I think that unbalances the conferences again
- nails

Effectively, you'd have two teams moving in the east and two expansion teams in the west. That would even it up.

Two goals in expansion.
1. Buy in money to go into the owners bank account
2. Locations that will generate the most yearly revenue.

So moving the Yotes to Vegas is an easy one. The fan base will be weird, but they will sell merchandise and seats easy. How many of those buts end up in a seat regularly would be the question.

Quebec is ready to have a team again. Everything is there. That one is easy.

The second expansion team is harder. If you go strictly by point 2, it Toronto with another team. But I don't think Toronto is that simple. They would have to settle with the leafs for infringement into their operating area etc.

So Seattle or KC? Which one of those two generates more HRR? KC already failed once. If you try again are they the next Colorado or Atlanta?

Effectively, you'd have two teams moving in the east and two expansion teams in the west. That would even it up.
- Doc_Sarcasm

That would be a lot of change.
I don't think there is any chance that the league moves the Devils.

That would be a lot of change.
I don't think there is any chance that the league moves the Devils.
- nails

No, the NHL likes having that mutt of a franchise right where it is.

Two goals in expansion.
1. Buy in money to go into the owners bank account
2. Locations that will generate the most yearly revenue.

So moving the Yotes to Vegas is an easy one. The fan base will be weird, but they will sell merchandise and seats easy. How many of those buts end up in a seat regularly would be the question.

Quebec is ready to have a team again. Everything is there. That one is easy.

The second expansion team is harder. If you go strictly by point 2, it Toronto with another team. But I don't think Toronto is that simple. They would have to settle with the leafs for infringement into their operating area etc.

So Seattle or KC? Which one of those two generates more HRR? KC already failed once. If you try again are they the next Colorado or Atlanta?
- nails

the problem with the Thrashers was they played downtown in a city that is 95 % black

No, the NHL likes having that mutt of a franchise right where it is.
- johndewar

The reality is also that NJ isn't at the bottom of league revenue.
They are, I believe though, near the bottom in terms of debt value.
They owe something like 70% of their value

the problem with the Thrashers was they played downtown in a city that is 95 % black
- vejim

If race were the problem with being in downtown Atlanta, then they would have learned that the first time around.
It would also spell doom for other franchises as well.
Somehow, I don't think race is the issue there.

I went through the entire list of FAs and RFAs last night

This is not the year for the Flyers to do anything of significance in this aspect of hockey operations

The only two players who I found even mildly interesting were Jiri Tlusty, on a short deal to play on the second or third line at LW, and John Moore, if the Flyers found a way to cash in Andrew MacDonald for a winger in a hockey trade

I'm not joking, by the way. FA is so bad this year, I would not be the slightest bit surprised if someone calls on MacDonald with a realistic offer, because there just aren't enough NHL-caliber defenders to go around

*Yes, Vladimir Tarasenko is an RFA. But I have no doubts that St. Louis would move a few pieces around and match anything that comes their way

I also have a feeling we are going to see a few trades over the next 48 hours, as well -- GMs still have to fill out rosters, and they will face the agonizing choice of doing something that they KNOW they shouldn't do, like give Matt Beleskey a 5x5, or risk moving an asset in order to get better

I'd bite the bullet and trade -- I mean, seriously. If my job was even close to in jeopardy, there's no way in hell I'd be counting on Alexander Semin or Mike Green to save it

I went through the entire list of FAs and RFAs last night

This is not the year for the Flyers to do anything of significance in this aspect of hockey operations

The only two players who I found even mildly interesting were Jiri Tlusty, on a short deal to play on the second or third line at LW, and John Moore, if the Flyers found a way to cash in Andrew MacDonald for a winger in a hockey trade

I'm not joking, by the way. FA is so bad this year, I would not be the slightest bit surprised if someone calls on MacDonald with a realistic offer, because there just aren't enough NHL-caliber defenders to go around
- AllInForFlyers

The only pool Hexy should be making a splash in today is the one in his backyard

The only pool Hexy should be making a splash in today is the one in his backyard
- nails

LOL, and oh so true

Don't have a specific name, but wouldn't mind seeing a prospect defender like Hagg moved for a prospect winger

I understand that the prospect winger would come with the same kinds of questions that Hagg has, but I think I'd take a look around and see if something like that was out there

For those same reasons, I also think Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf are going to look a lot better in the next 12 hours than they did even a week ago

Yeah, they make huge dollars, with lots of term left

But Kessel's a legitimate top 20 scorer in the league, and Phaneuf is a top 3 defender

Somebody's going to look at it and say, "Screw it. If they were free agents, I'd be paying them what they make, anyway"

Kessel could very well go to the Pens, if they can make the dollars work. Sportsnet thinks so, and I agree -- they can make the dollars work if they want to

LOL, and oh so true

Don't have a specific name, but wouldn't mind seeing a prospect defender like Hagg moved for a prospect winger

I understand that the prospect winger would come with the same kinds of questions that Hagg has, but I think I'd take a look around and see if something like that was out there
- AllInForFlyers

I have been saying that. When there were reports of the Blue Jackets wanting to move maybe Rychel for defensive help I thought about something like that. Maybe Detroit for Mantha. Something of that nature.

