Regarding the possible expansion; who actually wants it?

The owners are making money (as much as they can without a big TV contract), and adding a franchise in Vegas won't make that much of a difference to their bottom line.

The GM's can't want to go through this mess of an expansion draft...

I can only guess the players association would like it for the additional opportunities to play, but they aren't the driving force behind it...

Is all this just for Bettman's enormous ego???

I could see moving some struggling franchises back to Canada, like Phoenix to Quebec or Hamilton, but what do the owners perceive as benefits to another expansion?????

Best place to watch a hockey game. Ever.
- Levit8

Forgive me for carrying this over from the last blog...but it seemed for a minute there like there was an actual hockey discussion



I am seeing on twitter that the 25% of the salary cap rule is getting axed, which essentially means for the Flyers that they wont have to protect RJ Umberger
- YuenglingJagr

I'm not sure yoi can pay a guy off to take a mutual termination. I believe Ron Wilson made a bet with a player when he coached Toronto or someone on staff in Toronto. Wilson won this bet and accepted the money on air as he was walking away from the benches and I believe Wilson got in trouble because it was a violation of cap rules. I could be wrong but it was a big deal at the time.

Do you really believe the league would make teams protect pending UFA's w/ NMC's? The expansion draft would be what... at most 7-10 days before July 1... I really doubt that owners/GMs would stand for having to expose additional players based on some trivial technicality.
- Tomahawk

It's not written in stone but that's what they're saying and have been repeatedly saying for four months.

They'll probably make an exception for expiring NMCs.

I'm still not sure when they're going to sneak this expansion draft in. The Cup finals. Awards weekend. The amatuer draft. Seems June is going to be a whirlwind.

Sobotka is coming back to the NHL, or at least wants to if St Louis will pay him. Could be a very interesting player to trade for to be our 3C. Fantastic possssion player capable of scoring 35-40 points.
- Mononoke

lets give them our player that wants to come back to the NHL

Regarding the possible expansion; who actually wants it?

The owners are making money (as much as they can without a big TV contract), and adding a franchise in Vegas won't make that much of a difference to their bottom line.

The GM's can't want to go through this mess of an expansion draft...

I can only guess the players association would like it for the additional opportunities to play, but they aren't the driving force behind it...

Is all this just for Bettman's enormous ego???

I could see moving some struggling franchises back to Canada, like Phoenix to Quebec or Hamilton, but what do the owners perceive as benefits to another expansion?????
- WhirlingDervish

Expansion teams have to pay a ridiculous fee ($500M I think) that is evenly distributed amongst the existing teams. So the owners like it (short-term, at least). It's also a brand new team in a new market, which means loads of merchandise sales to be shared.

And as you said, the PA likes it because we can get more jobs, and the added HRR (revenue, not profit) from a new team means higher salaries.

lets give them our player that wants to come back to the NHL
- YuenglingJagr

Jordan Weal?

Regarding the possible expansion; who actually wants it?
- WhirlingDervish

Who doesn't want it? Owners, players all stand to win big.

The GM's can't want to go through this mess of an expansion draft...
- WhirlingDervish

The ones who were smart enough to account for it in their planning probably don't mind. It brings much needed liquidity to the player market.

The idiots who were handing NMCs to fossils and collecting NMC trash like Clowe, Clarkson, etc can't be too thrilled tho. Columbus is probably so (frank)ed it isn't even funny.

I could see moving some struggling franchises back to Canada, like Phoenix to Quebec or Hamilton, but what do the owners perceive as benefits to another expansion?????
- WhirlingDervish

Canada's economy is a mess... QC probably isn't even getting expansion b/c of it. Doubt you'll see any teams moving to Canada anytime soon.

Who doesn't want it? Owners, players all stand to win big.



The ones who were smart enough to account for it in their planning probably don't mind. It brings much needed liquidity to the player market.

The idiots who were handing NMCs to fossils and collecting NMC trash like Clowe, Clarkson, etc can't be too thrilled tho. Columbus is probably so (frank)ed it isn't even funny.



Canada's economy is a mess... QC probably isn't even getting expansion b/c of it. Doubt you'll see any teams moving to Canada anytime soon.
- Tomahawk

I see them with 50% retained on just about whoever they can trade at this point...they have a big mess on their hands

I do think Jack Johnson will be expansion drafted though

happened to one of our greats

http://www.post-gazette.c...ways/stories/200612140282
- YuenglingJagr

Poor reporting. How much did LeClair walk away from?
Also, I don't think the current CBA allows for that move, does it?

Jordan Weal?
- jmatchett383

I didnt say the leading scorer for next year

Poor reporting. How much did LeClair walk away from?
Also, I don't think the current CBA allows for that move, does it?
- Scoob

Semin

The idiots who were handing NMCs to fossils and collecting NMC trash like Clowe, Clarkson, etc can't be too thrilled tho. Columbus is probably so (frank)ed it isn't even funny.
- Tomahawk

They have 4 forwards on NMCs. That's going to hurt.

Toronto is sitting on a bunch of Marlies forwards with Nathan Horton waving from the sideline.

I didnt say the leading scorer for next year
- YuenglingJagr

He stole MDZ's little black book?

He stole MDZ's little black book?
- Scoob

There's nothing little about that black book.

He stole MDZ's little black book?
- Scoob

Why's it gotta be black?

Why's it gotta be black?
- jmatchett383

Because that's how Fonzie rolled.

Best place to watch a hockey game. Ever.

What a barn the Spectrum was... even in the upper decks, we weren't that far away from the ice. The drum-like hum of the ventilation fans in the background always gave the place a dramatic feel.

Poor reporting. How much did LeClair walk away from?
Also, I don't think the current CBA allows for that move, does it?
- Scoob

$1.5M.

It's allowed... if you breach your contract, they can terminate unilaterally.

lets give them our player that wants to come back to the NHL
- YuenglingJagr

Erik!

$1.5M.

It's allowed... if you breach your contract, they can terminate unilaterally.
- Tomahawk

Unless you're Mike Richards.

That's a lot of bread LeClair walked away from. He was probably in a lot of physical pain on a daily basis by that point in his career, too, so maybe it made sense for him.

Because that's how Fonzie rolled.
- Scoob

Fonzie was overrated. Like, Led Zepplin overrated.

I miss the Spectrum, but I absolutely hated the bathrooms. Being a kid and having to piss in a trough around drunk adults was horrifying. I refused to go after Flyers/Sixers games and would infuriate my dad once we got on 95 to head home because I to piss.

"Daaaaad "

"Shut up and hold it. Told you to go at the game "

Unless you're Mike Richards.

That's a lot of bread LeClair walked away from. He was probably in a lot of physical pain on a daily basis by that point in his career, too, so maybe it made sense for him.
- Scoob

They can terminate if the contract is breached...whether the NHL or NHLPA fights that termination (Mike Richards) is another problem

Fonzie was overrated. Like, Led Zepplin overrated.
- jmatchett383

You're too young to appreciate both.