I think the league is growing as far as fan base and revenue but that does not mean we need more teams. The fourth line on the majority of the teams, if not all, is already basically AHL talent. Adding 2 more teams waters down the talent far too much. Move Florida to Quebec and get rid of one or two more teams (Arizona). Take the talent from the teams that are shut down and put it back into the league. That will allow the league to grow even more with a better product on the ice.

What a horrible way to think. I expect better from someone like you. The league is growing. Accept and embrace it. It doesn't effect your life at ALL.
- Panthers88

I don't get this Panther's are moving talk. For the 1 millionth time it will never happen. The debt is paid off. The county stopped their proposal to terminate the lease. And, not to brag, but I know the owner of the team personally. I speak with him. The team isn't going anywhere. The draft was just in here. The building was standing room only (I was there and had to sit on the stairs). Conditions aren't ideal. But moving a team is disgusting and you people who are fans of these larger market teams talking about it like it is no big deal make me sick. You forget that when we were in Miami there was never an empty seat in the arena. Ever. New building is out further West. That hurt us. So did Mike Keenan and Jacques Martin being complete morons. We also had two ownership groups, sans this one, who didn't have money in their bank accounts to write a check for pencils.

You can't just move a team, especially when it is the main tenant in the building. The talk just needs to be dropped.

I think the league is growing as far as fan base and revenue but that does not mean we need more teams. The fourth line on the majority of the teams, if not all, is already basically AHL talent. Adding 2 more teams waters down the talent far too much. Move Florida to Quebec and get rid of one or two more teams (Arizona). Take the talent from the teams that are shut down and put it back into the league. That will allow the league to grow even more with a better product on the ice.
- Kucherovski

This is shocking coming from a Tampa fan. You guys were in the same situation not a decade ago. Stamkos saved your franchise. There is an entire market down here that would never watch or support the NHL again. And you're right, it doesn't mean we need more teams. These expansion bids are just bids. The league adding more teams is a good thing. You're going to get the same amount of new fans watching and pouring money into the teams. You see the way the NHL is fighting to keep the Coyotes where they are? How hard do you think they would fight to keep us here? Considering the fact I know the owner of the team and know for a fact we aren't moving I don't know why I even bother with this.

Granted, we brought this on ourselves. The second Luongo was traded from us years ago it set in motion a spiral from which we couldn't recover. Streams of bad ownership and GM's hurt us in many ways and this was coupled by a new arena much further away from populated areas than the Miami Arena. If we were in Miami there would be no talk of this. In fact, if the current ownership group didn't stop giving away tickets and allow the empty seats, there would be no talk of this.

I don't get this Panther's are moving talk. For the 1 millionth time it will never happen. The debt is paid off. The county stopped their proposal to terminate the lease. And, not to brag, but I know the owner of the team personally. I speak with him. The team isn't going anywhere. The draft was just in here. The building was standing room only (I was there and had to sit on the stairs). Conditions aren't ideal. But moving a team is disgusting and you people who are fans of these larger market teams talking about it like it is no big deal make me sick. You forget that when we were in Miami there was never an empty seat in the arena. Ever. New building is out further West. That hurt us. So did Mike Keenan and Jacques Martin being complete morons. We also had two ownership groups, sans this one, who didn't have money in their bank accounts to write a check for pencils.

You can't just move a team, especially when it is the main tenant in the building. The talk just needs to be dropped.
- Panthers88

You might as well stop even answering or worrying about it. The Islanders were moving to Kansas City for years. Then Quebec, then Seattle. Who cares.

Shattenkirk I could see that happening. Pietrangelo probably out of the realm of possibility.
- KOGGS

At this point I'd rather move Pietrangelo than Shatt Deuces. Pietrangelo is not going to pan out into what we're looking for. Soft shot, soft game. I say trade him before the rest of the league realizes he isn't as "Elite" as people think.

how about just moving to a Northern and Southern format? would make it easier than trying to move teams that are East to the West.. this would simplify things.

how about just moving to a Northern and Southern format? would make it easier than trying to move teams that are East to the West.. this would simplify things.
- nascarguy

agreed.


all that's left to do after that is tilt the axis of the earth so the time zones can work.

I think this is very workable and my initial thought was this would be nice to see. I like the built in regional rivalries that will be created from this format.

What a horrible way to think. I expect better from someone like you. The league is growing. Accept and embrace it. It doesn't effect your life at ALL.
- Panthers88

just a late arriving crowd

just a late arriving crowd
- Fountain-San

This is shocking coming from a Tampa fan. You guys were in the same situation not a decade ago. Stamkos saved your franchise. There is an entire market down here that would never watch or support the NHL again. And you're right, it doesn't mean we need more teams. These expansion bids are just bids. The league adding more teams is a good thing. You're going to get the same amount of new fans watching and pouring money into the teams. You see the way the NHL is fighting to keep the Coyotes where they are? How hard do you think they would fight to keep us here? Considering the fact I know the owner of the team and know for a fact we aren't moving I don't know why I even bother with this.