If race were the problem with being in downtown Atlanta, then they would have learned that the first time around.
It would also spell doom for other franchises as well.
Somehow, I don't think race is the issue there.
- nails

yes it is....Braves are moving to the burbs and the Thrashers should have also

How many "natural centers" do we actually have on this team instead of wingers. And how many of those are on the wing? G, Coots, Schenn, VLC, VandeVelde, BellMar, Gagner? Am I missing anyone? So, G and Coots always end up at Center, but seems like most others are interchangeable. Point being: don't we have too many not playing at their "natural" position?

Shea Weber receives a $13mm payment today.

yes it is....Braves are moving to the burbs and the Thrashers should have also
- vejim

I don't see that as a race problem

Socioeconomic sure.

I don't see that as a race problem

Socioeconomic sure.
- nails

Blacks are not big hockey fans and downtown Atlanta is black.....

Shea Weber receives a $13mm payment today.
- Jsaquella

They haven't even won a playoff round since they matched, have they? Missed the playoffs once, got eliminated in the first round

I totally understand why they matched, but man, they are paying through the nose for it

They haven't even won a playoff round since they matched, have they? Missed the playoffs once, got eliminated in the first round

I totally understand why they matched, but man, they are paying through the nose for it
- AllInForFlyers

I am sure that they could be relieved of that terrible burden.
tomorrow

They haven't even won a playoff round since they matched, have they? Missed the playoffs once, got eliminated in the first round

I totally understand why they matched, but man, they are paying through the nose for it
- AllInForFlyers

Didn't Weber get hurt in that first round series?

For those same reasons, I also think Phil Kessel and Dion Phaneuf are going to look a lot better in the next 12 hours than they did even a week ago

Yeah, they make huge dollars, with lots of term left

But Kessel's a legitimate top 20 scorer in the league, and Phaneuf is a top 3 defender

Somebody's going to look at it and say, "Screw it. If they were free agents, I'd be paying them what they make, anyway"

Kessel could very well go to the Pens, if they can make the dollars work. Sportsnet thinks so, and I agree -- they can make the dollars work if they want to
- AllInForFlyers

They may look better, but only as Maple Leafs (Leaves).

However, it's not just the money/cap you'd be paying, you'd have to pay that on top of giving up players/prospect assets as well. That's what the real issue is. Do you want to give up hard assets AND take on their contracts? It's not the same as if they were available as UFAs.

Didn't Weber get hurt in that first round series?
- section32

This past year, yes.

Also, they won a round in both 2011 and 2012, the 2 years prior to his offer sheet.

And you know what? I don't feel one bit sorry for them because they strung him along instead of locking him up, and ended up paying more than they wanted (and were able) to. I like Nashville, but don't feel the least bit sorry for them.

They may look better, but only as Maple Leafs (Leaves).

However, it's not just the money/cap you'd be paying, you'd have to pay that on top of giving up players/prospect assets as well. That's what the real issue is. Do you want to give up hard assets AND take on their contracts? It's not the same as if they were available as UFAs.
- jmatchett383

I think there are a couple of potential landing spots for Kessel -- the Pens want to dump Brandon Sutter off on somebody. There's a hint of a deal there, with Pouliot

Phaneuf is trickier, but there are teams in "win now" mode -- LA now has cash to spend that they definitely shouldn't, for example

I think there are a couple of potential landing spots for Kessel -- the Pens want to dump Brandon Sutter off on somebody. There's a hint of a deal there, with Pouliot

Phaneuf is trickier, but there are teams in "win now" mode -- LA now has cash to spend that they definitely shouldn't, for example
- AllInForFlyers

Yes, but Sutter alone won't (and can't, $$-wise) get it done. To get Kessel, you're going to have to free up cap space, give up players/picks of good value, and then tie into an 8-year/$64M contract. I could see either happening, but not both.

But yes, were they both available as UFAs, I agree they'd get similar deals.