Nashville Predators moving to Canada? NOPE! Sorry, Canucks (and KC!)...

JR · May 31, 2007

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Jesus, if they expand again, there will be Rent A Goalies in the league.

Armchair_QB · May 31, 2007

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Oz said:

Armchair_QB said:

The only reason I could see the NHL expanding is the desire to go to two 16-team conferences of two divisions each. There has been a lot of talk of going back to the old four-division set-up with the top four in each division making the playoffs. The first two rounds of playoffs would then be within the division.
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So if there were one extremely weak division (think the NBA's Atlantic this past season), they would still get a guaranteed team in the conference finals? While I like most of that plan, I don't like that quirk. Why not seed them like they do now?
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The division format is what the NHL used in most of the 80s and early 90s up until Bettman took over. There's been some rumbling about going back to that format to build up rivalries among divisional opponents.

Armchair_QB · May 31, 2007

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Here's a wild stab at what a four-division, 32-team NHL might look like.

Eastern

Atlantic Division
Boston
Montreal
Buffalo
New York
New York
New Jersey
Ottawa
Toronto

Southeast
Pittsburgh
Philadelphia
Carolina
Tampa
Atlanta
Washington
Florida
Nashville*

Western Conference

Central Division
Chicago
Detroit
St. Louis
Minnesota
Dallas
Columbus
Kansas City (exp.)
Houston (exp.)

Pacific Division
Anaheim
Los Angeles
San Jose
Phoenix
Colorado
Edmonton
Calgary
Vancouver

Cansportschick · May 31, 2007

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Why even bother expanding in the States, when it's clear the majority of Americans do not have in interest in hockey and networks don't even respect it enough.

Look at Anaheim...they are in the Cup Final and journalists are hard pressed to find Americans in that area who have an interest in following it.

Claws for Concern · May 31, 2007

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

JR said:

Claws, Hardy was Grapes' worst nightmare.

He claimed he was the worst goalie ever to play in the NHL.

Cherry tells a story (doesn't matter if it's true).

There's a typical practice drill where one of the coaches shoots the puck at the goalie from centre ice to start the break-out drill. Just a routine shot along the ice shot.

Goalie passes the puck off to one of his defensemen to get things going.

Problem is, the coach scored on the first two dump-ins.

Great stuff.
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Hence why I mentioned Don Cherry and Hardy Astrom. I could have mentioned Doug Favell, Michel Plasse, Chico Resch, Steve Janazak and many more CR goalies. I know all about this story because I spent several Saturday mornings at Littleton's old South Suburban Ice Arena where the Rockies and sometimes NHL teams who were playing the Rockies would conduct practices. I collected so many free pucks and sticks during that time as a youngster.

Claws for Concern · May 31, 2007

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

JR said:

Oh, and Claws, I think Marty Brodeur is probably the best goalie in the NHL and I respect all their rings but man, they have to be the most boring damn team in the league.
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That's your opinion. I'm happy to see my favorite team win three Cups in four tries, Brodeur be successful and that the Devils are a team you always have to prepare hard to beat.

Mystery_Meat · May 31, 2007

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Semi-related question in the midst of this talk about hockey coming back to Canada: Why did they lose so many of their AHL teams? I remember St. John's, Saint John and PEI having teams in the AHL. Was there not enough support, or did the American expansion fever trickle down to the minor leagues?

Huggy · May 31, 2007

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Mystery Meat said:

Semi-related question in the midst of this talk about hockey coming back to Canada: Why did they lose so many of their AHL teams? I remember St. John's, Saint John and PEI having teams in the AHL. Was there not enough support, or did the American expansion fever trickle down to the minor leagues?
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AHL teams seem to move all the time and I think as teams left the Maritimes (opening the way for successful junior teams) I think travel costs began to go up for the teams that were left.

Double J · May 31, 2007

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Huggy said:

Mystery Meat said:

Semi-related question in the midst of this talk about hockey coming back to Canada: Why did they lose so many of their AHL teams? I remember St. John's, Saint John and PEI having teams in the AHL. Was there not enough support, or did the American expansion fever trickle down to the minor leagues?
Click to expand...

AHL teams seem to move all the time and I think as teams left the Maritimes (opening the way for successful junior teams) I think travel costs began to go up for the teams that were left.
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Also, the affiliations were frequently moved out of the Maritimes to cities which were closer to the parent clubs, cutting down on the big team's expenses. If Philly's AHL team were any closer, for example, they'd be in the same building.

JR · May 31, 2007

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Claws for Concern said:

JR said:

Oh, and Claws, I think Marty Brodeur is probably the best goalie in the NHL and I respect all their rings but man, they have to be the most boring damn team in the league.
Click to expand...

That's your opinion. I'm happy to see my favorite team win three Cups in four tries, Brodeur be successful and that the Devils are a team you always have to prepare hard to beat.
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Hey, as a Leafs looserfanboy, I'd trade boring hockey for three Cups. Hell, one. Hell, a Final appearance.

I'm just sayin......the '95 Stanley Cup Final was virtually unwatcheable.

No, totally unwatcheable.

JR · May 31, 2007

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

Double J said:

Huggy said:

Mystery Meat said:

Semi-related question in the midst of this talk about hockey coming back to Canada: Why did they lose so many of their AHL teams? I remember St. John's, Saint John and PEI having teams in the AHL. Was there not enough support, or did the American expansion fever trickle down to the minor leagues?
Click to expand...

AHL teams seem to move all the time and I think as teams left the Maritimes (opening the way for successful junior teams) I think travel costs began to go up for the teams that were left.
Click to expand...

Also, the affiliations were frequently moved out of the Maritimes to cities which were closer to the parent clubs, cutting down on the big team's expenses. If Philly's AHL team were any closer, for example, they'd be in the same building.
Click to expand...

And that's why the Marlies only have to take the subway to the ACC if they get called up.

Bob Cook · May 31, 2007

Re: Nashville Predators moving to Canada? Sure seems like it...

JR said:

Bob Cook said:

If you're trying to get an American TV contract, and sell American advertisers, you need American eyes from sea to shining sea. That's why the push to get all over the country, and why U.S. networks despair covering Canadian teams. Not saying it's right, but that's how it is.

Still, if having the Predators in K-W instead of Nashville creates a stronger league, then it's worth doing. Especially if Blackberry guy takes it upon himself to be a high-profile owner.
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I understand how advertisers work but the NHL has been trying to make it on national U.S TV for forty years. It hasn't worked, so why does the NHL keep pursuing it like it's some holy grail instead of concentrating on the broadcast partners who actually fill up the league's coffers i.e. CBC.

This rampant expansion into untraditional markets was a flawed business strategy. You'd fail a first year business course if you built a case study based on the NHL's model.

You make the league stronger (and richer) by focussing on the markets where people actually watch and care.

My understanding is that the regional broadcasts in the States are relatively strong and perhaps where all the efforts should go. Let's face it, it's a niche sport that people either don't care about or they're like Smasher--openly scornful.

It's too bad about NBC because their coverage in the U.S. is the best it's ever been.

Thank God we don't have to put up with the inanities of Fox.....worse coverage ever.
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It's not just about TV. If you want Verizon Wireless to be the Official Wireless Provider to the NHL, Verizon is going to want to know your league has reach beyond a few hockey hotbeds.

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Nashville Predators moving to Canada? NOPE! Sorry, Canucks (and KC!)...

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Nashville Predators moving to Canada? NOPE! Sorry, Canucks (and KC!)...

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