Granted, we brought this on ourselves. The second Luongo was traded from us years ago it set in motion a spiral from which we couldn't recover. Streams of bad ownership and GM's hurt us in many ways and this was coupled by a new arena much further away from populated areas than the Miami Arena. If we were in Miami there would be no talk of this. In fact, if the current ownership group didn't stop giving away tickets and allow the empty seats, there would be no talk of this.
- Panthers88

Stamkos saved what? In 2004 the Lightning won the cup. The Lightning have had good support from a fan perspective. They had a few years with awful ownership and the bad contracts before the NHL implimented a salary cap but otherwise they are not in the same position. The Lightning have made smart draft picks (not picking guys like Barkov 2nd) and they have been aggressive in the trade market. They have given out big contracts and attempted to be a franchise. The Panthers have talent but they do not have the fan support, that is the only reason I mention the move. They have never had great, or even good I think, fan support.

I know I'm late on this, but I hate the proposal.

The NHL is not the NFL where you play one game a week. the current format is as good as it can get. It is unfair to any team in the Eastern time zone like Detroit and Columbus to have to play a bunch of games out of its time zone each year. It is unfair to fans, players, and the club.

Right now you have a setup where everyone plays most of their games in their home time zone, and travel is not overly brutal even in the Western Conference where there is more distance between cities than in the East. Unbalanced conferences are not inherently unfair to any team, and natural rivalries are for the most part kept.

The playoffs have been great for the last two years under the current format, there is no compelling reason to blow things up, even if two new franchises are created in the coming years. Better yet, don't start any franchises, keep the league at 30 and move weak teams to other places.

Stamkos saved what? In 2004 the Lightning won the cup. The Lightning have had good support from a fan perspective. They had a few years with awful ownership and the bad contracts before the NHL implimented a salary cap but otherwise they are not in the same position. The Lightning have made smart draft picks (not picking guys like Barkov 2nd) and they have been aggressive in the trade market. They have given out big contracts and attempted to be a franchise. The Panthers have talent but they do not have the fan support, that is the only reason I mention the move. They have never had great, or even good I think, fan support.
- Kucherovski

bite your tongue

Hate it for the Jets. I like the Division and teams they currently play.

Pittsburgh, Carolina, Arizona, Winnapeg (doesn't count here), Anaheim, Nashville, New Jersey, St. Louis, Washington, CHICAGO, Islanders....

All teams who a decade ago were behind us in attendance. Throw in two lockouts and poor mgmt and it happens. We're rebounding. All of those teams minus Winnapeg were struggling with poor mgmt and ownership. It took a while, but they drafted and developed great players with healthy mgmt and coaching. Look what happened. No one was calling for any of those teams to relocate.

lou lamerello new leafs gm?

lou lamerello new leafs gm?
- bazookajo1

Yep. Looks like it. As a Leaf fan I am horrified.... so much for a modern, forward-thinking, organization... dinosaur control-freak whowants to play the worst style of hockey imaginable... Devastated.

If a team should be inquiring about Drouin, it's Montreal. Galchenyuk for Drouin!
- Champ

Pass

Yep. Looks like it. As a Leaf fan I am horrified.... so much for a modern, forward-thinking, organization... dinosaur control-freak whowants to play the worst style of hockey imaginable... Devastated.
- grim

Worse than whatever style the Leafs played last season?

Yep. Looks like it. As a Leaf fan I am horrified.... so much for a modern, forward-thinking, organization... dinosaur control-freak whowants to play the worst style of hockey imaginable... Devastated.
- grim

the kind that won three cups and a few finals appearances?

At this point I'd rather move Pietrangelo than Shatt Deuces. Pietrangelo is not going to pan out into what we're looking for. Soft shot, soft game. I say trade him before the rest of the league realizes he isn't as "Elite" as people think.
- Simon_says17

You sure you watch the Blues?

Hate it for the Jets. I like the Division and teams they currently play.
- justsaying

Best situation for the jets in this would be some combo of Dallas, Colorado, St. Louis, Minnesota, people lumping them in with Vancouver, Edmonton, and Calgary don't understand 3 time zones.

The Northern Conference:

Adams Division:

Montreal
Quebec
Ottawa
Boston

Great Lakes Division:

Chicago
Detroit
M. Wild
Toronto

The Eastern Conference:

Metro Division:

NY Ranger
NY Islanders
NJ Devils
Buffalo

? Division

Columbus
Washington
Pittsburgh
Philly

The Southern Conference:

Southeast Division:

Florida
Carolina
Tampa
Nashville

Central Division

St. Louis
Dallas
Colorado
Las Vegas

The Western Conference:

Pacific Division:

LA Kings
San Jose
Anaheim
Arizona

Western Canada Division:

Vancouver
Calgary
Edmonton
Winnipeg

Sorry, as a Blues fan, I hate this alignment. Our travel time goes through the roof--I would suspect they'd be traveling the most of any team just to play their division rivals. And although I dislike the Red Wings, I miss the rivalry between them and the Blues. Now you are going to take away the Blues/Blackhawks? As much as I despise the 'Hawks, that's a no-go for me.
- Firebrand

I understand u mostly but talk about ur travel schedule.
St Louis is hardly close to many teams where travel is concerned.

I think the league is growing as far as fan base and revenue but that does not mean we need more teams. The fourth line on the majority of the teams, if not all, is already basically AHL talent. Adding 2 more teams waters down the talent far too much. Move Florida to Quebec and get rid of one or two more teams (Arizona). Take the talent from the teams that are shut down and put it back into the league. That will allow the league to grow even more with a better product on the ice.
- Kucherovski

I guarantee you that adding 2 more teams wont water down talent as much as you think it will.. players will step up and it wont be a problem. There are more than enough players who are capable of playing in the NHL that just need a chance to prove themselves. Taking away teams is the absolute wrong way to go if you want the league to grow..