Here We Go Again

It's been pretty evident for more than a year now that the NHL, despite its denials, is looking to expand to 32 teams from 30.

Despite all the damage done by recklessly adding nine teams in nine years from 1991 to 2000, the quick cash grab that is expansion has always been irresistible to the league and its owners.

Over the past week, there's been a lot of chatter about imminent expansion, likely to Kansas City - which has a brand new arena but failed to lure the Pittsburgh Penguins - and Las Vegas, which has no pro sports team. Yet.

Today, SportsBusiness Daily reported that the NHL has confirmed it has "been in discussions" with film and television producer Jerry Bruckheimer about a team in Vegas. Bruckheimer is a hockey fan and has been around and about the NHL scene for a while now. The story suggests that AEG, which owns the L.A. Kings and has built the arena in K.C., would also be involved in building a rink for the new team in Nevada.

Isn't this all nice and cozy?

At the same time, of course, there's the business of Jim Balsillie buying the Nashville Predators, likely with the intent of moving them to southern Ontario. The deal is set to close June 30, but both sides are trying to make it happen before that date.

Today, the National Post reported that Canada's Competition Bureau has notified the NHL that it intends to examine the league's relocation policies in regards to territorial infringement by one team upon another. There has been speculation that Balsillie has already acquired legal opinions suggesting that he could fight the current rules which would force him to compensate both Toronto and Buffalo if he moved the Preds to within 50 miles of either team.

So we have Vegas, we have K.C., and we have Balsillie ticking off the NHL brass a little more every day.

Fact is, of course, that Balsillie's $220 million offer to buy the Preds becomes a little more crucial to the league if it wants to ask for an exorbitant expansion fee, perhaps $150 million or more.

Would the NHL governors be more willing to accept a second team in southern Ontario if new teams were added in K.C. and Nevada? Could the compensation issue be somehow linked to expansion, as it was when L.A. owner Bruce McNall received half the $50 million expansion fee when the Mighty Ducks moved into Anaheim?

Could the dreadful concept of NHL expansion, and the obvious dilution of talent it would produce, actually be good news for Canadian fans if it means a seventh Canadian team?

This story grows more intriguing and complicated by the hour.

Comments

[Lee]

Of course the NHL wants to expand. They're not stupid. The post-strike new life for the NHL will expire soon and they're gonna need $$$. Apart from the fact that the NHL is about to enter an economic freefall, where's the talent gonna come from? There are easily 100 or so players that do not deserve to be in the NHL, but are still there (and some making a 7 digit salary). Unless there is some undiscovered talent roaming in the Congo or Burkina Faso, the NHL will start looking more and more like a Triple AAA type league...

[Jim Boyd]

Sometimes in life there are things you just don't care about anymore, and for me, the NHL and whatever it does, is one of them.

I still follow the game only for the enjoyment of participating in the various hockey pools. (And I might get excited if Les Habitants should ever give it a run again)
Otherwise they can expand, go on strike, close down for a season or two, whatever.

How smart is it to collect the big bucks from expansion, then a few years later, close down 4-5 teams? I guess the better question is, who are the idiots that want to pay expansion fees, when there just has to be a few existing teams for sale down the road? Some with players of proven talent.

Or are we the fans the idiots for believing anything that Bettman and the owners said during the lockout about $$ woes and all the other crap they threw at us.

Salary cap my butt!!

[deafcat]

If they can't put a another team in Ontario, then they should be trying to put one in Winnipeg or Quebec City.

After all, Minnesota and Colorado have had two teams since the 1980s.

It's time for one of our Canadian Cities to get a second chance.

[Eric McMurtry]

I think there are too many teams today. This is true for people in my age category, of course, and that's no surprise, but I think it's also true for the young ones and the ones to come after them. That's why it's a critical issue worth discussing right now, I think.

Expansion can't go on forever. You still only have one Stanley Cup winner per year. Think about it now: If you were to distribute Cups evenly, it would take 30 years for everyone to get one. And in Toronto, we're already complaining like dogs because the Leafs haven't won in 40!!! Everyone'll be complaining like that soon. And that's assuming perfect parity- what happens when the real world decides to play a hand in all this? "175 years since Columbus last won the Cup..."???

