NHL Expansion?

Question

With all the differing opinions from the recent expansion of the NHL from the 90's on, I am curious to how expansion of earlier times, starting with 1967 was viewed. I wasn't alive then. I am just curious if it ruffled feathers with "non-traditional" markets such as Oakland and LA, as it does now.

Answer 1

Canadians were upset that
1) Clarence Campbell only had 1 Canadian city under investigation out of a list of 40 (Vancouver)
2) Clarence Campbell moved the Head Offices to New York City
3) Clarence Campbell incorporated the league as an American entity

Americans didn't seem to care. Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and St. Louis had been wanting franchises since the the 1930s and despite league expansion attempts throughout the 50s and 60s, nobody came up with enough money or the framework to do it.

Minnesota started the process applying for a franchise in 1960.

As for non-traditional markets...LA was non-traditional, but the Bay area had professional hockey teams as far back as the early 40s and had supported them.


The problem with expansion is nobody's happy
- the NHLPA wants expansion because it is more jobs for their members
- the NHL owners want expansion because the expansion fees don't have to be shared with the players
- the corporate sponsors don't want expansion because they think their advertising dollars are spent too thin no
- the fans don't want expansion because they feel the product is watered down enough and that financial issues such as those being faced in Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Nashville, and Atlanta are just the tip of the iceberg (and they probably were).

A 1967 expansion franchise was $2,000,000 I believe.
A 20?? expansion franchise is currently expected to fetch $300-$350MM (which puts it out of the price range of anybody in Canada)

Today, markets are considered non-traditional, whereas in 1967....eveyrthing was fair game.


I'll be honest, when Clarence Campbell announced the 6 new franchises, I called my agent to see if I could get a job.....I was only 26 and was only out of the game a year by that point. I was still Hawks property but if I had made myself available, I could have been picked up by anybody at that point. However, Wirtz gave me a raise instead, and what could have been..............was just a dream.

Answer 2

The first expansion in 1967 doubled the league's size. Many people felt that such a big expansion diluted the talent in the league, and with good reason. It did.

Expansion players viewed the move as "being able to prolong their careers." Others saw them as old or mediocre players who weren't good enough to make the NHL, and expansion was the only reason they were able to keep playing.

Many fans considered expansion teams as weak newcomers that didn't belong in the "real NHL." Games involving the original six seemed much more important than they do now. And yes, the "non-traditional" locations that suddenly had NHL teams seemed to be looked down upon more than those in northern areas such as Philadelphia and St. Louis.

It went on for several years. Many fans judged players on whether or not they could have made the original six. But as time wore on, and with further expansion, the feeling of diluted talent began to fade. When some of the newer teams started winning cups, they began establishing themselves as legitimate NHL teams, and the "watered-down league" attitude virtually disappeared.

Today, the original six are referred to as just that, but the games involving them are viewed almost the same as games involving anyone else.

Answer 3

i think of Billy Smith ranks up there in terms of goalies. Left unprotected via la in 1972 develop draft and accumulated via the Islanders. of course in seventy 9 the Oilers merged in to the NHL and Gretzky is formally listed as a "priority decision" interior the 1979 develop Draft. decrease than the prevailing policies on the time the Olilers could of had to of bumped off him from their roster. They have been allowed to maintain him as a concern decision throughout the time of the develop draft with a penalty of picking final in each and every around of the draft. So he's considered a ramification draft decision because of this in accordance to the NHL.

Answer 4

I believe its the same process every time there has been expansion. Complain, adjust, accept. rinse, repeat.

Answer 5

they should expand the NHL teams right out of the U.S. and into Canada since it is their sport.

Answer 6

good one CME.

Hey how bout the idea of expanding to Europe?

Answer 7

Yea what LITY said. And don't you forget it!