Which teams could you live without

[stlwing14 0]

The state of Missouri (and the city of Saint Louis esp) is a bigger hockey state than most people would think. Youth and college hockey is a constant hit in the state. I went to university in the southern part of Missouri where one would think it's all Bible Belt NASCAR Land. It was college hockey that was the main draw and who was the city's favorite team.

Kansas City isn't a horrible choice, but the limited size of the town is the problem. Winnipeg may be more passionate but again small city. They won't be hosting the Packers of hockey but a bottom of the barrel team. Halifax, Hartford, Seattle are also no go's. A second team in Toronto area would work best. Maybe, maybe Quebec but I doubt there too.

Perhaps the NHL has just run out of cities. Either stay where we are and improve the product (ideal), relocate some but don't contract, or contract the size of the league. Contracting, though, just isn't going to happen. No matter how much people think southern Americans don't care about hockey. They do. But they also like quality hockey, not the garbage that passes for this sport in so many locations.

[Frozen-Man 144]

If you look at the revenue generated by so of the teams that are not in good "hockey markets" you might be supprised by where some of them rank. Some of the "non-hockey markets" generate more revenue than the "hockey markets" (see the Kings and the Flames).

TEAM REVENUE ($MIL)

Toronto Maple Leafs 138

New York Rangers 122

Detroit Red Wings 109

Montreal Canadians 109

Vancouver Canucks 96

Ottawa Senators 93

Dallas Stars 91

Anaheim Ducks 89

Philadelphia Flyers 87

Boston Bruins 87

Tampa Bay Lightning 85

Los Angeles Kings 84

Colorado Avalanche 79

Minnesota Wild 78

Calgary Flames 77

Buffalo Sabres 74

San Jose Sharks 72

Edmonton Oilers 71

Chicago Blackhawks 69

Carolina Hurricanes 68

Columbus Blue Jackets 68

Pittsburgh Penguins 67

Florida Panthers 67

Atlanta Thrashers 67

Phoenix Coyotes 67

Washington Capitals 66

St Louis Blues 66

New Jersey Devils 65

Nashville Predators 65

New York Islanders 60

[Guest CaliWingsNut]

I'd like to see teams in both Milwaukee and Vegas.

LA (especially after living here) is not the place for two teams. Ditch the ducks, maybe someone will remember the kings still play here too (in truth I've met plunty of kings fans, but no ducks loyalists in person).

I'd be fine with California having 3 teams still (there are more people in this state than all of Canada), but in such a large state do we need 2 of them in the same backyard?

[skippy_kenn 0]

1.) I think we all agree is the Jets are back in Winnipeg no more white out in Az. except for Leinart dude your in Az get some sun.

2.) Atlanta to Hartford (because Carolina has a good fan base and brings revenue to the league) and the Whalers are back

3.) Florida to Cinncy makes sense but lets move it to a college hockey state like Wisconsin maybe call them hmmmm Milwaukee Beers suck it Betman.

4.) Yes too many teams in CA. so lets move the Ducks to Vegas

5.) I would love to Have the Av's move home too but the again bring in revenue so lets move Blue Jackets the Hamilton maybe call them the Thunder Cats I mean Cats yeah just Cats.

Then we can restructure the league with teams in East and West and conferences and so on and so further.

Good work is slow today Happy 4th

Edited July 3, 2008 by skippy_kenn

[sjradio 0]

If Rick Tocchet was still the assistant coach of the Coyotes. Then it would have been fun to see the Yotes move to Las Vegas.

[selkie 10]

I never understood the logic behind putting a franchise in Nashville. It's both a small market metro (less than 1.5 million people even if you count the exburbs) and a non-traditional market. You can still have a viable franchise with one of those strikes against you, but both of them together are pretty much a recipe for doom.

[HenryMalredo 2]

Lets move the Chicago Blackhawks and New York Islanders. They're obviously in markets that can't support the NHL.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Isn't it weird that there are NHL-teams located in atlanta and nashville... shouldn't they move to quebec/halifax or some other "hockeytown"... Im not the best in U.S/Canadian geography but shouldnt there be a team like northerneast most... maine/newfoundland or maybe not enough people live there??

People talk about kansas city, why kansas city, isnt that like redneck city numero #1 ? aka NASCAR, FOOTBALL AND BEER!

So basically which teams do you wanna move and to what location, if you were god and could rule with iron hand?

/mindfly

Heavens no, KC is known for barbeque but it's not a redneck town. Maybe a cowboy town but that's not the same thing. Nashville's way more redneck than KC. The reason people talk it up is because KC has a brand new arena and has been offering sweetheart deals to teams to move there; first the Pens, then the Preds.

Quebec City, Halifax, and the entire northeast are nowhere near populated enough. The only real population center is Boston. Maine is WAY too small. Newfoundland is practically empty. The South is the fastest-growing part of the country. Atlanta's huge.

