HockeyBuzz Hotstove: The Hotstove: Canadian Expansion Coming?

No because the isles are due another top 5 picks and the 2 team expansion would take away from that

Lol jk, the more the merrier !

HockeyBuzz Hotstove: The Hotstove: Canadian Expansion Coming?
- Travis.Yost

Yes.

The owners will likely get between $800M and $1B dollars to split between them for the two expansion teams in Toronto and Quebec City.

Once that is decided, other teams will be relocated to areas like Seattle, but not before the expansion is announced.

The NHL will wait til CBA is nailed down, and I expect some NHL feedback on this in the spring.

yes....but i dont see how Toronto is gonna get a 2nd team before there's one in Seattle...so i'd say Seattle and Quebec make the most sense immediately

yes....but i dont see how Toronto is gonna get a 2nd team before there's one in Seattle...so i'd say Seattle and Quebec make the most sense immediately
- Habitants98

Maybe because Toronto is BY FAR the world's biggest, most lucrative and sustainable hockey market? Seattle's fine city with the potential for a great natural rivalry with Vancouver, but all of that's peanuts compared to the limitless ATM that another team in Toronto would be for the NHL.

They should consider relocation before expansion. There are a certain number of teams that just do not belong where they are and the longer the league tries to prop them up, the longer the NHL will bleed because of it. I'm looking at you Phoenix and Florida. Relocate those two teams to better markets and stabilize the league.

HockeyBuzz Hotstove: The Hotstove: Canadian Expansion Coming?
- Travis.Yost

[obligatoryjoke] Wouldn't they need a first team in Toronto before they could add a second? [/obligatoryjoke]

With that out of the way, absolutely. I'd prefer it if the announcement of the two expansion franchises came in conjunction with the announcement of the Coyotes' move to Seattle, and possibly one or two other moves, but absolutely the NHL should have more Canadian/northern franchises. Put teams in a position to succeed, and enjoy their success; don't put them in a position to fail and then bemoan their failure.

[obligatoryjoke] Wouldn't they need a first team in Toronto before they could add a second?
- dilbert719[/obligatoryjoke]

With that out of the way, absolutely. I'd prefer it if the announcement of the two expansion franchises came in conjunction with the announcement of the Coyotes' move to Seattle, and possibly one or two other moves, but absolutely the NHL should have more Canadian/northern franchises. Put teams in a position to succeed, and enjoy their success; don't put them in a position to fail and then bemoan their failure.

Florida to Quebec City.
Phoenix to Seattle.

Yes. Because I cannot wait to see some Leafs fans jump to the new team, and then turn on remaining leafs fans.

It will be flame war gold.

Yes. Because I cannot wait to see some Leafs fans jump to the new team, and then turn on remaining leafs fans.

It will be flame war gold.
- Talkshowhost

wouldn't matter ... Maple Leafs or Toros - you pick. ... both fan bases would despise Ottawa more in any case... because all Senaturds fans are just indecisive fans who flip flopped between Toronto or Montreal..... teams really isn't Ottawa anyway ... I believe the name should be the Kanata Wafflers or perhaps Choke.

Florida to Quebec City.
Phoenix to Seattle.
- Two_For_Truth

and relocate the league offices to Toronto as well... ditch Bettman and insist that any commissioner going forward is
a) taller than 5'2"
b) a former player or coach
c) gives Bettman the rights to the Pheonix franchise... and see how quickly he agrees to move it somewhere that might make money
d) able to keep the Owner's kids off the stage at the draft

wouldn't matter ... Maple Leafs or Toros - you pick. ... both fan bases would despise Ottawa more in any case... because all Senaturds fans are just indecisive fans who flip flopped between Toronto or Montreal..... teams really isn't Ottawa anyway ... I believe the name should be the Kanata Wafflers or perhaps Choke.

- BorjeFan4Ever

How original.

And, there is a whole demographic of young adults now who had been fans from a very young age.

No.. relocate broke franchises here first.

Some more teams in Canada makes sense, but expansion with in a league with a number of struggling teams doesn't. Another vote for relocation instead of expansion.

No.. relocate broke franchises here first.
- sensfan1984

Ditto.

