Wouldn't the NHL be better??

Question

If we just eliminated every southern team that there is. Not relocate-just eliminate. Maybe stick some back in QC/Winnipeg/Hartford but bring the total down to like 24 teams. Get rid of the Phoenix's, TB's, Miami's, California teams (heck, they are just an extension of Mexico), Carolina's, Nashville's et al. These are not real hockey towns or real hockey fans and they keep changing the game to try to suit these people. Replace them with indoor soccer or something and maybe they will be happy. We've diluted the league to nothing and for what?? The old mighty dollar??
I remember watching Montreal's farm team in the 70's (Vees) and they would have won the cup in today's NHL.
Sorry but many people with the opportunity to go to the beach or to a game, the beach will prevail. I don't even know if the NHL would do so well in Canada if it was played in the summer to relate it to something. Also, these opinionated fans that have been to a few games but have never played on a lake etc.

Clueless, seeing as you would rather have fighting out of the game, you lose credibility to your claim of knowing the finer points of the game. I have never met a person in a true hockey hub who thought fighting should be out of the game. NEVER. EVER. Thousands and thousands of the people I have met, played with and against were ever against it? All people who had skates on before shoes.
It would be like European Soccer (premiere league or whatever it is called) expanding to the U.S. and all the people there having an opinion. We don't like corner kicks so take them out, the goalie can only throw it out so far or the games are too low scoring so let's use some sorta super ball. Hey, we can't follow the ball, let's make it a glowing ball. they dive too much, let's suspend them FOR LIFE if they dive and so on and so on. How many European fans would take them seriously?? That is how I feel about you.

Clueless- I am not saying "Americans"- Detroit-Philly-Boston-NY etc are all great hockey hubs.

JK- not an exageration- I know of no one personally that doesn't think fighting has a place in the game. Where I come from, the NHL is like stars on ice compared to Junior/University/semi-pro leagues around here.

A couple of really good answers there ears and Flyers guy.

Answer 1

Yes, I think it would. Nobody cares outside of the North East USA and Canada cares unless their team is doing well or they are transplanted hardcore fans. ( Look at the Kings without Gretzky; not many stars in the stands for the cameras to focus on anymore, huh? )

Bettman is an idiot. Worst Commish in any sport, ever. They "grew" the sport until it was too big, and changed the game to accomodate the new fans, who are all gone. So nobody's happy.

Here's all you need to know: When Tampa Bay won the Cup a few years ago, they drew 20,000 fans for their victory parade. Calgary, who lost to them in seven games, had a parade too--and drew 500,000 !

If Canada hates us for all this, I wouldn't blame them. I think 16 teams is quite enough, thanks. And you don't get one unless you have to shovel snow in the Winter !!!

Answer 2

I find it hard to take you seriously when you claim that you have met exactly zero out of thousands of hockey fans who think fighting should be eliminated. Not saying I want to see fighting gone, just that I'm sure that at least 0.1% of hockey fans would say that fighting is a bad thing. I'm just guessing.

But I would like to see the league downsize to 24 teams. I'm not sure this is financially feasible anymore, considering what Bettman has done to the league. But my ideal league would have 20-24 teams, AND ONLY EIGHT PLAYOFF TEAMS (again, probably not feasible financially). Last thing I want to see is a long regular season where almost everyone gets in.

But for now, unfortunately, maybe we need the big markets. Maybe. I have no idea--I am not an expert on the NHL's financial statements. But to answer your question, a resounding YES to a smaller league.

Answer 3

Depends on what you mean by "better", eliminate any 6 teams and of course the quality of hockey would go up. I may be in the minority here in Southern California but I WOULD rather see a Hockey game than indoor soccer or go to the beach.

Like it or not Bob, we have had a team here for 40 years, we will continue to have one (or more), and SOME of us (including me despite your howls and personal attacks to the contrary) DO know the "fine points of the game" and HAVE played it.

Bob, I could care less how you feel about me. You asked a question and I gave you an answer, something that seems to be beyond your capability 90% of the time.