The only team I really actively want to see move is the Panthers. Miami sucks as a sports town and the Panthers could get a boost by moving somewhere. Houston or Seattle would be my choices, though KC and the nice arena deal would be good too.

[Wings_Toledo 233]

Actually, having a team here in Cincinnati might actually work. At least for a while. People here want a winning team (in any sport) and, unless I'm mistaken, we set an ECHL attendance record during the Cyclones' cup run recently. The only problem is that not many people here care about hockey and it seems like a lot of fans here are bandwagon fans. Cleveland already lost their AHL team so I wouldn't move there. Ohio just kind of sucks for hockey.

[Guest Four]

Detroit is original 6 and it would be weird seeing them with a new title.

Florida though, should be in Winnipeg or Hamilton

[Dabura 12,232]

Whalers.

(Say what? CAROLINA? When?!?!)

[Guest Dump-N-Thump]

i like it the way it is.

[Kira 451]

If I had my way, Anaheim would be gone in a heartbeat. Send them to Wisconsin, or maybe even North Dakota. Better yet, send Anaheim to Wisconsin, and LA to North Dakota. Phoenix would go back to Winnepeg. Florida doesn't need two teams, so send one to Quebec and one to either the Maritimes or maybe Portland, Maine.

Yes, I'm mean, but so what? Southern California and Florida do NOT seem like conducive places to play hockey. And Phoenix in summer is 115 degrees - I dare you to keep ice well enough to play and work out in summer.

Edited July 4, 2008 by Kira

[sergei_is_still_a_wing 1]

NO NHL TEAM BELONGS ON THE WESTCOAST!!! The Av's are the furthest West The NHL should go in the U.S .. Less teams = Less demand for players = the death of overpaying subpar players. I would be all for adding 2 teams in Canada where they are much needed

i beg to differ. lose california teams, lose california fans of the game. Now i'm a wings fan, duh. but i still love seeing them in my backyard against LA/ANA. look at them, both in the top HALF of revenue. And don't tell me its because the ducks won the cup (see LA: as they have been s*** for 15 years and still draw BIG crowds and dedicated fans).

i think the teams where they are is how its gonna stay and the way it should be. although phoenix to a better state/ city in canada is good move. AZ is just a s*** state (no offense to ppl that live there). People live there because A) its a Dirt cheap west coast alternative to Cali or B) they are retired and can buy a mansion for 300k and spend they're remaining years living off social security. Think about it, no pro sports teams in:

Alabama, Alaska, Arkansas, Connecticut, Delaware, Hawaii, Idaho, Iowa, Kansas (both the Kansas City Chiefs and Kansas City Royals play in Kansas City, Missouri), Kentucky, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, Virginia (the most populous state on this list), West Virginia, Wyoming

most of those far more deserving of a SPORTS team, and definitely more deserving of a hockey team than AZ.

but i digress. things are more or less fine the way they are.

[miller76 463]

- L.A

- Nashville

- Columbus

- Phoniex

- Tampa

- Florida

- San Jose

- Anahiem

- Atlanta

NO NHL TEAM BELONGS ON THE WESTCOAST!!! The Av's are the furthest West The NHL should go in the U.S .. Less teams = Less demand for players = the death of overpaying subpar players. I would be all for adding 2 teams in Canada where they are much needed

I am having a lack for words from the most idiotic post I have read in I dont know how long!Not to mention spelling is not one of your strengths!

[T.OWingsFan 7]

Get rid of:

-Florida

-Carolina

-Nashville

Add instead:

-Quebec City

-Seattle

-Winnipeg

[2probert4 8]

Isn't it weird that there are NHL-teams located in atlanta and nashville... shouldn't they move to quebec/halifax or some other "hockeytown"... Im not the best in U.S/Canadian geography but shouldnt there be a team like northerneast most... maine/newfoundland or maybe not enough people live there??

People talk about kansas city, why kansas city, isnt that like redneck city numero #1 ? aka NASCAR, FOOTBALL AND BEER!

So basically which teams do you wanna move and to what location, if you were god and could rule with iron hand?

/mindfly

I Lived in the KC area for a year, and this was in the time frame when the Pens were about to get a new arena; or move to KC. It's not a hockey town, for the most part people don't keep up with the sport. It would just be another Nashville situation in the long run, but the Sprint Center is a very nice arena.

I was watching a Live Chat on Spectors 2 days ago and one of the writers made a comment that Atlanta and Florida would be moved, didnt say where or when, but lets be frank here.....Would you be surprised? When Kovalchuk leaves Atlanta, there goes their gate draw and attendance falls. They should move Nashville, Atlanta, Florida and Phoenix.

[T.Low 1,011]

The thing about Florida and Pheonix is the migration and demographics. People are retiring there and moving there more and more. When I lived there 20 years ago, most of the people I knew were from Chicago, Detroit, New York, Philly, Boston, and Minneapolis. So I think the thinking all along was that if Detroit fans retire in Pheonix, they may go to x amount of Pheonix games, and definitely go when the Wings came to town. The retired Philly fans would go to a few games and of course would go when Philly comes to town. Not to mention the corporate support in those cities.

