We keep thinking of expansion however there are several teams right now that are barely making a profit or not making a profit. Why? Because we continue to expand out league thinking Hockey can and will live in any market. Its just foolish.

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

China is on the other side of the world, Europe is just across the pond

China is on the other side of the world, Europe is just across the pond
- Oilhab

Chinas across the other pond

How it would work is teams in their current leagues would still play in their current leagues, but their schedules would be shortened and a schedule including 8 NHL games versus NHL teams would be added.

This is hilariously bad and I will stop watching the minute it happens.

Ek, this isn't expansion. This isn't putting NHL franchises in Europe, a more accurate term would be limited integration.

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

If you read the blog, you'd realize it has nothing to do with expansion. I thought the same thing at first "you can't add 8 teams to a 30 team league", but that's not what's being suggested.

Ek, this isn't expansion. This isn't putting NHL franchises in Europe, a more accurate term would be limited integration.
- 1979AD

If Ek says it's expansion, it's expansion!!! DON'T QUESTION HIM!!!!!

Why would you need permission to talk about something that hasn't and probably will never happen?

Drop the act Ek, its getting old.

Let the KHL rule over there ... they have a hard time making it good here ... making some teams play overseas would kill it for some fan ... Imagine if Crosby get's hurt there ... or Malkin ... or Subban ... or Giroux ... anyway I don't see it. Unless they go all in and make a second NHL over threre with 32 teams ... the they play for the Bettmam's (or Napoleon's) cup and here for the Stanley cup ... and after each league is done have a World cup event with the four top teams in each semi-final playing for it ... anyway impossible ...

How about we work on our own league...... And also try to expand in North America preferably Canada like bring a team back to Quebec and bring one even in Hamilton before going to Seattle and Kansas City .... And get rid of the Coyotes hockey definite,y doesn't belong there!!!!!!!

China is on the other side of the world, Europe is just across the pond
- Oilhab

Not when you live in British Columbia. Imagine the Canucks travel schedual? Although i could give less (frank)s cause I hate them

Maybe as a farm system. I can't see them on the same level as the NHL, just because of travel and expenses. It would be hard to do it and make it financially feasible. Especially for smaller market teams like Phoenix to travel.

i don't see this happening at all. Oh i can believe the NHL wants to, but i don't think it'll work. for one thing the time difference is so huge that i doubt many would be able to watch their teams road games. just can't see it and frankly don't really like the idea of it either but thats just me.

Maybe as a farm system. I can't see them on the same level as the NHL, just because of travel and expenses. It would be hard to do it and make it financially feasible. Especially for smaller market teams like Phoenix to travel.
- martok2309

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
How is this

Not when you live in British Columbia. Imagine the Canucks travel schedual? Although i could give less (frank)s cause I hate them
- OilerFanFromBC

The NA West Division can play against the EU Eastern Division then.

Hell put a team in Turkey and even one in Moscow to (frank) with the KHL.

EU East would be Prauge, Minsk, Moscow, Brataslava, Kiev, Istanbul, Belgrade

EU West would be Berlin, Stockholm, Helsinki, Bern, Milan, Amsterdam, Oslo

NHL is north america and will never be anything more than that.

They female doged and moaned about having to travel around North America. Do you honestly think that a road trip to Europe would be welcome?

I think the NHL has to take a deep long look at itself before even considering anything beyond N. America.
- Pixote Andolini

I had heard this rumour about 4 years ago and believe it is on the way. Hockey is huge in Europe and look at the uniforms ,rinks and ice.Millions and millions of dollars to be made in sponsorship.

People over in Europe go crazy for hockey . It is a party at their games. That is where the big money is and NHL would be nuts to keep ignoring it. They have been looking at this for years to figure a way to make it possible.

Ek is not off on this idea at all.

Ummm....no

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

You are close but less teams.

Toronto
Montreal
Vancouver
Alberta
NY
Chicago
Boston
LA
Detroit
Pennsylvania
Dallas
2nd Ontario


Sweden
Russia
Finland
Switzerland
Denmark
Grmany
Slovakia
Czech
Norway
Belarus
Netherlands
London

This idea is completely retarded

STUPID!!!

Probably the way this league is going. How sick would it be to miss all the games that are in Europe because of the time difference? I'm sure the owners would love losing out on their sales as well. Gonna be awesome!

Probably the way this league is going. How sick would it be to miss all the games that are in Europe because of the time difference? I'm sure the owners would love losing out on their sales as well. Gonna be awesome!
- weirdoh

They would make close to 5 times as much as they are now. TV and sponsorship revenue would be shared by the league .Road trips would be 3 weeks to a month but hockey 12 hours a day.

They would make close to 5 times as much as they are now. TV and sponsorship revenue would be shared by the league .Road trips would be 3 weeks to a month but hockey 12 hours a day.
- VANTEL

You don't know anything. Anything at all. NOTHING.