Perhaps not the Québec Nordiques, but Hartford and Winnipeg have had some solid reception by the NHL officials over the last year and if any teams are to move it would likely be Nashville and Florida since they have lowest fanbases in the league. Instead of folding them like Bettman wanted at first, why not relocate them and keep the league at 30 teams? Hartford and Winnipeg have shown a great deal of interest and have steadily increased their marketing value over the last decade. This has supposedly intrigued Bettman. Québec on the other hand, while they are considered to have the most classic defunct team, are likely to never have their Nordiques again due to the fact that they haven't shown any true interest in marketing and building a new stadium for their possible franchise return.</p> </p> My way of going about things is to move the two weak link franchises to Hartford and Winnipeg. Then during a span of five years introduce two brand new franchises. One for Québec, given that they keep within the NHL's interests, and one for Bettman's money making dream, Kansas City. Kansas City will be another bomb out like Nashville, but at least the league will be at 32 teams and we would have the return of three of the best classic teams in hockey history. Here's the idea on how it will work. Similar to the NFL, we would have two conferences with four divisions in each. The way I've seperated the teams, I think this works out really well and gives Canada an all Canadian-based division in the West. That is what they deserve afterall.</p> </p> </p> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Eastern Conference<st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on"></st1lace></st1:state></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on"></st1lace></st1:state></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Atlantic Division - New Jersey</st1lace></st1:state> Devils<st1lace w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">, New York</st1:state></st1lace> Islanders<st1lace w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">, New York</st1:state></st1lace> Rangers<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, Philadelphia</st1lace></st1:city> Flyers</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Northeast Division - Boston</st1:city></st1lace> Bruins,<st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"> Hartford</st1:city></st1lace> Whalers, Montréal Canadiens<st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, Quebec</st1lace></st1:state> Nordiques</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">New Division - Buffalo</st1:city></st1lace> Sabres<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, Ottawa</st1lace></st1:city> Senators<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, Pittsburgh</st1lace></st1:city> Penguins<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, Toronto</st1lace></st1:city> Maple Leafs</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Southeast Division - Atlanta</st1lace></st1:city> Thrashers<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, Carolina</st1lace></st1:city> Hurricanes<st1lace w:st="on"><st1lacename w:st="on">, Tampa</st1lacename> <st1lacetype w:st="on">Bay</st1lacetype></st1lace> Lightning<st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, Washington</st1lace></st1:state> Capitals</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o></o></p> </p> <p class="MsoNormal">Western Conference<st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"></st1:city></st1lace><st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"></st1:city></st1lace></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on"></st1:city></st1lace></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Central Division - Chicago</st1:city></st1lace> Blackhawks<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, Columbus</st1lace></st1:city> Blue Jackets<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, Detroit</st1lace></st1:city> Red Wings<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, St. Louis</st1lace></st1:city> Blues</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o></o><st1lace w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">New Division - Colorado</st1:state></st1lace> Avalanche<st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">, Dallas</st1:city></st1lace> Stars<st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">, Kansas City</st1:city></st1lace> Scouts<st1lace w:st="on"><st1:state w:st="on">, Minnesota</st1:state></st1lace> Wild</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o></o><st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Northwestern Division - Calgary</st1lace></st1:city> Flames<st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">, Edmonton</st1:city></st1lace> Oilers<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, Vancouver</st1lace></st1:city> Canucks<st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">, Winnipeg</st1:city></st1lace> Jets</p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o></o><st1lace w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Pacific Division - Anaheim</st1:city></st1lace> Ducks<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, Los Angeles</st1lace></st1:city> Kings<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, Phoenix</st1lace></st1:city> Coyotes<st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">, San Jose</st1lace></st1:city> Sharks</p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal"></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Comments? Ideas? Feel free to help out here.</p>
I don't think Quebec City can hold a hockey team again as many just root for the Canadiens now but Winnipeg could definately hold a team again imo.</p> It would be nice to see how it would do since so many teams have been moved down South.</p>
Careful what you wish for.</p> Get a team into Vegas long before Winnipeg or Hartford.</p> An all Canadian division is a double edged sword. How do playoffs work? Could all four teams make the playoffs? I'm sure Gary wouldn't like the idea of knowing that every year one of the NY teams, Philly or Jersey won't make the playoffs. Same thing with the Ceeb and TSN in Canada.</p> Moving back to Canada makes little sense to the NHL. The TV money is already there and ratings have more to do with how well the Leafs do than anything. It's a gate driven league right now and why potentially hurt yourself by moving back to a market that couldn't sustain through tickets sales the first time (Winni was ok but is there more corporate money there now? I know one family has money but who else is there?). If you really want another team in Canada put in it Hamilton and collect your money. It's not that guaranteed in other places.</p> Hartford, I guess has a lot of dough, never been but I hear it's a posh place. Good hockey history and college program. Maybe they'd be smart like St.Paul and do the fri/sat/sun hockey thing ala football.</p> The NHL needs it's profile raised but it settles too much. MLS is not far behind in terms of rating yet light years behind in terms of product. You won't make joe q american think of is any bigger or better than it is with teams in Quebec city or Winnipeg.</p> KC and LV, should and will, be next.</p>
Las Vegas will never have an NHL franchise because they don't have the arena that Bettman specifies nor will they be able to get one in the area due to construction costs on available lots. Las Vegas doesn't have a strong sports atmosphere and if they are to rely on tourism for that, people heading to Vegas aren't visiting for sporting events, believe me. It would be worse then Nashville in the end and cost a foolish owner millions.</p> </p> Kansas City already has the arena Bettman wants, so that solidifies them while Winnipeg and Hartford are willing to put the money down on available space. Winnipeg is a growing city and plenty of American based enterprises are now based in the city so they have Bettman's interest.</p> </p> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>During a press conference Gary Bettman stated that the idea of Winnipeg having an NHL team sounds intriguing. He also stated that another team in Winnipeg could happen one day.</div></p> </p> Playoffs work similarly to how they are now. The top team from each division takes first through fourth place. The rest are decided by performance highlighted by the overall standings. Right now, based on current performance, the Rangers and Flyers would make the Playoffs in this type of format. Also, you should note that the Islanders have been tagged for relocation as well, so I don't think they're much of an issue.</p>
what gary wants and what he says are usually to very different thing. Trust me, I've heard the clip of him talking about Winnipeg, he even did it straight faced but find me a crediable journalist that thinks it's going to happen.</p> find me someone who isn't just speaking out of his ass. he is a peddler, he'll say what he needs to depending on the crowd.</p> But please feel free to explain how a team in Winnipeg and Quebec city make the sport more attractive down south?</p>
<font size="4">BRASS BONANZA!!!!!!</font> <object width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/QQzTK01sYaY&rel=1"></param><param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/QQzTK01sYaY&rel=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="355"></embed></object>