My wife had to go to San Jose on business last year, and she asked if I wanted to go too. I rememberred the Wings were playing there at that time, so I went and got to go to the Shark Tank.

Remember, Chelios learned to play in Claifornia, not Chicago.

When our buddy Matt Butcher was playing for the Chiliwac Chiefs (outside of Vancouver) we'd go watch him play. Blackwood was their big D man, a frikkin Texan, playing for a junior A team in Canada.

These are the same reasons we will soon see a team in Vegas. Scenario: "Dude, we're all going to Vegas this weekend. We got tickets to see the Blue Man Group, Sinatra (OK, bad example) and the Wings are there Saturday nite. Yeefrigginhah baby!"

Demographics.

That being said, I think Clagary has the best fans. Its always a sea of red at the games, and they are alwasy loud as hell. The only thing is those damn horns drive me nuts.

[Guest EZBAKETHAGANGSTA]

If you look at the revenue generated by so of the teams that are not in good "hockey markets" you might be supprised by where some of them rank. Some of the "non-hockey markets" generate more revenue than the "hockey markets" (see the Kings and the Flames).

TEAM REVENUE ($MIL)

Toronto Maple Leafs 138

New York Rangers 122

Detroit Red Wings 109

Montreal Canadians 109

Vancouver Canucks 96

Ottawa Senators 93

Dallas Stars 91

Anaheim Ducks 89

Philadelphia Flyers 87

Boston Bruins 87

Tampa Bay Lightning 85

Los Angeles Kings 84

Colorado Avalanche 79

Minnesota Wild 78

Calgary Flames 77

Buffalo Sabres 74

San Jose Sharks 72

Edmonton Oilers 71

Chicago Blackhawks 69

Carolina Hurricanes 68

Columbus Blue Jackets 68

Pittsburgh Penguins 67

Florida Panthers 67

Atlanta Thrashers 67

Phoenix Coyotes 67

Washington Capitals 66

St Louis Blues 66

New Jersey Devils 65

Nashville Predators 65

New York Islanders 60

Where'd u get those numbers from? is that before or after the players/staff have been paid? I find it hard to belive every team made money

[McCartyFanForLife 17]

Anyone think that an NHL team in North Dakota would be viable? Hockey seems to be pretty popular there. Just posing the question...

[HenryMalredo 2]

Where'd u get those numbers from? is that before or after the players/staff have been paid? I find it hard to belive every team made money

Revenue is different than profit.

[FLWINGSFAN4013 5]

seen both fl teams play in their arenas, tampa has a pretty good following and after this past off season should get better for them , and panthers have people like me living down here rooting for their teams from back home and go to games when they play the wings every 1290283098 years in south fl. Most people go see them when they are on a winning streak, but their downfall right now is that they don't have a big name to promote hockey in the community, they send olli and roberto packing which were two key players who tried helping out in the communities down here.

[betterREDthandead 58]

Where'd u get those numbers from? is that before or after the players/staff have been paid? I find it hard to belive every team made money

That's revenue, not profit.

Anyone think that an NHL team in North Dakota would be viable? Hockey seems to be pretty popular there. Just posing the question...

About as viable as one in Tijuana.

Hockey might be popular....among the 10 or so people that live in NDak. Seriously.....the entire state has less people in it than the Grand Rapids metro, by over 100,000. Fargo is just a bit larger than Flint. It'll never happen.

[Yak19 303]

Re-locate Nashville, Florida, Carolina and Atlanta to;

Winnipeg

Regina or Saskatoon

Halifax or Fredricton

cuz either way in a major Canadian city games will sell out

in the U.S, maybe Milwaukee, Seattle, Somewhere in Maine, Hartford, at least make it places that know hockey and they have weather for it.

Edited July 4, 2008 by Yak19

[hamip1998 3]

Cleveland already lost their AHL team so I wouldn't move there. Ohio just kind of sucks for hockey.

Hockey is coming along in Northern Ohio. Bowling Green has a good program, and OSU is slowly building a decent team. My kid plays for a Cleveland Youth Hockey Association travel team and the enthusiasm for the sport is encouraging.

One thing I am proud of is that for the most part it seems to be a good experience for the kids and the parents. Most of the teams stress teamwork, positive attitude, etc. Not a lot of t-ball / soccer / hyper-suburban win at all costs attitudes.

Yes, we lost the Lumberjacks / Barons. The Lake Erie Monsters (Avs AHL team) played their first season in Cleveland last year. I went to a couple of games last year that were VERY entertaining with a good turn out. They just need to learn to promote themselves a little more. They did well with their grass roots movement (we got a bunch of discount tickets for the team and lots of t-shirts). The word is getting out there slowly but surely.