quackbeth
Captain "C"
By the pricking of my thumbs Something hockey this way comes!
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Post by quackbeth on Oct 20, 2011 1:42:36 GMT -6
The NFL has hit 32 teams...and will likely stay there for a long, LONG time...
It's just a perfect number, it seems--the playoffs set up nicely, even divisions and conferences, its neat and clean, and only one glaring market--Los Angeles--is neglected, and that could be adressed soon (I don't buy the Vikings moving here, but I could see the Raiders or Rams moving back, or the Jaguars leaving Florida, as they draw badly with their poor team and always being like 5th fiddle behind the Dolphins, Bucs, and then the Florida and Florida State NCAA college football teams.)
MLB is at 30, but could expand, talks have been heard...maybe in the enxt decade or two, to 32, and end it there, a la the NFL...
And--sorry.
WHO cares about the NBA anymore?
I've not cared since a certain His Royal Airness left the game...
So.
The NHL is picking up steam, and probably will, someay, expand to 32 teams...and even if it doesn't, it's fun to play the "What if?" game here.
NOW...
HERE I'm assuming the Coyotes WILL move to Quebec after this year or the next, hence the reason Quebec isn't on the list...they WILL get the Nordiques back, just via relocation a la the Reborn Jets.
So, the question left is:
Who will--and who should--get the last two NHL teams, #31 and #32?
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CuJo31
2nd Line Winger
Live Forever
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Post by CuJo31 on Oct 20, 2011 1:51:19 GMT -6
Expansion to 32: Seattle (when new arena gets built) and Kansas City (state of the art arena with interested owners).
Relocation: Phoenix- QC, Florida- Hamilton
Honorable mention: Portland, Las Vegas (Arena on the strip), Milwaukee and Baltimore
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quackbeth
Captain "C"
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Post by quackbeth on Oct 20, 2011 1:57:45 GMT -6
My votes: -Seattle, so when this happens we can have a ANA/LA/SJ/SEA Pacific Division and complete its perfection...it gives all three CA teams another rival, and could be a rival for the Canucks, its up North, makes sense...long overdue. -I figure Canada can support about 10 teams, and after Quebec, Hamilton seems like the next logical choice; another Toronto team at this point seems unlikely, the Leafs would have a fit, and they just wouldn't be able to catch on playing next to a team with so much history...somehow Regina doesn't click for me as an NHL city...and ditto for Oshawa, especially as Hamilton is larger and has already shown interest. The Hamilton Tigers become Team #32 and #9 for Canada. Other notes: -I DO still want to see the Whalers return, but as with the Nordiqes, if that ever happens, I think it'll occur via relocation, probably the Panthers, as no one likes them anyway, really...so while I'd like to see the Whale rise, and think--hope?--it will again (true, they're crunched between NY and BOS, but the NHL is unique, smaller, quirky markets like Winnipeg can win out over behemoths like Houston and Atlanta) come down to relocation, so they don't get an expansion pick from me. -First runner-up to this for: Baltimore (Good sports town, rivalry for the Capitals, and could go in an Eastern South division without being so far South that all knowledge of hockey is lost to knowledge of NASCAR...so sayeth my stereotype.) -Cleveland should still get a team...I'd like to see Columbus move thee/rename their team for Cleveland...it jsut seems odd to go with Columbus over Cleveland, the Ohio city everyone knows, or even Cincy... -A VAN/WPG/CGY/EDM division would HAVE to happen if this occured...going with the ANA/LA/SJ/SEA division, that seems awesome...MIN would join DET, CHI, and COL, I suppose...
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Post by gobombersgo on Oct 20, 2011 9:23:32 GMT -6
The NHL needs to get rid of about 4 to 5 teams. The league is watered down enough already. I dont see it ever getting any bigger then it is now. There is 4 or 5 more teams to relocate before this ever happens.
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Post by enarwpg on Oct 20, 2011 15:23:49 GMT -6
Expansion to 32: Seattle (when new arena gets built) and Kansas City (state of the art arena with interested owners). Relocation: Phoenix- QC, Florida- Hamilton Honorable mention: Portland, Las Vegas (Arena on the strip), Milwaukee and Baltimore Seattle for sure... What really surprises me is that former Microsoft co-owner Paul Allen hasn't stepped up to purchase a team in trouble and move them to Seattle. It's obvious the guy loves sports and owing teams as he presently owns the Seahawks and Trail Blazers and is part-owner of the Seattle Sounders of Major League Soccer. He's also the 57th richest individual on the planet with a net worth of $13 billion......
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Post by Guardian on Oct 20, 2011 15:39:53 GMT -6
Hartford & Milwaukee
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Post by selanne405 on Oct 20, 2011 17:16:39 GMT -6
Hamilton/Seattle
Hamilton deserves a team just as much as QC. I think Seattle could make a good hockey market.
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Deleted
Deleted Member
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Post by Deleted on Oct 20, 2011 19:13:13 GMT -6
Hartford/Portland
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quackbeth
Captain "C"
By the pricking of my thumbs Something hockey this way comes!
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Post by quackbeth on Oct 20, 2011 22:10:54 GMT -6
So far, three leaders far ahead of the rest... Seattle, Hamilton, and a vote for the return of the Whale in Hartford. So... Yeah: Move the Coyotes to Quebec, the Panthers to Hartford, and give Seattle and Hamilton teams... And I think we can call it a league.
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quackbeth
Captain "C"
By the pricking of my thumbs Something hockey this way comes!
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Post by quackbeth on Oct 20, 2011 22:13:06 GMT -6
(On another note, interesting that KC has as many votes as Milwaukee, Portland, and Toronto Team 2 combined...
And 2 votes to bring the NHL back to Atlanta a THIRD time?
I have to think even a fool like Bettman's learned his lesson about THAT market...)
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Post by enarwpg on Oct 20, 2011 22:31:06 GMT -6
(On another note, interesting that KC has as many votes as Milwaukee, Portland, and Toronto Team 2 combined... And 2 votes to bring the NHL back to Atlanta a THIRD time? I have to think even a fool like Bettman's learned his lesson about THAT market...) Well if the Balkan could liquidate his vast holdings in China there could be a third team in Atlanta..... on second thoughts NOT ! www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Local-Thrasher-suitors-discredited-122065019.html
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quackbeth
Captain "C"
By the pricking of my thumbs Something hockey this way comes!
Posts: 741
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Post by quackbeth on Oct 21, 2011 1:42:53 GMT -6
If the Balkan was going to buy an Atlanta team... They'd be playing hockey in Georgia this winter and not Manitoba.
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Post by selanne405 on Oct 21, 2011 13:58:48 GMT -6
I kinda doubt the NHL will add any expansion teams as there are enough issues, thats not saying the markets mentioned here couldnt get a team like we did through relocation.
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quackbeth
Captain "C"
By the pricking of my thumbs Something hockey this way comes!
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Post by quackbeth on Oct 21, 2011 14:26:53 GMT -6
I'm not saying it'll happen soon...
But someday--does anyone see 32 happening, maybe 10, 15, or even 20 or more years down the road?
It just seems like such a natural number for the Big Four Leagues, with an even 4 teams a conference and an even 8 making the playoffs...
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mrconfusion87
1st Line Centre
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Post by mrconfusion87 on Oct 23, 2011 0:28:58 GMT -6
Seattle - rich enough, sufficient interest (based on most of what I've read regarding the area), and it gives Vancouver the local rival they want...
Hamilton (or any Southern Ontario city not too near Buffalo) - self-explanatory!
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