Everyone agrees Canada is due more teams, but with all the talk over weak franchises pulling revs down coupled with talent dilution, relocation seems by far they way to go first.

EDIT: Or I should say weak earners sapping revs via rev sharing, etc.

Maybe because Toronto is BY FAR the world's biggest, most lucrative and sustainable hockey market? Seattle's fine city with the potential for a great natural rivalry with Vancouver, but all of that's peanuts compared to the limitless ATM that another team in Toronto would be for the NHL.
- oniremosewa

yeah except ur not screwin over buffalo if u go with seattle and ur still getting a packed BIG american city

No expansion- I personally think the Islanders will go to Brooklyn when it is all said and done, but there are plenty of other teams that would probably be better off in Canada. No need to further dilute the talent pool, in my opinion...

yeah except ur not screwin over buffalo if u go with seattle and ur still getting a packed BIG american city
- Habitants98

A second team in Toronto wouldn't screw Buffalo. A team in Hamilton or Kitchener would to some degree, but not in Toronto proper, or say, Markham.

GTA's roughly 8 million people, 95% of whom are hockey fans. Greater Seattle's population is 3.5 million, and maybe - MAYBE - half of them are hockey fans. Plus Toronto is a broadcasting and corporate hub with exponentially more lucrative television and endorsement deals. The two cities don't even compare.

A second team in Toronto wouldn't screw Buffalo. A team in Hamilton or Kitchener would to some degree, but not in Toronto proper, or say, Markham.

GTA's roughly 8 million people, 95% of whom are hockey fans. Greater Seattle's population is 3.5 million, and maybe - MAYBE - half of them are hockey fans. Plus Toronto is a broadcasting and corporate hub with exponentially more lucrative television and endorsement deals. The two cities don't even compare.
- oniremosewa

Any team remotely close to Toronto would have serious barriers to deal with, namely, MLSE. I see the Leafs, being as bad as they are, putting up a huge fight against another team in Toronto. It's tough for the Leafs to run their oligopoly if there is another team in town.

As much sense as it makes for the NHL and to use common folk, it's a threat MLSE would fight vehemently.

Any team remotely close to Toronto would have serious barriers to deal with, namely, MLSE. I see the Leafs, being as bad as they are, putting up a huge fight against another team in Toronto. It's tough for the Leafs to run their oligopoly if there is another team in town.

As much sense as it makes for the NHL and to use common folk, it's a threat MLSE would fight vehemently.
- Two_For_Truth

That I can't argue. But nothing gets MLSE's vagine moist like cash. If the NHL left the right amount of money on the dresser, I think it could happen.

That I can't argue. But nothing gets MLSE's vagine moist like cash. If the NHL left the right amount of money on the dresser, I think it could happen.
- oniremosewa

That means a huge portion of the franchise fee, if not the whole thing, and probably long term royalties.

I don`t believe expansion will better the NHL, this means that you will have 40 or so more players not currently playing at an NHL level (yes i know, nobody is), thus resulting in watering down the talent. I still believe the answer is relocation.

I understand and would like more Canadian teams as much as anyone, but if it meant the result would be watering down the talent within the league, I am not for it.

I don`t believe expansion will better the NHL, this means that you will have 40 or so more players not currently playing at an NHL level (yes i know, nobody is), thus resulting in watering down the talent. I still believe the answer is relocation.

I understand and would like more Canadian teams as much as anyone, but if it meant the result would be watering down the talent within the league, I am not for it.
- leafer91

Every year that passes, teams get better and better at finding and developing talent. Adding two teams would cause problems but watering down the talent pool isn't one of them.

A second team in Toronto wouldn't screw Buffalo. A team in Hamilton or Kitchener would to some degree, but not in Toronto proper, or say, Markham.

GTA's roughly 8 million people, 95% of whom are hockey fans. Greater Seattle's population is 3.5 million, and maybe - MAYBE - half of them are hockey fans. Plus Toronto is a broadcasting and corporate hub with exponentially more lucrative television and endorsement deals. The two cities don't even compare.
- oniremosewa

Your point stands but those numbers are (frank)ing insane.