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2012 NHL Offseason Thread

#441
They've been broadcasting the KHL games on ESPN since they have a contract with them now. It's been cool to watch the style of hockey over there, although since there are so many NHL players there now they start forechecking and hitting hard, which is uncharacteristic for those leagues.

Still hurts me to see Ovechkin score, even when he is playing for a Russian team! :smug:
 
#443
Islanders reported making an announcment to move into Barclay's Center with the NY Knicks once their lease expires at Nassau in 2015:

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Seating there for hockey would only configure to 14,500 which isn't even AHL size these days. But of course the Islanders can't even compete in the AHL nowadays so nevermind...

But seriously, would the NHL even approve this move? The article says Buttman is there for the announcement.
 
#445
mkandolf said:
Islanders reported making an announcment to move into Barclay's Center with the NY Knicks once their lease expires at Nassau in 2015:

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

Seating there for hockey would only configure to 14,500 which isn't even AHL size these days. But of course the Islanders can't even compete in the AHL nowadays so nevermind...

But seriously, would the NHL even approve this move? The article says Buttman is there for the announcement.
Click to expand...

It is a good move for them. Nassau is falling apart and it is in a crappy location. Brooklyn is a much better location. IMO NJ should have hopped all over moving there. I don't know why they wouldn't have designed the building for more hockey fans, you would think they would have thought of the possibility of NJ or NYI moving there.

lowsound
 
#446
I read online yesterday that if/when the lockout ends, the NHL is preparing to make an announcement about expansion into Quebec and the Markham (Toronto) area. Really? Is this what Bettman and the NHL offices are earnestly working on right now? Expansion?? If this is not further proof of how greedy the NHL owners are, what is? They are talking about a $500,000,000 franchise fee tax for each new team.

I'm at the edge of the plank, about to jump off the NHL boat.

-Mike
 
#449
MJ5150 said:
I read online yesterday that if/when the lockout ends, the NHL is preparing to make an announcement about expansion into Quebec and the Markham (Toronto) area. Really? Is this what Bettman and the NHL offices are earnestly working on right now? Expansion?? If this is not further proof of how greedy the NHL owners are, what is? They are talking about a $500,000,000 franchise fee tax for each new team.

I'm at the edge of the plank, about to jump off the NHL boat.

-Mike
Click to expand...

Several Canadian cities could support two teams. Toronto could easily support two more NHL teams. I know the powers that be aren't interested in it, but it would be good long term for the league.

At Hurricanes games here in Raleigh, I often sit near Canadians who have flown in (regular middle class folk) just so they can affordably see their team in person. Montreal, Calgary, Toronto.
 
#455
mkandolf said:
There's lots of talk out there about the league expanding. The owners are greedy for those expansion fees. It's free money they don't have to do anything for. To hell with a watered down product.
Click to expand...

I've heard the rumors too, but that's not what I would call "sources". It would just be mind blowing to me for this to happen, so I'm very curious to know if this has any teeth.
 
#456
Darth Handsome said:
Which sources? And what makes you think it's true? Hockey doesn't seem to have the US fan base to support the amount of teams the league already has.
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Why would a USA fanbase matter to the people in Quebec and Toronto? I don't think 3/4 of people in the USA even know where those places are. :)

As for sources, I saw it on NESN, Yahoo, and a few other websites. The afternoon guys on NHLN were talking about it too. It's a cash grab for the NHL. The franchise fee would be $500,000,000.

I'm with you, it would be mind blowing if the NHL tried this.

-Mike
 
#457
MJ5150 said:
Why would a USA fanbase matter to the people in Quebec and Toronto? I don't think 3/4 of people in the USA even know where those places are. :)

As for sources, I saw it on NESN, Yahoo, and a few other websites. The afternoon guys on NHLN were talking about it too. It's a cash grab for the NHL. The franchise fee would be $500,000,000.

-Mike
Click to expand...

That's not what I meant. There are teams in the States that should be moved up here because they don't have the fanbase, not left where they are as the league adds more teams.

500 mil seems pretty steep to me. I think the Jets paid 60 mil as a "relocation fee" (which was most likely used to alleviate some of Phoenix's financial burden. Irony can be pretty ironic sometimes....)
 
#459
Scott Hartnell (Flyers' union rep) has now gone to Europe to play for Timonen's team at league minimum wage. Take that FWIW. He's either over there now knowing it's a season lsot or for a conditioning stint knwoing there's only a week training camp depending on who you're listening to these days.

And if you haven't read Cheap Throat the diary of a locked out player yet:

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The blog is a hilarious but profane read. Be forewarned.

And on USA Today's sports page there's a video of Obama saying the NHL has to get it done. OK. The guy is so into hockey (like most presidents, probably) he didn't realize Tim Thomas wasn't on stage with him.

Oh, and I haven't discovered yet if I will be able to watch the Redskins at Steelers game on Sunday. Not sure if I want to with the jerseys the Steelers are slated to wear. Seriously? They look like they belong in the movie "O Brother, Where Art Thou?"
 

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