I'd have to say no with Vegas... But maybe they could kinda brainwash a lot of tourists to buy a hockey jersey if they have nice colours, and if they make the playoffs they'll have lots of bandwagon fans. Seattle could make a good rivalry with the Nucks.. But from what I understand it's a basketball first mentality city.
- Arctic_AARDVARK

If you guys had bothered to read the article, you'd know that nobody likes hockey in Seattle.

As for Las Vegas, it's a complete non-starter. It's just stupid.

First and foremost, people seem to think that the casinos would support it. The exact opposite is true. I have a big shootin' friend in the casino industry - basically the casinos have "comps" down to a science. I can't remember the exact number, but it's something like "not more than an hour and 20 minutes" or something - they don't want you away from the tables for longer than that. And they sure as hell don't want you leaving their real estate.

So you're left with tourists getting tickets on their own and the locals.

Having played a hockey tournament in Las Vegas, I can assure you: the locals have no idea what hockey even is.

Although I did see Steffi Graf drop off her kid at the rink for figure skating, which was kinda cool.

They're not much better than last year and they finished 23rd.
- JohnFergusonJr

Bottom 6 was a pile of dog crap last year and it's been overhauled, more goals will come from those players.. and they have more options. The top line easily keep up with last years numbers and Clarkson can't be as bad it's impossible.

The team D must improve though. Please don't make dumb comments.

How did they lose their NBA team if that's the case?
- 1979AD

Bad management I guess. Idk.. Wasn't that more than a decade ago? New arena I think too.

If you guys had bothered to read the article, you'd know that nobody likes hockey in Seattle.

As for Las Vegas, it's a complete non-starter. It's just stupid.

First and foremost, people seem to think that the casinos would support it. The exact opposite is true. I have a big shootin' friend in the casino industry - basically the casinos have "comps" down to a science. I can't remember the exact number, but it's something like "not more than an hour and 20 minutes" or something - they don't want you away from the tables for longer than that. And they sure as hell don't want you leaving their real estate.

So you're left with tourists getting tickets on their own and the locals.

Having played a hockey tournament in Las Vegas, I can assure you: the locals have no idea what hockey even is.

Although I did see Steffi Graf drop off her kid at the rink for figure skating, which was kinda cool.
- Atomic Wedgie

Okay so maybe they put slots and electronic devices in the seats that allow you to bet on things throughout the games? A totally new type of experience. I'd pay to goto that at least once.

If you guys had bothered to read the article, you'd know that nobody likes hockey in Seattle.

As for Las Vegas, it's a complete non-starter. It's just stupid.

First and foremost, people seem to think that the casinos would support it. The exact opposite is true. I have a big shootin' friend in the casino industry - basically the casinos have "comps" down to a science. I can't remember the exact number, but it's something like "not more than an hour and 20 minutes" or something - they don't want you away from the tables for longer than that. And they sure as hell don't want you leaving their real estate.

So you're left with tourists getting tickets on their own and the locals.

Having played a hockey tournament in Las Vegas, I can assure you: the locals have no idea what hockey even is.

Although I did see Steffi Graf drop off her kid at the rink for figure skating, which was kinda cool.
- Atomic Wedgie

Yeah, I don't see Vegas as an interesting location.
Coyotes 2.0

Yeah, I don't see Vegas as an interesting location.
Coyotes 2.0
- Pecafan Fan

The whole league should be 24 teams all in strong hockey markets.

What is this CFL you are talking about ?
- bixll

Real N.A football.

Well has "real" as the sport of football can be.

The whole league should be 24 teams all in strong hockey markets.
- 1979AD

Just move the Panthers in Quebec City, Coyotes in the GTA and be done with it already.


oh, and shut down the (frank)ing Hurricanes once and for all.

The whole league should be 24 teams all in strong hockey markets.
- 1979AD

Why do people care if the Panthers and Coyotes are playing to half-filled arenas?

24 teams would mean 82 games a year for the Leafs.

30 teams means 82 games a year for the Leafs.

My ticket prices would not go down if they killed 6 teams. Less revenues to the league due to TV contracts.

Why do you care as a fan?

Just move the Panthers in Quebec City, Coyotes in the GTA and be done with it already.


oh, and shut down the (frank)ing Hurricanes once and for all.
- Pecafan Fan

Coyotes are off the table.

For now.

Why do people care if the Panthers and Coyotes are playing to half-filled arenas?

24 teams would mean 82 games a year for the Leafs.

30 teams means 82 games a year for the Leafs.

My ticket prices would not go down if they killed 6 teams. Less revenues to the league due to TV contracts.

Why do you care as a fan?
- Atomic Wedgie

Doubtful.

Doubtful.
- burn

They'd actually go up.



Like they always do anyway.

The whole league should be 24 teams all in strong hockey markets.
- 1979AD

There aren't 24 strong markets.
Maybe 12-15 max

Why do people care if the Panthers and Coyotes are playing to half-filled arenas?

24 teams would mean 82 games a year for the Leafs.

30 teams means 82 games a year for the Leafs.

