NHL 2013: Off-Season Running Thread

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

I'd love to have the chance to cover some games, but the person who covers the team for The Ledger-Enquirer has done it for years, so the chances would be few and far between.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

You mean like when they lost the 2004-05 season and league revenues increased exponentially?

Do I think it will take a hit this time? Yes -- there are no major in-game changes to make like last time -- but it will rebound. It always rebounds. Especially if they do finally leave certain markets for more profitable ones. People forget quickly. We are sheep. The owners know this. Fans like to talk tough during work stoppages, but once they see their old team doing well, or a new star catches their eye, or buzz is built up and they find themselves leering again, they come crawling back. You can bank on it almost as much as banking on the Leafs not winning the Stanley Cup if or when the NHL returns.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

What are the more profitable markets they're going to go into?

They aren't going to add a second team in Toronto.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

I don't see enough "profitable markets" out there with suitable arenas in place clamoring for a team. Not like the days when there were only 21 teams.

Seattle? Needs a new arena

Portland? Tough to support two major league winter sports

Salt Lake City? Ditto.

Kansas City? Possible, but no major push to steal a team it seems.

Atlanta? Just lost a team.

Houston? Eh, maybe.

Quebec City? No habla ingles.

Hamilton? Possibly, but the Maple Leafs will fight it every step of the way.

Halifax? Not large enough. No arena in place.

Stockholm, Helsinki, Praque, Moscow? You've got to be kidding. Nice place for a once-a-year show, nothing more.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

Quebec and eventually a second team in TO. Other than that, contraction is the unrealistic answer.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

Might be a bit of a stretch, but the league is clearly not doing itself any favors when it comes to making new fans and solidifying old ones. The NFL and NBA each found ways to bridge their differences and get a deal done and the NHL needs to do that, too.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

Didn't say there were many markets, and didn't say the rebound would happen over night. But Quebec is building a new rink and will be front of the line to get an NHL team. Also a second team in southern ontario should happen -- if they can have three teams in an oversaturated New York City market (Rangers, Islanders, Devils), there is no reason they can't have two in Southern Ontario. Also, Seattle is building a new rink as well, depending on ownership and connections to the new rink as far as revenues go, it could work there. That's three markets right there. Also wouldn't count out Houston as a possible fourth. Again, a lot of it depends on ownership and business model.

And I'm not opposed to contraction either. Addition by subtraction.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

Seattle will fail miserably. The NHL will be the 6th most popular team in that market after they get the nba back. They need to stop forcing markets. It is ok to be a niche, wildly successful sport which it would be if they would stop force feeding the game where it is not liked. Christ, Chicago could support a second team better than 5 or 6 markets right now.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

For Seattle it all depends on the situation. I don't think an expansion franchise would do well, but if an established team with a promising young core moves in (Islanders, panthers, Coyotes) and they can win right away, they stand a chance to grab a solid share of that market. But whoever owns a team there will have to have a share in arena revenue, not just be tenents. Seattle is an interesting market for hockey. They have a long history with the sport, but the NHL hasn't yet given it a chance, same with Portland. It's not a matter of not belonging like Phoenix and some of these other southern markets, they just haven't really been given a chance by the NHL. But if the NHL can beat the NBA back in they definitely stand a better chance than a lot of the disasters or forced markets out there.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

Honestly Beef, it really won't matter. It will not work regardless of when they get in, I know the market. Seahawks, Mariners, Huskies, Sounders, Sonics then Hockey. They would be much better than Phoenix, so would Saskatoon but they aren't an NHL market either.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

And all but the NBA will be in their offseason for the bulk of the NHL season. The same argument could probably be made about the NHL in most American markets where it should be sucking hind tit, be it Boston, New York, Chicago, Colorado, Dallas, etc. But it still manages to do alright, particularly when they win.

 

Re: NHL 2012: Off-Season Running Thread

How Seattle goes nuts over the Mariners after these years is baffling.

Anytime you move into a new market, it is a challenge and helps if you can win right away (Colorado, Dallas, Carolina). I don't see why Seattle CAN'T be successful if it's managed right and the team has some success.

I definitely agree with Beef that it's crucial they get there before some NBA team does. In fact, being there might be a drawback to an NBA team thinking about moving.