Like it or not it is no longer just your game, even if it EVER was. In a lot of places, even in Canada it IS played without fighting.

Obviously there is something going on here with your personal attacks and refusal to answer questions, I guess for you "Americans" have tinkered with the game too much (actually on that we agree) and if "we were to succeed in our efforts" to remove fighting, that would be the final nail in the coffin to the game YOU know and love.

Well chill Bob, I have not written Bettman a letter about fighting, nor do I plan on it. I wish the NHL would at least get rid of sucker-punchers and stick-swingers, that creates a bad image for the league. But if YOU like fights, if that is YOUR entertainment, I will not tell you YOU have no right to feel that way, I don't know how many times I have to keep posting this. Nor do I deny the value enforcers have to their teams AS THE GAME IS PLAYED NOW. It is ANNOYING that you keep "speculating" about me and other "Americans", I wouldn't care, except that I have to keep posting things for the benefit of those who have not read the other 100 posts in our "feud".
Sorry, but I DO have the right to have an opinion, even if it is a dfifferent one then most people.

Fair enough, Los Angeles and Anaheim are not exactly the most hockey-centric places. But rather than say, "well nobody here is ever going to care", I would like to CHANGE that. And I PERSONALLY would miss it a LOT if I had no team to root for here and no games to see -- fighting or no fighting.

Answer 4

It would be a mistake overall. Sure purists would like to see this happen, however, I don't know how many of you out there are old enough to remember when Hockey was a National sport in name only. Up until maybe 15 or 20 years ago, Hockey was a DISTANT 4th as far as National sports go. And that was because there were ONLY 4 national sports. Without the expansion it would still be that way. You may think it has diluted the sport, and maybe it has, but I think doing what you propose would kill Hockey on a national level.

Everyone keeps talking about putting more teams in Canada, but why do you think they left in the first place? Unfortunately Canada can't financially support any more teams. The fan base is not there.

And as far as your statement about fighting, I grew up in one of the original 6 Hockey hubs - NY - and have been a huge hockey fan for over 40 years, and I for one am glad to see a huge reduction in the fighting. I always thought it was a waste of time and one of the barriers to the sport becoming more accepted nationwide. I know historically it has become accepted as being part of the game, but things evolve and improve, and I think the game has grown for the better.

I also get tired of people that always make the statement that old time players of any sport were so much better and would easily beat teams of today. The athletes of today are so much bigger, faster and more skilled that I think it would be a joke if it could be done. I truly believe that many of our "great " players, in any sport, probably would not even make the team today. They were great in their time, but their time has passed.

Answer 5

LOL still laughing about that Glowing ball comment. Still have nightmares about the glowing puck, although it did prove one thing once and for all, that the claim "people can't follow the puck" is BS pure and simple. That has nothing to do with why people don't understand the game and don't watch it. I think Dallas should keep their team and Colorado I'm fine with. Although come on they are located in the Rockies so it is still a snowy area in Denver. Maybe we could claim they are a psudeo northern team with that? I agree the team needs to lose some teams. The worst part though is that as the talent is starting to catch up again they are probably going to try to expand it again.

Answer 6

yes it would be ten times better. if you would take out lets say the Tampa Bay Lightning then there's Lecavalier, St-Louis, Richards, Boyles all free, the you take out Atlanta then you have Hossa, Kovolchuck, Lehtonen and Kozlov all free the you take out San Jose the you have Thornton, Cheechoo, Marleau out the you take out Anaheim then you have Niedermayer, Pronger, Selanne, MacDonald free plus more from other teams like the Canes, Preds, Stars, and Bluejackets. then you will see the scoring go up in the league which they clearly want and the scoring will be higher like it once was before the early 90's. the talent is to thin and that's what really hurt this game with all the expansions in the 90's and 2000's. if we went back to the 24 teams it would help the NHL and we wont have the problems of owners losing money even after their having a great year like the Preds and Ducks.

