Thanks But No Thanks

Since 1967, NHL expansion has brought little to Canada, the game's heartland.

Well, except for six more Canadian-based teams, which would be more exciting if two of them hadn't been later hijacked by U.S. cities. Jobs for Canadians, too, have multiplied, from the 120 or so that existed almost exclusively for Canadian hockey players 40 years ago.

But in terms of Joe Fan, expansion has generally meant a dilution of the product, and created only a small group of non-Original Six U.S. cities that have significant relevance to the sport.

Philadelphia. Pittsburgh. Buffalo. Perhaps Colorado.

The rest? They've provided variety, I guess. But any one of the other American 16 born since '67 could disappear forever and not a Canadian tear would be seen.

Some of them - are you listening Nashville? - probably will disappear forever. In fact, the financial crunch being felt across the continent should be particularly unnerving to Canadian hockey fans in that, quite possibly, it may hasten yet another round of expansion.

Easy bucks, you see. And this time in Europe.

STAR PHOTO

Eugene Melnyk.

Now if you thoroughly enjoyed every second of the four games held in Prague and Stockholm on the weekend and couldn't imagine that the excitement could have been greater had they been held on North American soil, then Eugene Melnyk wants you.

The Ottawa owner believes Euro-expansion is "happening and it's going to happen."

Melnyk told reporters "it's just a matter of time."

"I am committed that my vote is in for European expansion," he said.

Interesting. Melnyk, arguably, saved hockey for Ottawa, but one must wonder?

What would adding NHL teams in Europe possibly do for the Ottawa hockey fan other than dilute the product? After all, we've already got their best players skating over here.

Having already lost one visit from Sidney Crosby this season through this year's pointless Euro-tour, Ottawa fans would be hard-pressed to imagine the benefits of having teams in Bern, Stockholm, Prague, Paris or Helsinki.

Ditto for fans in Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Edmonton and Calgary.

Now expansion fees, that's a different deal, and that's probably what Melnyk sniffs, and what might indeed interest a variety of NHL owners experiencing the shorts these days.

Gary Bettman keeps saying no, no, no, that expansion is not on the horizon. But now we have an influential owner saying yes, yes, yes.

From six to 12 to 14 to 16 to 18 to 21 to 22 to 24 to 26 to 30, the number of teams have relentlessly multiplied since '67 despite the fact pretty much everyone agrees the league would be so much stronger and more exciting with no more than 24.

Now what would Melnyk want it to be? At least 34, one would have to imagine, and probably something more along the lines of 40.

People keep saying Euro-expansion is going to happen, that there would be great benefits to being the first major sport to go full time across the Atlantic.

Still can't imagine what Joe Fan in the Great White North would get out of it.

Comments

[chris]

I can't imagine what European hockey fans would get out of it. Are they willing to invest heavily in a league that plays more than twice the amount of games that they're used to seeing at prices per game far more exuberant than they're used to paying? How much in expenses will eat up all team's budgets? And are there enough European cities that would be deemed actual hockey markets to justify this plan? Would the NHL dare add a team in Moscow at a time Russia, under Putin, is showing signs of its old Soviet style dictatorial governing? And isn't London, Paris and Berlin translated into Nashville, Phoenix and Florida, hockey wise?

And are European hockey fans going to embrace the rough, tough, physical and violent style of hockey that Don Cherry pimps and many Canadians swear by, yet is rejected outright outside of North America?

I've never seen why so many so-called experts think NHL expansion into Europe is a sure fire winner. There's too many question that either have insufficient answers or no answers at all. Without the proper vision, this overseas idea will have fail written all over it. And we all know that, when it comes to vision, the NHL is long in need of bifocals.

[OddyOh]

Bettman has never considered what Canadian NHL fans want to see in our product. He owes us his job, but he'll never show a grain of respect to the country that made him famous.

I'm dying to see what sort of schedule the NHL dreams up for European teams. Eastern based teams already complain when they have to road trip out to Phoenix...can you imagine teams flying to Europe every few weeks? Or will it be a Euro-only expansion, so 30 teams over there that basically have their own league, and then the top team from each league play for the Stanley Cup? Even the travel for the Stanley Cup round would be ridiculous!

You're right though, it's more about the greedy owners who love endorsing Bettman's "get richer quick" schemes. Unacceptable. This is the dumbest thing I'll ever hear of in my life.

[J. Boyd]

Couldn't agree more.

If expanding to Europe is the only way to save hockey, then that is what will happen. But like the US expansion, it broadens the exposure, but doesn't necessarily increase the overall exposure or the intensify the interest. (if that makes sense).

Like going to the southern US - I rarely see those teams, therefore have no interest in them. In fact unless the game involves the northeast division, I never watch,(just check for pool stats) and I am a hockey fan.

I think it is a "be careful what you ask for",,,,I can see the the new Euopean markets taking off, but only at the expense of a further decline in southern US. I don't think the NHL can have both. Phoenix at home to Prague,,,,,good luck with that.

