NHL could expand to Seattle in 3 years

[NJDevils17]

Originally Posted by Shoryuken

Correct, it would be an admission that Bettman has f*cked-up putting teams where he's put them.

Not only that, but it would probably make more sense and make people happier if struggling teams ended up moving to Canada instead of simply contracting.

[Ciccarelli]

The NHL simply needs to install an "european" system. With the NHL and a NHL2 and work with relegation and promotion. Let the NHL play without a cap and with only the good teams and the NHL2 with a hard cap and all the teams that are rebuilding or having financial troubles.

If they would do that they could eventually think about a further expansion.

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by NJDevils17

We're never going to see contraction in the NHL.

Correct.

Originally Posted by Shoryuken

Correct, it would be an admission that Bettman has f*cked-up putting teams where he's put them.

An even bigger reason would be the NHLPA. Players would lose jobs and that wouldn't go over very well.

[I like Boobs]

I have no problems with a team in Seattle. Washington has a long history of supporting hockey at the minor and junior levels. Quebec should have first crack at a relocating squad, but after that it's a viable option. You'd have natural rivalries with Vancouver and the California teams. I think we all agree that the NHL is a watered down product...

To bring back the old enforcer, you'd have to relax instigator rules, second fight on the same stoppage of play rules, and bring back the 23 man roster. Not happening unless you get Burke or Cherry as Commish...

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by chilly666

there aren't many now with 30 teams, why would that change with 32?

as someone else said and has many stated numerous times prior, the league needs to contract teams, not expand the league.

40-46 more players in an expanded talent pool. Could take away some decent non-enforcer 4th liners and making an enforcer in a 13th forward spot around the league more appealing, especially if the expansion teams do it.

[Phila26Flyers]

Originally Posted by Stevens Lindros

40-46 more players in an expanded talent pool. Could take away some decent non-enforcer 4th liners and making an enforcer in a 13th forward spot around the league more appealing, especially if the expansion teams do it.

I think the exact opposite would happen. It just means more Euro 4th line fringe players get jobs instead of more enforcers. That's just the way the NHL is. Besides, the possibility of a couple more fighters playing in the NHL is not worth expanding a league that is already over-expanded and has a handful of franchises losing money in stale markets that don't give a sh!t.

[chilly666]

Originally Posted by Stevens Lindros

40-46 more players in an expanded talent pool. Could take away some decent non-enforcer 4th liners and making an enforcer in a 13th forward spot around the league more appealing, especially if the expansion teams do it.

expanded talent pool? yeah for more euros to come over here and take those spots away from tough guys

[mikebflorida]

The NHL is far too watered down as it is, they need LESS teams, not more.

The talent pool is very thin already, way too many AHL quality players are in the league now and yeah, it would be nice if it went back to a rougher, tougher league with more fighting but Buttman doesn't like it so we are left with what we have and it's pretty much a pile of shyt right now. There are some stars and good, tough players and they've gotten away from the designated fighters who only play 3 minutes per game and that's not the end of the world, I prefer more spontaneous fights personally to players like Donald Brashear or Tony Twist who really can't play and only fight the other team's desgnated fighter.

Anyway, a return to what it was like in the late 70's and early 80's would be preferable, players like Nystrom, Clark, Neeley, Tocchet, Plett were good players who would also fight. By comparison, there are only a few like that these days like Lucic, Simmonds, and maybe a couple of others, they are very rare.

Sorry, got off on a rant, I waste no opportunity to bash the NHL right now.

[ChiefJunior]

The fact is, whether we like it or not, the NHL needs to do a few things to make the game better or more attractive to guys like us (maybe typical N.Americans?)

1) Go to 20 teams, maybe 24-26.

2) Expand the rosters by 1-2 players.

3) Put in a import rule.

4) Re-examine the rules.

..just the beginning

[Stevens Lindros]

Originally Posted by Phila26Flyers

I think the exact opposite would happen. It just means more Euro 4th line fringe playersget jobs instead of more enforcers. That's just the way the NHL is. Besides, the possibility of a couple more fighters playing in the NHL is not worth expanding a league that is already over-expanded and has a handful of franchises losing money in stale markets that don't give a sh!t.

I wouldn't mind more of both if absolutely necessary as long as enforcers come too. We'll see.

[chilly666]

take this however you want too

daryl katz has been looking at other places in case the arena plan falls thru in edmonton and seattle is a place

Link

also this release

[HordiBrusk29]

Originally Posted by chilly666

take this however you want too

daryl katz has been looking at other places in case the arena plan falls thru in edmonton and seattle is a place

Link

also this release

Smoke and mirrors. Just trying to get Edmonton city council to seriously start making an effort toward building a new arena. The Oilers won't be going anywhere.

[antonio106]

Originally Posted by Ciccarelli

The NHL simply needs to install an "european" system. With the NHL and a NHL2 and work with relegation and promotion. Let the NHL play without a cap and with only the good teams and the NHL2 with a hard cap and all the teams that are rebuilding or having financial troubles.

If they would do that they could eventually think about a further expansion.

I thought about this before, and I think it's a neat idea, but I doubt it would work.

For one thing--correct me if I'm wrong--european teams don't have farm teams. It seems to me that it would screw up the AHL and ECHL, unless you proposed the three leagues somehow aligned with each other.

Also, the NHL is a league that NEEDS parity to survive. Atlanta missed the playoffs too many times and moved. Simple. The same fate will befall Columbus, and any non-original six market with a prolonged playoff drought. Relegation would KILL a small market team, IMO. The economics are all different than Europe.

It pains me to say, because that sounds like a really neat concept, and I always wished something like that could work here!

[Phila26Flyers]

Originally Posted by chilly666

take this however you want too

daryl katz has been looking at other places in case the arena plan falls thru in edmonton and seattle is a place

Link

also this release

He's just posturing, trying to speed up the process. The only thing that's working against him is all the young superstars in the making the Oilers have. Hall, Eberle, Nuge, Yakupov, Gagner, a lot of hype around Justin Schultz and a solid young goalie in Dubnyk...the Oilers would be fools to move and Edmonton's city council would call that bluff in a second.

[I like Boobs]

Originally Posted by HordiBrusk29

Smoke and mirrors. Just trying to get Edmonton city council to seriously start making an effort toward building a new arena. The Oilers won't be going anywhere.

Absolutely 100 percent true. Katz has Mayor Mandel by the balls and he knows it... He just wants more public dollars which Mandel doesn't want to give. The real losers here are Northlands as they will be losing their major tenant and all of the concerts etc... That come with being the only major arena.