Expansion on the Horizon?

[chilly666]

In media scrum, Kelly says he believes NHL will expand to 32 teams within "2-3 years, most likely" to Quebec City and the Toronto area

Link


this is via former nhlpa leader paul kelly who it seems is in markham for the new arena vote tonight.

[Phila26Flyers]

Don't we go through this every year?

[thruby]

i'll take a lock out once every two years to stop expansion. this league needs less teams, not more. what a joke.

[chilly666]

yes, but with quebec in the process of building their arena and the vote happening tonight in markham, it seems like more real than prior years.

that said, i still think they should contract teams but bettman will never do that, nor will the nhlpa let him either

[I_am_Belak_2]

Markham seems random. I would think Hamilton, London, or even the KW area before them.

[thepolishkid88]

Allen Walsh also tweeted last night that the NHL's first order of business on their docket post lockout is locking down expansion teams. Seems a given.

Surprised Seattle wasn't named.

[flamesblackace]

No expansion please... I want to see a couple of lifeless teams moved to Quebec ... F-Ontario for another lame team... I like the idea of a Seattle much better

[Stevens Lindros]

Fewer teams means less spots for Janssens, Parros', Boultons, etc.

[Baronking]

Originally Posted by Stevens Lindros

Fewer teams means less spots for Janssens, Parros', Boultons, etc.

I never agree with that argument. There are plenty of skill players right now that could easily take their place, but most teams understand the need for an enforcer/tough guy role player. I don't think that would change.

More teams to me means more watered down games of 2 opponents that meet once a year. I would rather see less teams playing each other more often and developing rivalries.

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by Baronking

I never agree with that argument. There are plenty of skill players right now that could easily take their place, but most teams understand the need for an enforcer/tough guy role player. I don't think that would change.

More teams to me means more watered down games of 2 opponents that meet once a year. I would rather see less teams playing each other more often and developing rivalries.

If 1 of those teams carried, say a McLaren or Deveaux, (about average amount that carry tough guys, we'd be lucky if both did,) there's 1 more spot. It depletes the talent pool yes but that could mean 1 more full-time guy in the show.

[illukka]

whats better to fill the seats of a new arena of a new expansion team than a few hockeyfights every night?
more rivalry, more hate, more violence please and fast

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by Baronking

I never agree with that argument. There are plenty of skill players right now that could easily take their place, but most teams understand the need for an enforcer/tough guy role player. I don't think that would change.

There are already teams as it is that don't value having a tough guy. With less teams and more available players to spread around the league, even more teams would take that same approach. Especially this day and age. It isn't the 70's, 80's or 90's when tough guys were valued by most teams. You get rid of four, five or six teams and a lot of guys we all cheer for are not in the NHL anymore. Would that make for better hockey? No, not really, IMO. More skill certainly doesn't equal more entertainment. The current rules in place, and philosophies a lot of teams follow make for boring games. Not a lack of talent as so many people try and argue.

Anyway as far as the topic at hand, I doubt there will be any expansion. I strongly believe relocation will happen long before expansion.

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by Stevens Lindros

Fewer teams means less spots for Janssens, Parros', Boultons, etc.

well if someone like janssen could actually learn to play the game, he wouldn't have this issue of having to go to the ahl to get playing time. parros has no problem as he can actually play a decent game for a "goon".

fewer teams, also equals more rivalries which also means there's a chance to have a tough guy on each roster for that fact. you always say the same damn thing when expansion/contraction is brought up yet you have no idea that your theory could/will happen.

[mikebflorida]

The last thing this league needs is MORE teams. What a joke!

The talent pool is so diluted already, 2 more teams would make it worse.

Phoenix should go to Seattle and Florida should go to Quebec City. Easy Peasy Lemon Squeezy.

[JKidd]

No thanks.

Move some teams from Phoenix and Florida to Milwaukee or Hartford or QC and call it a day.

No need to make this a bigger cluster **** than it already is.