Howard Berger: Could Coyotes Howl North of Toronto?

I hope not. Another Canadian team better than us

no need for a team in markham. get one in quebec city first. im all for getting more nhl teams in canada, but spread it out. more teams in eastern and western canada. people need to leave southern ontario alone (i.e. hamilton, kitchener/waterloo, markham).

Could they move North? Yup. Will they? Not if they can stop it. The more games and series that the Coyotes can win, the longer they're going to try and keep them where they are. Same goes with Nashville.

no need for a team in markham. get one in quebec city first. im all for getting more nhl teams in canada, but spread it out. more teams in eastern and western canada. people need to leave southern ontario alone (i.e. hamilton, kitchener/waterloo, markham).
- icecubz

The problem is the country's population isn't spread out. The reason people mention Southern Ontario because it's home to over one-third theCanadian population.

I highly doubt leafs management would rent out the ACC to another NHL team. No matter what they paid. The laffs have more than enough money coming in.

Could they move North? Yup. Will they? Not if they can stop it. The more games and series that the Coyotes can win, the longer they're going to try and keep them where they are. Same goes with Nashville.
- Unholy_Goalie

Agree, if both FLA and PHX make it to the final four it will encourage the league to give it one last try, thus lengthening the inevitable return to Canada by another 2-3 years.

Regardless, all potential owners will look at the fact that even with a half-decent playoff run, they still lose money, and since you can't make it there every year, it's really not worth investing in.

I like the thought of the Yotes moving to QC and playing a few years in the Collissee for old time's sake while the new barn gets opened. I'l be driving up for a few MTL/QC encounters for sure.

Next is FLA. I hope Hamilton gets that team.

Third would be any number of teams, and far enough down the road that the new rink in Toronto will be completed, as I'm sure the Leafs won't let any new team play out of the ACC while Markham builds its rink.

no need for a team in markham. get one in quebec city first. im all for getting more nhl teams in canada, but spread it out. more teams in eastern and western canada. people need to leave southern ontario alone (i.e. hamilton, kitchener/waterloo, markham).
- icecubz

no there is definitely potential for an incredibly successful hockey franchise in the Toronto area, and it could create a hell of a rivalry, and bring magic back to the hockey in this city.

I highly doubt leafs management would rent out the ACC to another NHL team. No matter what they paid. The laffs have more than enough money coming in.
- Mahoney87

Impossible to have 3 programs using it at once I'd think.

Yawwnnn!

How's that Coyote team in Hamilton working for ya?

Yawwnnn!

How's that Coyote team in Hamilton working for ya?
- Desert_Dog

That was Balsaille's fault, not Hamiltons

Howard brought up a good point if a second team moves to the gta the reVenue that bell and Rogers could generate from the media on the second team ala a leafs tv like network for the second team. Look at the mar lies selling out playoff games there's demand. And for those saying that Rogers/bell wouldn't rent out the acc and take a the cash for a team moving into there area fee because they have "enough" money doesn't understand how business works. There is no such thing as enough money there is always money to be made

Impossible to have 3 programs using it at once I'd think.
- RogerRoeper

Staples Center LA -- Kings, Lakers, Clippers. It can be done

Howard Berger: Could Coyotes Howl North of Toronto?
- hberger

Naw... won't happen. The Toronto media couldn't handle the pressure of making up senseless stories about two teams, all the those phone calls to the parents and families of the players... gawd... the media would be overtaxed by the sheer effort of keeping all the conspiracies and storylines straight.



Howard, if the Leafs were playing at the Markham/Unionville Coyotes... would you be able to go... it would after all be a road game? Or would you just stay home and dream up stories based on seeing a quick in-game segment of Carlyle shouting to Luke Schenn?

Howard Berger: Could Coyotes Howl North of Toronto?
- hberger

Like you said Howard - this is just pure speculation.

If the Leafs were smart they'd welcome the local competition - it might hurt them short term with profit shrinkage - which I would guess to be only minor, and focus on using the transition into their geography as a means to improve their club. Look for concessions from the new clubs ownership, perhaps a first round draft pick or two, or a couple of roster players.

I think the two biggest questions that would need to be addressed if the Coyotes relocate to either Quebec City or to the GTA is divisional realignment.

I would suggest moving Boston out of the northeast and into a division with NYR, NYI/Hartford, NJ, and Philly. Pittsburgh moves to the Central with Detroit, Columbus, St. Louis & Nashville.

Boston
NYR
NYI/Hartford
NJ
Philly

Carolina
Florida
Nashville
Tampa
Washington

Chicago
Columbus
Detroit
Pittsburgh
St. Louis

Buffalo
Montreal
Ottawa
Toronto
GTA/QuebecCity

Calgary
Edmonton
Winnipeg
Vancouver
Minnesota

Colorado
Dallas
Los Angeles
San Jose
Anaheim

Toronto with 2 professional sports teams named The Roadrunners and the Coyotes LOL

What's up Doc

of course

better skate harder next game!

Howard Berger: Could Coyotes Howl North of Toronto?
- hberger

As a fan, I don't see a problem with it at all. The area can clearly support two franchises. Hey, there are 3 franchises within 2 hours of NYC... and it's a much weaker 'hockey specific' market. And I welcome the rivalry.

However, I think the elephant in the room here -- paradoxically, mind you -- is if it did happen, this new GTA team would instantly become one of the top 5 most profitable franchises in the NHL.

Now, you'd think this would be a GOOD thing, but it would basically expose Bettman's strategy over past 20 years as completely wrong. It would be tantamount to admitting failure. In fact, it would be worse than admitting failure, because it would demonstrate incompetence at the highest level of management.

The key to growth, in any business, isn't high-risk expansion into foreign marketplaces without first maxing out your current base. It's just plain illogical. But Bettman's NHL has suffered from an inferiority complex -- and has managed the league that way. He wanted to take the US market so badly, he threw caution to the wind -- at the expense of the overall quality of the league -- and put franchises where they were obviously doomed to fail.

If one more franchise moves to Canada, he should be be forced to resign.

Of course they could we need it badly I think then move a florida team to Hamilton.