I know, it's one thing to think that far into the future. Maybe that's being TOO paranoid. But it's quite another to be as shortsighted as it seems the NHL has been of late and make meaningful decisions on the basis of barely squeezing into tomorrow. At some point that approach/strategy will backfire. And given the awful shape in which the league finds itself today, it might happen sooner than later.

In my opinion, this league (and maybe pro sports in general- but certainly the NHL) would do well to find some leaders who can take some steps back and make small sacrifices today for a better future. Expansion is no longer a solution of any kind- it's just more procrastination. Even $150 mil expansion fees carry with them only immediate aid- whereas the league will have to pay for such mistakes for a much longer time (forever?).

It's symptomatic of the "tunnel vision" world we live in today, I guess. That's too bad. I hope we can find some leaders to right the ship soon- or it may go down.

[Rene]

It would be interesting if Balsillie is looking to challenge the draconian 50 mile territory rule. Buffalo should not be depending on Canadians to keep their team alive and likewise people in the GTA should not have to pay an arm and a leg to see another year of futility brought to you by MLSE.

BRING BACK THE TIGERS!!!!

[Shawn]

Canada needs another Canadian NHL team; Canadians love hockey, and hockey loves Canada!

The only thing I find wrong with Balsillie's intention to bring another team to Canada is the location he's looking at. Now, I'm from Prince Edward Island, and I'm a huge Leafs fan (I know, I know), but I still think this is the perfect opportunity for the Jets to come back to Winnipeg, and I'm pretty sure the residents there would agree with me.

[David Robb]

Yes a seventh team benefits Canada greatly. With Canadians in the NHL there will more of a chance that the cup will actaully get come home once and while. A second team in southern ontario might actually force the Toronto Maples Leafs to actually play and win games and maybe get into play off and out of last place.

Yes the US is a big market for hockey but its a weak market and the Canadian fans that have always been in the game deserve to have Canadian team, not just Canadians playing in American teams.

[Adam C]

Please, no expansion! We're finally getting back to the point where good teams have more than just one good line. Expansion is guaranteed to drop scoring. I doubt it's necessary, either, as I can't see the league as being capable of stopping Balsillie from moving to Canada if he wants to.

The 'territory infringement' issue is an interesting one, though. In the current state of the NHL, the only city in the world affected by the rule is Hamilton - it's not like anyone would be jumping at the chance to put another team in Chicago or Dallas. Doesn't seem very fair...

[chris]

NHL expansion is a terrible, horrible idea ,no question. But if a Canadian city is involved, it is then a fabulously terrific idea?

It doesn't matter if Kitchener/Waterloo, Hamilton, Winnipeg, and/or Quebec City are given franchises, no hockey fan can be thrilled about this latest, blatant cash grab by the NHL. The league has hit rock bottom and is continuing to sink.

[Gareth P]

The decisions made by the NHL brass continue to confound, and lead me to believe the league is being run by a gang of roller-skating chimps.

If Bettman had half a brain cell left, he would realize that the majority of the league's current TV ratings and revenue come from Canada, and a hand full of US markets. What this league needs is to contract and shed some of the dead weight. Competition would increase and as a result so would fan interest in the markets that actually generate revenue...which they can now look forward to sharing with two new teams in about 5 years when the novelty of hockey in those markets wears off.

Well done NHL!

[Cynthia]

Why are they expanding into non-hockey markets in the US? If they're to have more teams in the US, it should be in places like Wisconsin or Vermont, where it's actually cold enough and people actually play the game.

[Gary Mawson]

It's already been shown that the Americans for the most part won't support hockey.Let's add Canadian teams in fact let's have our own league.Most of the TV revenue comes from Canadian viewers and there are cities here that would love to have a team and support it.The last thing we need is to water down the caliber of hockey any further.

[Charles McCarroll]

Damien ,

Uhmmm The Las Vegas Wranglers ECHL pro hockey team for the 3 pastm are entertaining hockey fans there...prior to that it was the Las Vegas Thunder of the IHL (remember who CUJO played for during his NHL haitus ?

Shame on you !

[Stephen]

We need less teams, not more. Period. A higher density of talent can only improve the game.

[Anthony Verna]

I just don't see how adding teams can help the NHL. If Nashville cannot support a team, then I guess the team needs to move, but adding more players who should be in the AHL does not seem to be a solution to attract fans to the sport.

