Quote:
Originally Posted by doublej_23
Adding teams thins out the talent in the league where as removing teams sets the bar a bit higher for what is considered NHL caliber players.
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I used to think like this as well, that the talent would be spread out too thin with the addition of teams to the league. I now think that with the rule changes over the past 10 years, and overall evaluation of talent by teams has opened the door for a lot of skilled players that wouldn't have played in the league 10 years ago. The fact that we're even considering that a guy like Gaudreau could make the Flames is proof of this direction by the league. In 2003-2004 we would have laughed at the idea that a guy that small (the freaks of fitness like St. Louis aside) could make it into the big game. This has created a much larger talent pool than in the past, and I think has resulted in more skilled players per team than in the past. So adding two teams really shouldn't really dilute the talent pool the way it once did.
The only thing that irks me about expansion is the timing. For the first time in team history the Flames have a chance at getting the first overall pick, and McDavid no less, and it might go to an expansion team by default.