If the league expands to 32 teams, will the schedule also expand from 82 games?

Question

Also, If KC and Vegas join up, does that mean a team like Detroit or Columbus will join the Eastern conference? Kansas city is much farther out west than several West cities, and the league can't have 17 western conference teams and only 15 in the eastern conference

Answer 1

I doubt the league will expand to begin with. The most likely scenario would be a current franchise relocating than a new one being formed.

Answer 2

As many people have covered the league is not about to expand.

But no one touched on the second question. The chances they expand on a 82 game schedule is even less likely. They actually use to have a 84 game schedule, and it was whittled back. And since then there was the lock out that resulted in HUGE salary rollbacks and salary caps. There is no way the Players Association is going to agree to expanding schedules anytime soon. And given that other than all 6 of the Canadian Teams plus NYR, I doubt anyone else sells out all their games. So if you still have lots of tickets to sell, why would you increase your expenses by adding more games?

As for Vegas and KC. Very, very stupid places to move to. It ain't going to happen unless one of those places has someone that buys a team. Even then, it would be less than 50/50 the league approves the move. Look at Vegas. the league already was tainted by gambling this year, they don't need that association. And they are looking to move out of the desert not more into the desert.

Answer 3

I don't think Detroit'll go to the East. The only reason why they're in the West with Chicago, I think, is because they're both Original Six teams and they want to keep some kind of history in the Western Conference. Also, I don't think they'll up the number of games played. Logistically, 82 games can still be done with 40 teams in the league.

Answer 4

The season is already too long, and the NHLPA would never go for a longer season. Players are already enduring injuries by game 65 or so, and have to gut it out until the end of the playoffs before seeking surgery, etc.

As for realignment, this comes up all the time, and anything is possible, but you cannot take the Red Wings away from the Blackhawks or Avs. The travel is brutal, but the rivalries are permanent.

There are a couple of franchises on shaky ground as it is (albeit far better than 2 years ago!), so expansion is unlikely, but moevment is a possibility.

Answer 5

Only ONE would have to join the East, and Nashville would probably be first, maybe Columbus. If two switched those would be the two. The Wings AREN'T leaving the West. Anyway I'm not sure if they would add games, but I see no reason why they would. Also I doubt that you would see an expansion anytime too soon. I think teams moving is more likely.

Answer 6

Expansion would kill the league the rest of the way. They already have several weak teams that should be relocated or just eliminated. There aren't enough good players to go around as it is.

I vote fold some teams to get back to 24 total. Hamilton ON would be a horrible place for a team. Its right between Buffalo and Toronto. I bet both would fight it.

sushi_squad - That's great but the Devils and Islanders don't have great attendance and neither does Florida. Both S. Cal teams seem to do fairly well just with smaller arenas.

NY Rangers are 11th - 18,200 - 100% capacity
Los Angeles is 16th - 16,859 - 91.1%
Anaheim is 20th - 16,363 - 95.3%
Florida is 22nd - 15,370 - 79.8 %
New Jersey is 26th - 14,176 - 74.5%
NY Islanders are 28th - 12,886 - 79.1%

Answer 7

yes... expansion with the intention of Nashville relocating to Hamilton and Detroit moving to eastern conference and having 2 conferences of 2 divisions... and balancing the playing schedule... thats the master plan whether Bettman admits it or not...




RE: emiller1998
If the greater metro NewYork area can have 3 teams, greater Metro LA and the state of Florida have 2 teams... I don't see why not the golden horseshoe/Upstate New York/Niagara Frontier (5th largest largest population concentration in North America) have 3 teams... IT IS by far the largest concentration of Hockey fans in North America...

The Leafs or Sabres will NOT lose money with a team in Hamilton... therefore the league will grant the location after a board review and a reasonable payout to the Leafs & Sabres... if a relocation is to take place...

Answer 8

As stupid as the NHL is, I seriously doubt if there will be any expansion in the near future.

Too many teams aren't doing well at the gate, and the game is undergoing an identity crisis with all the changes to the game. Traditional fans are being turned off and casual fans, by and large, don't attend all games.

I see as many as 8 teams that could be dissolved or moved to other cities but expansion under current conditions would only make things worse.

Answer 9

The league won't expand, as it is there are already too many teams. The league need to allow some of the expansion teams who are not doing well to fold, or merge with another team.

Answer 10

preds move over bettman dead body that would mean he was wrong that south cant support hockey if they where to move... no to expansion need the opposite get rid of 2 or 4 teams there for concentrate talent lil more take below average revenue teams out would mean more money to go around better advertisement better teams higher scores growing interest wait thats how it was before lost expansion wasn't it ???