[Dan Rawlings]

Well Kansas City never lasted too long the last time they had a team and it was called the Kansas City Chiefs who later moved to Denver and are now New Jersey.

The NHL will not work in Vegas either.

NBC had record low viewers for Finals on Monday and other than Seattle and Maybe Portland Oregon their are no more US Markets that may support NHL.

Bring back the Jets and Give Saskatoon a team.

[Rob McNamara]

What third team in Ontario? There's Ottawa and... If Balsilie wants a team in Ontario he should be required to switch rosters with Toronto as territorial compensation. Maple Leaf ownership will never build a team because they have never drafted, coached, or generally managed well enough. Too cheap. There is no salary cap on scouts, player personnel people, general managers, coaches. Do the Leafs have the best in those categories? Name 5 players the Leafs ever drafted and kept that were or are NHLers. Name five they drafted and traded who became NHLers. The latter should not be aesier!

[Adam]

The NHL does not need to expand eh! Here is my suggestions for a better NHL.Get rid of the "instigator" rule complete madness ! This is not Polo it is Hockey.

In the USA get on ESPN again, not VS The VS network is like watching 50 cent hockey coverage eh

Relocation

Toronto gets another team- Yes GTA Toronto. It has the population base and corporate support. (Florida Panthers)

Seattle gets a Hockey Team- Far enough from Vancouver and full of corporate support (Nashville)
The only other city I could see have a team relocate to would be Milwaukee..

I left our Quebec City/Ville de Québec, and the Peg for the simple reason that with both cities having Metro Populations less then 750,000 each, each city population base is still to small to support a team without a huge national TV contract in the USA.

My thoughts EH

[Luke Welch]

I don't think the league would or should consider expansion before they consider re-location. There are a number of teams - ie. St. Louis, Florida, Nashville (obviously), Washington, Columbus, Phoenix, and (up until recently] Pittsburgh - that have continued to struggle to bring in fans. I hope Gary Bettman thinks about how many teams are generating such little interest and revenue before considering watering the league down further.
The GTA (Hamilton?) could easily handle another Canadian hockey club and it would put some pressure on the Leafs to FINALLY ice a legitimate contender!

[JS]

Put me in coach! 44 is not too old in the NEW NHL!

[OddyOh]

Please bring a team to Canada, I don't care where. Please do not expand, there's hardly enough talent to go around as it is. 24 Teams, playing a 50 game season, plenty of revenue for everyone! Oh, and the salary cap needs to climb back down to $40 million...if it jumps to $52 next year, get ready for lockout number 3!

[Leigh-Ann]

As a Canadian living in Las Vegas, I'd be thrilled to have a team here. The local ECHL franchise has great fan support (thanks to excellent marketing and a wonderful arena), and the annual NHL pre-season game which is played here is always quickly sold out (with tickets selling for as much as a couple of hundred dollars). Locally, an NHL team in Vegas would probably have a solid fan base of about 8,000 - 10,000 people, but the tourist business would be phenomenal if the arena was located near the Strip. I really think a team here would be quite successful, even if 50% of the support is coming from visitors.

[Chris]

I regret to say I'm still somewhat of a Leafs fan, but I can't wait until Jim B. brings another team for me to cheer for. I attend Leafs games fairly regularly for work reasons, but I would love to have an NHL team nearby that I could really et behind, cheer for, buy tickets for less than $500 for nosebleeds, and take my son to.

Plus, since Jon Ferguson Jr. continues to be inexplicably employed by the Leafs (Antropov for $2 Mill plus per year?????), we can probably be assured he won't be allowed near the new Kitchener/Hamilton franchise so there will likely be some reasonable talent and hockey acumen around their hockey decisions.

Please Jimmy B - give me something local I can cheer for! I'm sick of missed playoffs, overpayed mediocre talent, and poor management decisions..

[Thane]

Damien, what do you mean 'Las Vegas, which has no pro sports team. Yet.'?

Shouldn't that 'yet' be an 'any more'? Or are you forgetting about the legendary Las Vegas Posse?

[Gordon Steadmanj]

The old Kansas team was called the Scouts, not the Chiefs. I believe the Chiefs were a fictional team with Paul Newman.