Winning would change everything in my opinion. A few good playoff runs, a Stanley Cup, a Hart trophy winner...Unfortunately nothing good has happened in those markets for a long time and people are just losing interest. Of course Carolina is a bit different having won a cup, but I thnk hockey was alive and well there if I'm not mistaken.

Also, I'm not sure moving teams would help, maybe reducing the league to 28 would work better.
- AlfieFever

Tampa won a Cup as well and those things bring short term relief and long term stability...They're markets that don't work and I agree that they should either move teams to viable markets that will produce long term growth, or retract some teams...

If you were going to contract cities that were not ready for NHL teams wouldn' t you need to get rid of the Leafs then?
- VANTEL

hmmm...so the leafs have won the second most stanley cups in the NHL, they are the richest team in the league, and the center of the hockey universe....and you want to get rid of them?

how about we just get rid of the canucks...zero stanley cups, puts a bad name on canadian hockey with the riots, and the team is filled with divers.

And around and around they go! That team needs a major culture change from the top down for them to be relevant again.
- LeftCoaster

the funny part is, if keenan was the leafs gm for 12 straight years and the leafs finished dead last in each of those 12 years, the leafs would still have more cups than the nucks

Ask Troll boy that he fired the first shot.
- VANTEL

how did i fire the first shot? i just repeated your trade proposal, feel free to repeat any of mine, here i'll even help you out:

drew shore + scott upshall for roberto luongo

and then there's your trade proposal:

CLOWE + HAVLAT FOR LUONGO

So then a lot of NHL players earning less than 1 million would have to give their entire salaries and pay more from their own pocket?
- Aliaksandrhn

That is why it says +/- depending on salary... good reading skills on you though!

Move this team... it's a disgrace at this point... Quebec City would be the best option and would make all the teams int he league more financially viable since they would sell out every night like Winnipeg and generate pretty good revenu.
- riceroni

I agree with my adversary from Ottawa. This team is nothing but a sinkhole. Why continue to put revenuesharing capital into this Titanic, when there's a safe harbour in Quebec City. Time to stop mollycoddling this team and get it to where it should be, in La Belle Province!

how did i fire the first shot? i just repeated your trade proposal, feel free to repeat any of mine, here i'll even help you out:

drew shore + scott upshall for roberto luongo

and then there's your trade proposal:

CLOWE + HAVLAT FOR LUONGO
- sensnucksnocups

You are the epitome of a troll.



Vantel will explain the meaning of epitome.

It's simple.

The NHL needs to cut its price to a more reasonable $150M.

Shane Doan signs a 4-year deal paying him $2.5M/year in cash and $5M/year in equity in the team.

That throws about $40M more in resources at the shortage which supposedly is only something like $20M. Shane Doan gets to stay in Phoenix and has a stake in helping his city/team out, and he also gets something to do post playing career.

At this point they are short only 1 savior player in the draft from being the Pittsburgh Penguins of the west.

It's simple.

The NHL needs to cut its price to a more reasonable $150M.

Shane Doan signs a 4-year deal paying him $2.5M/year in cash and $5M/year in equity in the team.

That throws about $40M more in resources at the shortage which supposedly is only something like $20M. Shane Doan gets to stay in Phoenix and has a stake in helping his city/team out, and he also gets something to do post playing career.

At this point they are short only 1 savior player in the draft from being the Pittsburgh Penguins of the west.
- CarolinaMatt63

Lucky Doan ... he gets less money than he could make any where else AND equity in a money losing enterprise? JACKPOT!

''Jamison is still in the process of seeking additional partners to invest the needed $20 million to meet the purchase price. The NHL will not lower the $170 million purchase price at all; in part because they want to ensure that the purchasers have the financial stability and commitment necessary to operate a team. It is going to take time to raise the necessary money. ''

If raising the missing 20M is an issue, I guess we can kiss the financial stability aspect goodbye....

Whichever teams signs Doan to that kind of contract is going to regret the deal.

It's simple.

The NHL needs to cut its price to a more reasonable $150M.

Shane Doan signs a 4-year deal paying him $2.5M/year in cash and $5M/year in equity in the team.

That throws about $40M more in resources at the shortage which supposedly is only something like $20M. Shane Doan gets to stay in Phoenix and has a stake in helping his city/team out, and he also gets something to do post playing career.

At this point they are short only 1 savior player in the draft from being the Pittsburgh Penguins of the west.
- CarolinaMatt63

I was actually thinking about this kind of thing. Makes tons of sense for many reasons.

Nice call.

Seattle would be a good place. I would prefer another Canadian city. But we know that will not happen. Well at least any time soon.
- acresd

I think another Minnesota team would be interesting. As a Minnesota fan what do you think?

Eklund: Latest Yotes Stumbling Block Pushing Doan to Exit Door
- Eklund

He's the "least driven money player" but he's asking for $7 Mil a season. If he's trying to price himself off the market that's one thing but if he(and his agent) really thinks he's worth that then maybe they've been enjoying some of the Peyote Cacti out in the desert.

