RedFX

LOL, me too. I was sitting there thinking "what the hell is the O for?"

I'll tell you what, Balsillie is gonna look like a genuine dumbass if this falls through. He basically lied to the comissioner's face and now he has screwed over 10,000 people within that lie. If and when (notice the irony there) the league steps in, there's gonna be alot of disappointed people in Hamilton.

Well Leipold only had a few days left to trigger the clause, and it's something everyone has anticipated. The only question is how the battle of 3 seasons vs. 2 seasons plays out. Listening to more sports talk it is strating to sound as if the league might take action here soon, deciding on the sale.

It's because of that mass exodus in the 90's that Bettman starting putting more effort into protecting current markets. The last two CBA's have put more money into Revenue sharing to prevent that from happening again. This was actually started by that giant scare in Pittsburgh in 2000. Try telling the fans in Nashville that...

The Nashville Sports Council has said they are appealing the cure clause, due the fact that the lockout year should not be counted as a year below 14,000 attendance, this would make next year the third year, nullifying any possible move until after the 2009 season. Just to clarify here because there was a little confusion about what the cure clause actually states.

Statement from Leipold http://www.nashvillepredators.com/pressbox...p?story_id=1373

A bit of breaking news here... Just heard on 104.5 in Nashville that Leipold has just enacted the cure clause, which would allow the city to buy out seats to meet the required attendance, if attendance falls below the 14,000 mark. This would nulify that 3 year clause, keeping the Preds in Nashville for at least 7 years. The city has the option to reject the clause, breaking the lease, but they have stated that won't be the case. This has been speculated, and Balsillie will be sure to find a way around this, but this move makes it that much difficult. Also saw this on the front of Comcast. http://www.comcast.net/sports/index.jsp?ca.../15/690965.html

I hope 7,300 people in the Hamilton area become disappointed.

Yeah, I don't think they sold out Toronto either. Montreal was also Forsberg's second game in Nashville, so I thought alot of people would show up.

This one's a little more straight-forward. http://www.sportscity.com/NHL/Detroit-Red-Wings-Free-Agents

Reading that Nashville post article that's the first time I've heard that, but that's great. I remember an article where Balsillie told Bettman directly that he would not be moving the team, and that one consent of the sale was that the team would remain in Nashville. He's obviously pissed a bunch of people off here, so I'm hoping the sale doesn't go through. I must see my 4 Wings games a year! ...Or buy the Panthers and "keep the team in Miami"

Actually, the Preds sell out a decent number of games (19 this season, imcluding all 4 against the Wings, and all three playoff games). The problem is they only have 10,000-12,000 people show up to games such as Phoenix or Los Angeles. If there is a big name team in town, such as Detroit, Colorado, or Dallas, its usually a sell-out. Or if not, it still sells most of the seats. Dude, the Preds won 4 playoff games. You should know that...

Anyone trying to watch on Versus still not getting it?

I like that old school spin on it, kind of like Ottawa being the Senators. The only thing I can think of is locals might find it a bit too similar to the CFL's Tigercats. Another point to be brought up here, if the team goes to Hamilton, what are to become of the Bulldogs?

I'm saying there are no more legal loopholes that would get the team out of Nashville by 2008.

Again, the teams future is entirely up to the fans at this point. The team can under no circumstances move as long as paid attendance stays above that 14,000 mark. The clause only takes effect if attendance falls below that mark for 3 consecutive years, and no owner can move the team for 7 years after a purchase. So far, there has actually been a suprising increase in number of season tickets sold, so we'll have to see how this plays out. None the less, I'm still saving up for some extra trips to Hockeytown in the next few years. PS, Nashville fans: those death threats to Basille isn't exactly a step in the positive direction....

Well letting go of fan favorites such as Hartnell, Kariya, and Timonen aren't going to help matters much. Poile has yet to receive any indication on how much he can spend on Free Agents this offseason. Because of this, he hasn't really been able to negotiate with those guys as of yet. Apparently Poile would like to make another big surge this offseason (one of the talk radio guys mentioned Smyth as a possibilty).

There is only one way the team will not be moving next year, and that is attendance. If the average paid attendance is 14,000 or above, the team cannot move for at least 4 more years. The way this plays out is now entirely in the fans hands. Everyone says how passionate those fans can be. It's time to prove it. All those people cancelling season tickets are screwing themselves over more. Instead of admitting defeat, go and support your team. Again, tickets are cheap and it's a great way to spend a night where you have nothing to do.

I actually meant "no chance in hell" as in there is no chance in hell Columbus would trade Fedorov for Hudler.

Okay, if you'd like we can use Quebec City as the example. And Ontario has barely made Ottawa work. Their tenure in the league has been mauled by financial problems. What makes you think another team in that area will have any difference?

Hell, I'm scared too. I live in Nashville and this is the only way I get to see the Wings. PS: Balsillie has said repeatedly that he will not move the team. I said it before and I'll say it again, Canada cannot support another team. Remember, good fan support doesn't always translate into good business support. See Winnipeg, where the stands were packed every game, but management still had trouble paying the bills. Even Ottawa had bad financial problems a year ago. With businesses in that area already pouring millions of dollars into three teams, they will be a little hesitent to invest more into another team, given the situations in the past, especially a small-market one such as Cambridge. Maybe Balsillie should focus more on trying to fix the situation in Nashville rather than moving the team to a Canadian Nashville.

Speaking of Caps new uniforms... http://www.fanhome.com/forums/washington-c...rms-leaked.html

That has no chance in hell.

The only way I see Markov coming back is if someone else on the D gets booted out. Right now we have 8 defensemen and if we add Sarich thats nine. Kenny apparently would like to get stronger, so you'd have to let one of those guys go and assume Quincey goes back to GR to have a big defensemen like Sarich brought in. (Or if not Sarich, Souray maybe? What about Sean O'Donnell or Brad Stuart?) Another guy to throw into the mix is Jakub Kindl. He's that big, strong, physical defensemen we need and Kenny can bring him up at a cheaper rate than bringing in a veteran d-man. (Not what I'd do, but again, thinking like Kenny here). As far as that other forward spot, I really hope we go after Hartnell. I live in Nashville, so I'm able to see him play alot, and I can tell you he is exactly the kind of player the Red Wings need. A strong, gritty forward who crashes the net (something no one did in the Anaheim series). Plus, he's got a monster one-timer, so he would fit in perfectly on that power-play unit. The goalie situation strikes me a bit comical. I know people are anxious to get Howard in goal, but letting Hasek go to make that happen? C'mon guys. First off, Howard is in no ways proven his ability to play in the NHL. Second of all, if he blows it, we have an equally unreliable Chris Osgood to back him off. If Howard is to be the #1, resign Hasek, let Ozzie go and have Howie be the backup this year. This way, when Dom hangs em up, Howie will some NHL expierience. ....or plan B, sign Giguere

I'd love the idea of this. He's that big physical defenseman we've been lacking, and If we signed Sarich to go along with him, that be a great tandum to stop those big checking lines that gave us trouble in the playoffs.