[Linky]

Please add St. Louis to that list. No Cups but three appearances in the finals when the West sent a rep in 68,69 and 70. They made the playoffs for about 234 years in a row and the market has been stable at worst, excellent at best. To lump St. Louis in with Washington, the Islanders, Kings, etc. is off base.

[Paul Giardina]

The Europe idea is bad. They can't handle what they currently have. As for the tour, the Lightning tried to put a happy face on it by citing "togetherness" for the new players. In reality, it prevented Lecavalier from playing against NHL teams in his short preseason. The team should have been working in their new arena. I also thought that the ice was not good in their two games with the rangers.

[neil no more last name]

There will be no expansion to Europe anywhere in the near future, regardless of what Melnyk says.

Current economics call for possible re-location of teams, but not explansion. I don't think it's any more feasible to have a team in Stockholm, Prague, etc...than it is to have in Nashville. Nevermind the logistics.

Re-location to stronger markets in N.America, if anything.

[bobs your uncle]

this will never happen! Cox is justing trying to start a stupid debate.
NHL owners are idiots, but not quite this stupid!

nice try Damien...

[Dan S]

What for?! I don't get it! We don't need to expand anywhere but back to freakin' Canada! And hell, has Bettman ever thought, if one of those European teams happen to offer his golden boy Crosby a massive contract (when his contract happens to expire one year) and he leaves North America? Pittsburgh might as well start packing it up. We need to keep the teams and talent in NA. Expansion to Europe... tell that to the good people in Quebec and Winnipeg.

[I.J.B.]

Couldn't agree more with what Mr. Cox said. I'v always thought that less is more in the NHL's case. Less teams, less players who aren't skilled enough to play in this league = more excitement and more value the fans get in watching our great game of hockey

[Marc]

I´m from europe and I´m watching the NHL all my life, I´m not interested in the european leagues. Why? because it happens to be that that the best players exclusively play in the NHL, the NHL has the best product, the graetest history, the NHL defines hockey. My perfect hockey world would be the NHL, the world championships every four years and the olympics, all three showcasing the best players. I would get rid off this so called worldchampionships if your not able to bring the best talent to this event. How about the soccer world cup, every year but no players from the premier league and the spanish primera division, what kind of world champion that would be. Under those crcumstances I don´t think the soccer world cup would get the exposure it gets now. For hockey to market their sports more globaly I think that´s the key, lesser events, best players. Having said that I´m wondering what would the european expansion of the NHL bring to us fans overseas, I really don´t see the benefit, although it would be great to be part of the NHL and not only looking from the outside. But most of us have picked their favorite teams through their favourite players, that wouldn´t change if there would be teams in europe, Prague is also far away. But I do think that expansion would work, not in Paris, London, Berlin or Zurich but in Stockholm, Göteborg, Helsinki, Prague, Bratislava, Moscow, St Petersburg. As Ken Dryden once put it, you don´t have to be Canadian to love hockey, but you have to live a canadian life of ice and snow. So get rid off the southern US teams, get the Jets and Nordiques back, move to Hamilton and expand to the hockey hotbeds in Europe an your game will be just fine.
regards Marc Freiburg, Germany

[FRT]

Hmmm...by the number of EMPTY SEATS I seen on the TV coverage of the opening games from Europe...it doesn't seem that there is much interest in the NHL playing there! Listen...if the NFL which is the most successful, financial viable pro sports league on earth couldn't make a go of it in Europe, disbanding the league because of poor attendance...then believe me, the NHL has ZERO chance of making it a go...unless of course they will enjoy LOSING MORE MONEY!

[Max]

The NHL should expand more in Canada before even thinking of expanding to europe.

[Anonymous]

Relocate a sunbelt team to WINNIPEG.

That should be a main priority for the NHL right now.

[CelicaCrazed]

I rather just a shortened NHL schedule with an international tournament at the end of the season with all the top club teams.

[chris]

"this will never happen! Cox is justing trying to start a stupid debate.
NHL owners are idiots, but not quite this stupid!

nice try Damien..."

This is an topic worthy of debating, bobs your uncle. Don't try and dismiss it frivolously just because you don't like Damien.

And never, ever underestimate how stupid NHL owners are.

[Johnnyk]

The NHL dumbos missed the Euro boat a long, long time ago. They should have flogged franchises in Europe before expanding into the hockey hotbeds of Phoenix, Anaheim, Carolina, Tampa, Buttfuck Falls etc etc.
12 teams in North America (original 6 + Philly, Buffalo, Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, maybe Minny or Ottawa) plus 12 Euro teams.
Two big road trips across the pond each season and a true World Cup of Hockey.
And, Buttman are you paying attention, MASSIVE TV revenues.
There's plenty of talent for 24 teams but not for however many there are now plus a Russian leagure coming along.