thread) that expansion will dilute the game are probably the same folks who believe their team never gives young players a chance.

Las Vegas doesn't have any sports teams, it'd be interesting if the NHL would put a team there.
- Oilers4Life14

There's probably a good reason as to why none of the well run pro sport leagues haven't put a team there.

im not for the vegas idea, it just doesnt seem right. people go there to gamble and party. not to go watch a hockey game. i have never been and dont have a desire to go, but if for some reason i had to go, im there to get ripped like a tater chip and do some hookers, preferably a tranny. not to watch hockey.

a damn beer at a pens game is 9 bucks, i wonder how much one at a vegas game would be?

The folks claiming (not necessarily in this thread) that expansion will dilute the game are probably the same folks who believe their team never gives young players a chance.
- hardnosed

You are assuming more and great young talent will get a shot. Maybe. But maybe washed up vets who should retire will play longer, whose to say? I did not enjoy the Florida clutch and grab era with the last expansion.

This is actually the first I've heard of Kansas City in this round of expansion talk, surprisingly. I think it's pretty much certain we'll see a two team expansion.

Love the expansion idea. even up the conferences. anyone stating that it would dilute the product is being foolish. you stated it correctly in the blog. What would be very helpful would be restructuring the chl deal when possible. a lot of guys that could be in the ahl and called up. teams woul be forced to play rookies sooner which is fun to watch. would the ahl also expand?

So let's say Seattle and Quebec are the new teams. Quebec to the east and Seattle to the west still makes the divisions uneven. Will a team move back to the west?

People are worried about the "dilution of talent in the NHL" which is completely stupid. How many current AHL players are playing in the AHL because they are rookies or because other players keep them down there? I think 46 players could be pulled from thirty teams with ease and no one would notice a "dilution of talent."
- YzermanIsTheMan

There are plenty of players world wide with the skill to play in the NHL. Hell, you could take Latvia or Switzerland from the Sochi Olympics, plug them in the NHL, and they would probably make the playoffs.

Oh I hope so.
- Ben37

Me too.

There's an easy fix here to get the Quebec Nordiques back: Send the Red Wings back west. They just don't belong in a devision, let alone conference that doesn't include the Chicago Blackhawks. The Illinois/Indiana area loves to hate all things Michigan and vice versa. IMO its just as bad for the sport that Chicago won't play Detroit on as regular of a bases as it is that ND and Michigan will stop playing each other after this year. The Chicago area vs Detroit area sports rivalry is one of the best in American sports and should be preserved.

Send the other team to whoever wins a bidding war between Seattle/Portland, Vegas, and KC. Seattle seams like the natural fit here with Vegas definitely being the most interesting.

There's an easy fix here to get the Quebec Nordiques back: Send the Red Wings back west. They just don't belong in a devision, let alone conference that doesn't include the Chicago Blackhawks. The Illinois/Indiana area loves to hate all things Michigan and vice versa. IMO its just as bad for the sport that Chicago won't play Detroit on as regular of a bases as it is that ND and Michigan will stop playing each other after this year. The Chicago area vs Detroit area sports rivalry is one of the best in American sports and should be preserved.

Send the other team to whoever wins a bidding war between Seattle/Portland, Vegas, and KC. Seattle seams like the natural fit here with Vegas definitely being the most interesting.
- Victoro311

You don't send Detroit back to the West after they female doged and moaned about the travel time and whined about how they should be in the East for the last 20 years.

I would LOVE it if they put a team in Vegas , then I'd have a valid reason to go see the Pens and my wife wouldn't object(at least not as much)

I would LOVE it if they put a team in Vegas , then I'd have a valid reason to go see the Pens and my wife wouldn't object(at least not as much)
- Bradlee3

This might be a bit excessive, but I'd absolutely spread my networking for job offers to Vegas if they got an NHL team. Housing there is still dirt cheap along with cost of living.

Plus... living in Pittsburgh is suck a cluster(frank) with traffic and the squirrel hill tunnel.

Actually, I'd relocate just to never have to deal with the squirrel hill tunnel ever again, then buy the NHL Sports package.

There's an easy fix here to get the Quebec Nordiques back: Send the Red Wings back west. They just don't belong in a devision, let alone conference that doesn't include the Chicago Blackhawks. The Illinois/Indiana area loves to hate all things Michigan and vice versa. IMO its just as bad for the sport that Chicago won't play Detroit on as regular of a bases as it is that ND and Michigan will stop playing each other after this year. The Chicago area vs Detroit area sports rivalry is one of the best in American sports and should be preserved.

Send the other team to whoever wins a bidding war between Seattle/Portland, Vegas, and KC. Seattle seams like the natural fit here with Vegas definitely being the most interesting.
- Victoro311

I'm only for a Quebec team if they bring back the old Nordiques sweaters. None of the Jets revival crap.

Seattle would be a great spot for a team. But moving the Wings would be tough. that amount of travel is stupid. How about move one of the NY teams. Obviously not the Rags, but I would be happy to see the Devils and their boring brand of hockey pack up. Besides, no body goes to their games anyway.

Ill be in Vegas next weekend, I'll ask the "locals" how they feel about a hockey team.