NHL going to Vegas, baby

http://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/2008/10/06/nhl_awards/

... not expansion or relocation though... yet. They are looking into having the city host the NHL awards though. That would eb a start. I'm not opposed to a franchise relocatiing there, like Atlanta or Nashville.

Expansion would work too, so long as they add at leats one more Canadian team. Though 32 teams might be too much?

That would be pretty nuts... a vegas team lol, but its true about that question.. is 32 teams too much? it would be nice to have another canadian team but i really think that the only city that might be able to have a team in canada would be winnipeg...

Mosky wrote:That would be pretty nuts... a vegas team lol, but its true about that question.. is 32 teams too much? it would be nice to have another canadian team but i really think that the only city that might be able to have a team in canada would be winnipeg...

They're talking about moving one of the existing teams that suck with attendance there (Nashville, Long Island, Phoenix, Atlanta, Florida) - take your pick, they all suck.

Quebec City could probably handle it as well.

I think they should focus on relocating the hurting franchises first. Prime candidates IMO are Nashville, Atlanta, and Florida. Not sure about Phoenix' success. Wasn't Washington also on the bottom of revenue?

I still think that by 2009 - 2010, Balsillie will own an NHL team and either Winnipeg or possibly even Kitchener or Halifax will have a team located or relocated there...

The front runner being Winnipeg. The people there are STARVING for the NHL to make a comeback and return.

Yeah but Washington has AO... so they have to be drawing somewhat more now than before... Quebec city could, but I just haven't heard of them at all wanting a team back.. i think the population is there but just not the interest. I was watching sportsnet a couple of weeks back and they had someone talking about bringing a team back to winnipeg, don't remember who it was but it was a former nhl player... i think it would be good to have atleast one team in the prairies lol

Cronenbergfan wrote:I still think that by 2009 - 2010, Balsillie will own an NHL team and either Winnipeg or possibly even Kitchener or Halifax will have a team located or relocated there...

The front runner being Winnipeg. The people there are STARVING for the NHL to make a comeback and return.

Winnipeg has too many problems for an NHL team to return... plus the arena they just built is too small...

you're right about that arena and the issues, but a new owner could take care of the arena.

As for the other issues, I'm not too sure or clear as to what they are, but I know it could work.

Quebec city would make sense to me, in a way, but for some reason, I don't see it happening. Also, if the rumor is true that they have a hard enough time recruiting players to the habs due to Quebec's tax laws, one more franchise in "la Belle province" would prove just as challenging, no?

Yeah, they really have supported Phoenix when they've held pre-season games there. They need a bigger building though, from what people say.

I'd like to see Halifax get a team, would cover most of the Maritimes, huge student base, tourism, etc.

Cronenbergfan wrote:you're right about that arena and the issues, but a new owner could take care of the arena.

As for the other issues, I'm not too sure or clear as to what they are, but I know it could work.

Quebec city would make sense to me, in a way, but for some reason, I don't see it happening. Also, if the rumor is true that they have a hard enough time recruiting players to the habs due to Quebec's tax laws, one more franchise in "la Belle province" would prove just as challenging, no?

if not worse...

Mosky wrote:Yeah but Washington has AO... so they have to be drawing somewhat more now than before...

They've had him for a while now and it hasn't helped. And they are spending to the cap. I think despite all that they are suffering quite a bit. Any Canaidan team would love to have Alexander the Gr8.

DashRiprock wrote:

Mosky wrote:Yeah but Washington has AO... so they have to be drawing somewhat more now than before...

They've had him for a while now and it hasn't helped. And they are spending to the cap. I think despite all that they are suffering quite a bit. Any Canaidan team would love to have Alexander the Gr8.

Ottawa...? :drunken: lol

Well, yes, but I meant relocating the team to a Canadian city... any of which would be more successful than those failing American ones.

Cronenbergfan wrote:you're right about that arena and the issues, but a new owner could take care of the arena.

As for the other issues, I'm not too sure or clear as to what they are, but I know it could work.

Quebec city would make sense to me, in a way, but for some reason, I don't see it happening. Also, if the rumor is true that they have a hard enough time recruiting players to the habs due to Quebec's tax laws, one more franchise in "la Belle province" would prove just as challenging, no?

yeah it would... it's too bad because it would be great for hockey to go back there... very passionate and smart hockey fans up there...

DashRiprock wrote:Yeah, they really have supported Phoenix when they've held pre-season games there. They need a bigger building though, from what people say.

I'd like to see Halifax get a team, would cover most of the Maritimes, huge student base, tourism, etc.

I'd love to see a team in Halifax, but i'm not so sure it would work... Students don't really have the money to support an NHL team, and tourism in the winter isn't that great in the maritimes... They would also need to build another arena.. I'd love to see it happen as I have lots of family down there, but i just have a hard time imagining it working...