When his price comes back down to reality, maybe a team will give him a contract. Until then, stay hydrated Shane, lack of fluids can lead to delusions of grandeur.

I think another Minnesota team would be interesting. As a Minnesota fan what do you think?
- HopintheCordoba

Seattle, Minnesota, Michigan/Chicago area, Toronto II, Quebec, Hamilton, Yukon Territory...

And for all of you who want to cry about the owners being all about money, let's chat about NHL Europe...A (frank)ing endless cash cow...How can they not be on top of that one...

I'm sure they've got some really smart people working on this and have already done their homework. They're looking 5-10-15 years ahead right now. The NHL sees the US as a sports cash cow and thinks it has to stay relevant in key areas across the country to stay profitable. I imagine they could be looking at other major sports cities that would be interested before settling on a Canadian market (Baltimore, Indianapolis, Kansas City, San Antonio for example). Remember, it's always about money and getting more of it.
- AlfieFever

Whoa, whoa, whoa....no Baltimore. People here are already stupid about sports as it is. Plus, that would just bring a whole new ''Washington, Pittsburgh and Columbus are our rivals...oh and we hate New York too! Boooo!'' crap
I think a Dakota or Nebraska team would be interesting. Maybe another Minnesota team, or another team up in New England. Anything south at this point is moot. The NHL has failed to inspire in short term. Its taken years for even competitive teams in the south to build real consistent growth. Carolina, Tampa Bay, Dallas---they have fans and they are competitive---cup winners even but struggle to maintain appearance with the rest of the league. The draft has been huge for those teams. Do we want an NBA issue? No thanks. The salaries are already trendin that way too

Seattle, Minnesota, Michigan/Chicago area, Toronto II, Quebec, Hamilton, Yukon Territory...
- Flyfreaky

With you on all those. A little too easy for Bettman I guess. A stand must be taken on this. IF YOU ARE CANT SUPPORT A TEAM AND FILL AN ARENA THEN YOU GET---NOTHING!

With you on all those. A little too easy for Bettman I guess. A stand must be taken on this. IF YOU ARE CANT SUPPORT A TEAM AND FILL AN ARENA THEN YOU GET---NOTHING!
- HopintheCordoba

I didn't begrudge the NHL placing a bunch of teams in southern states, but it's pretty obvious that many of them aren't working out and need to be relocated to a city that can support them and make them a viable team for the NHL...

Oh God, are we still on the all Doan, all the time channel??? Good lord, the most overrated 50 point a year player in the game. I know, comments will fly about how my saying this is the dumbest thing ever, but cmon, the guy has never won anything and likely never will. Dont give me the olympic gold thing, Crosby won that, Doan was along for the ride.

Oh God, are we still on the all Doan, all the time channel??? Good lord, the most overrated 50 point a year player in the game. I know, comments will fly about how my saying this is the dumbest thing ever, but cmon, the guy has never won anything and likely never will. Dont give me the olympic gold thing, Crosby won that, Doan was along for the ride.
- yave1964

crosby won that by himself?

You are the epitome of a troll.



Vantel will explain the meaning of epitome.
- Marwood

vantel lost all credibility when he said CLOWE + HAVLAT for luongo

Seattle, Minnesota, Michigan/Chicago area, Toronto II, Quebec, Hamilton, Yukon Territory...
- Flyfreaky

You can scratch off Toronto II, Hamilton (as Sabres & Leafs won't allow) and LOL....Yukon Territory. Minnesota is a hotbed but location where? Another team in Michigan is possible...say westrern area. Quebec for sure and what about Harford? They had fans. Las Vegas building new arena. KC.

TV markets are important BUT you have to have the support, interest, desire and actual following for the sport itself. Phoenix is in the 12th largest TV market yet don't follow hockey thereby not generating fan support. Atlanta is ahead of them in 9th and couldn't survive either. The Sabres are in the 51st TV market and pack them in....always have and now we have an owner who not only is a fan but understands the game! Even Penn State and hockey program will eventually surpass football due to his large donation for an arena If they move
it has to be the right city

Who said the Rangers have "cap space" problems??
If you do your research properly, you would find out that the Rangers have $13 mil space under the cap.
- Sabresfan88

But don't they still have to sign 3 players. I forget who, but DelZotto was one, and those 3 were expected to take up a sizable amount of space. At least that was what I heard.

Oh God, are we still on the all Doan, all the time channel??? Good lord, the most overrated 50 point a year player in the game. I know, comments will fly about how my saying this is the dumbest thing ever, but cmon, the guy has never won anything and likely never will. Dont give me the olympic gold thing, Crosby won that, Doan was along for the ride.
- yave1964

The sad part is i'm pretty sure teams like Philly and Buffalo are flirthing with the idea of giving him that kind of money.....