All-purpose hockey thread...

I would have loved to see a franchise back in Hartford, but getting one back in Canada is just as good.

 

Penguins won't move to Canada, though. Canada can have any team it wants -- except the Penguins.

 

I know Winnipeg is always being talked about, but I see two big problems. First is the seating capacity of their brand new arena, it currently only has a capacity of 13,769, which would make it the smallest rink in the NHL by about 3,000 seats. Unless the building is upgradeable to about 17,000 to 18,500, you just cannot financially support an NHL team, even in this day and age, with a bilding that size. The second problem I see, even if they can upgrade the building, can Winnipeggers affoard and average of $75 to $100 a ticket for 41 games a year for the long term? Last time I checked Winnipeg wasn't exactly a city on the economic rise like and Edmonton, Calgary, Vancouver, or Toronto. I would love to see the NHL back in Winnipeg, but I really don't think it is viable.

 

I thought Hamilton was the destination all along?

 

Is anyone else already tired of the incoeherent TIe Domi on TSN's pannel? He's almost enough for me to want to switch back to Sportsnet's pannel. I can't stand him and his poorly worded rants with no base or factual foundation.

 

I heard Hamilton as well, but there are big issues there interms of territorial rights with Toronto and Buffalo.

 

Hamilton?
Look, I was born there, my dad worked in the steel mills there, and after all these years am still a huge Ticat fan and Hamilton apologist.

But c'mon, most of Hamilton is an armpit and has been since their heavy industry base melted down. Parts of it look like a third world country.

Besides, I think there'd be issues with Buffalo and to a lesser extent, Toronto. You'd have more success if you put a franchise in RIM's hometown, Kitchener-Waterloo. Lots of bucks there.

Winnipeg and Quebec City should get back their franchises followed by Halifax.

 

I'd love to see Quebec get a franchise back........it's crazy how few teams are still in Canada, I hate that. And Halifax and the Maritimes would be in heaven if they ever got an NHL team, but I have a hard time picturing a team in the Maritimes.

 

I agree with you about Hamilton – and I've really only seen the airport – but they are always brought up when it comes to expansion or a franchise relocating.

 

It would be great to see a team in the Maritimes, but could they affoard it?

 

Nice piece on Shanahan in todays Times:

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/05/sports/hockey/05rangers.html?ref=sports

I suspect New York will love this guy.

He believes he can help the Rangers improve on last year’s improvements — they made the playoffs for the first time in nine years, but were swept in the first round — and strives to become a real part of the city. He moved his family to the Upper West Side a few weeks before training camp, walks his children to school and plans to ride the subway to home games.

“I think it gives you an advantage if you identify with a city and you feel part of that city,” Shanahan said. “It’s more personal. We’re not the kind of family that gets up in our apartment and locks the doors and stays in and looks at New York through the windows.”

 

Just kidding. Sort of.

I know the Oilers aren't going anywhere but the Houston Rockets' owners have been making noise about trying to put an NHL team in Houston ever since the lockout ended. Since Pittsburgh was the only franchise that looked to be moveable I guess they'll have to settle for an expansion team.