and one other thing i know theres some big fans of hockey in the southern stats which is great for the game but just because the Ducks and Preds are having a great year doesnt meen there bringing in the money. the owners of these teams have been losing money for years and know just trying to buy a Stanley cup and if they don't there star players will be moved for more money and these teams like the Ducks won't have anymore cause they just spent it all for that one chance.

its the same as Baseball yes the Yankees have all the money and make it harder for sertain teams to pay these players cause their contracts are high. but you look at the Florida Marlins which won a world series well they bought that team and know where were they the fallowing year knowhere to be found. i just wish people can understand that part of the game allot of the southern teams are losing money and the league is trying to change allot of rules to try and help these owners make there money back which is not going to happened. and allot of these teams will find new homes in the next 10 to 20 years. DUCKS, PREDS, BLUEJACKETS, PANTHERS, SHARKS, COYOTES, THRASHERS, STARS there all losing money and not just this year for the past 5 to ten years.

GO HABS GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Answer 7

The NHL would be ridiculously better if they contracted ALL of the teams in the South.. or contracted some and moved the rest to Hartford, Kansas City, Winnipeg, Portland, Hamilton or some other northern hockey supporting city. The only Southern teams I could see keeping would be the Capitals, Kings. Sharks, Stars and the Ducks.
Pretty much all of the other southern teams are useless, and have no fans unless they go on a cup run and once that is over its back to no body in the seats. If they contracted or moved north: Carolina, Atlanta, Nashville, Tampa Bay, Miami, and Phoenix the league would be much better off
Plus with fewer teams the talent level wouldn't be as diluted, only the best would be in the NHL like it was back in the Original six and then Original 12 days.. Heck there was still a hell of a lot of talent after the merging with the WHA as well.

Answer 8

Most people who go to games in Raleigh are northerns who relocated to take jobs that left the rust belt.

There is a reason why teams left Quebec City, Hartford, Winnipeg, ect. It is because they were not economically viable. Markets change over time. I am for contraction, but I think you need to take a market study to see what teams should fold. Tampa draws well, and I have had a hard time getting any tickets to see the Canes lately.

I played hockey my whole life and for you to say that since I live in Carolina NOW I am not a real fan shows your logic is screwed. My father grew up in Canada, and lived the game his whole youth. Now that he lives down south he is not a real fan? Why don't you actually attend a game down south and see what the fans are like before you make stupid assumptions.

Answer 9

Am I misunderstanding what you are saying "opinionated fans that have been to a few games but have never played on a lake, etc." Are you saying if you have never played hockey on a lake you can't possibly be a real hockey fan or know the game just because you haven't played it?

If that is what you are saying then I think you are full of it!

Yes, they diluted the league for the all mighty dollar but where would the league be if not for the all mighty dollar. --same place the old WHA is, gone.

Answer 10

My well known is Rogie Vachon of the Kings, however the certainly "ultimate" goalie ever replaced into Dominik Hasek. He replaced into the reason the Czecho's performed so properly interior the Olympics, the reason Buffalo replaced into respectable interior the overdue 90s, and the better area of the mid 00's purple Wings. He performed an fairly unique type, ought to end any shot he needed, or maybe got here out of his internet to make hits. whether you think him each interest, or purely watched his spotlight movies, he might galvanize you extra effective than all people. Infact, whether you in basic terms verify out his stats, he's the final ever. you should argue that Roy, Brodeur, Plante, Dryden, Vachon, Thompson, Esposito, and Vezina have been "extra effective" goalies in hockey background, however the outright ultimate of any era replaced into surely Hasek

Answer 11

boy do i hear some hot air going on here.i am from the south and i guess you haven't really seen a game in atlanta or carolina or you would know the places are packed with fans.if it wasn't for some of those southern teams alot of canadian players wouldn't have a job!!!!!i love a good hockey fight but i don't like to see sucker punches,sticks to the face and that sort of thing.i have been watching hockey both minor league and nhl for a long time and i have seen a good many changes over the years but the changes that have happened over the past 2 years were changes the players voted on and correct me if i am wrong but i don't believe all the players are american or heaven forbid southern.