My ticket prices would not go down if they killed 6 teams. Less revenues to the league due to TV contracts.

Why do you care as a fan?
- Atomic Wedgie

Fans don't care
Bettman and company don't want to admit the expansions were a mistake. Bruised ego

I want a Team in Vegas

The whole league should be 24 teams all in strong hockey markets.
- 1979AD

What the hell for?

Why do people care if the Panthers and Coyotes are playing to half-filled arenas?

24 teams would mean 82 games a year for the Leafs.

30 teams means 82 games a year for the Leafs.

My ticket prices would not go down if they killed 6 teams. Less revenues to the league due to TV contracts.

Why do you care as a fan?
- Atomic Wedgie

Good questions. I care because:

- the rich teams wouldn't have to support the poor teams financially as much.
- Markets that deserve teams (or more teams) like Quebec City and the GTA would get them
- players wouldn't be able to sign as FAs in poor hockey markets so they can hide from their celebrity.
- I really don't think removing NHL teams from markets where nobody watches is going to hurt the TV ratings and by extension, contract revenues
- The NHL could take the 10s of millions they're pumping into Phoenix to keep them alive and use it to support minor hockey in LA, Chicago, Minn, etc. to get more kids playing the sport. Nothing breeds hockey fans like playing the game.
- forcing the sport in markets that will never support it is (frank)ing embarrassing. It's like asking the hot chick to the prom every day after she's already said no.

There aren't 24 strong markets.
Maybe 12-15 max
- Sammich

There are 24 markets that could be strong. 2-3 of those aren't necessarily in the NHL currently.

What the hell for?
- BINGO!

So Hurricanes fans don't have to come here because they have nowhere else to go.

Good questions. I care because:

- the rich teams wouldn't have to support the poor teams financially as much.
- Markets that deserve teams (or more teams) like Quebec City and the GTA would get them
- players wouldn't be able to sign as FAs in poor hockey markets so they can hide from their celebrity.
- I really don't think removing NHL teams from markets where nobody watches is going to hurt the TV ratings and by extension, contract revenues
- The NHL could take the 10s of millions they're pumping into Phoenix to keep them alive and use it to support minor hockey in LA, Chicago, Minn, etc. to get more kids playing the sport. Nothing breeds hockey fans like playing the game.
- forcing the sport in markets that will never support it is (frank)ing embarrassing
- 1979AD

1) What do you care?

2) How do you determine who "Deserves" a team? Quebec City failed to support a team in the past. Why does that make them a more desireable location than any other place where a team is struggling financially?

3) Again, why do you care if a player wants to escape some of the limelight? that's not a negative thing sometimes. Just a bigger fish in a smaller bowl.

4) Eyes are eyes, regardless of where they are. even slight market relevance is better than none at all.

5) Teams are doing that already. Give it time. You can't have a team in a brand new market for under 20 years and expect it to just flourish. That's ridiculous. the longer it's there the more kids will grow up watching hockey.

6) How do you determine a location that wil "Never" support hockey?

If you guys had bothered to read the article, you'd know that nobody likes hockey in Seattle.

As for Las Vegas, it's a complete non-starter. It's just stupid.

First and foremost, people seem to think that the casinos would support it. The exact opposite is true. I have a big shootin' friend in the casino industry - basically the casinos have "comps" down to a science. I can't remember the exact number, but it's something like "not more than an hour and 20 minutes" or something - they don't want you away from the tables for longer than that. And they sure as hell don't want you leaving their real estate.

So you're left with tourists getting tickets on their own and the locals.

Having played a hockey tournament in Las Vegas, I can assure you: the locals have no idea what hockey even is.

Although I did see Steffi Graf drop off her kid at the rink for figure skating, which was kinda cool.
- Atomic Wedgie

oh i read that. it was the stupidest part of the entire article. first of all, Seattle, despite its low % of overall NHL fans, still has more NHL fans (by the logic proposed in the article) than any other non-NHL US market. that, combined with its market size and regional wealth, makes it the NHL's best US expansion/relocation option by about 300 miles. second, it completely ignores the possibility of hockey growing in popularity if and when a team is granted to the city. there is absolutely nothing conclusive in that article in terms of Seattle being a poor choice for expansion.

There are 24 markets that could be strong. 2-3 of those aren't necessarily in the NHL currently.
- 1979AD

Gonna need about 8 teams on the gta
Some markets that are strong now like la,ana chi pitt only bring in fans and sponsors when the teams are good. It won't last forever.

There are 24 markets that could be strong. 2-3 of those aren't necessarily in the NHL currently.
- 1979AD

Even a smaller city like Halifax would have a great fan base with way better attendance than Phoenix or Florida.

Gonna need about 8 teams on the gta
Some markets that are strong now like la,ana chi pitt only bring in fans and sponsors when the teams are good. It won't last forever.
- Sammich

Funny how Pens fans forget when the arena was empty and the team was broke.

So Hurricanes fans don't have to come here because they have nowhere else to go.
- 1979AD

I fail to see the relevence of this.