Quote:
Originally Posted by Sparks
Absolutely! I've been waiting for someone to say that. I don't get it either.
If anything, I hope it becomes even less popular, so that only the true hockey markets remain. Wouldn't it be great if the league consisted of only 20 teams? More talent, more passionate fans, etc. That'll never happen, but I wouldn't complain if it did!
But anyways, whoopty-do. We're always going to love the game up here in the Great White North, so there's nothing to worry about.
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I think the NHL as a whole should stop trying to whore itself out for popularity. I say stand true to the core traditions of hockey, and the US can either take it or leave it. I do think effort should always be taken to try and reach out, since there is a lucrative benefit in that
Personally though, I think the league would be best off with 24 teams in the best markets. However, I think that anyone who thinks that would mean a return to Winnipeg or Quebec City needs to wake up from that dream. Canada is essentially capped at 6 cities capable of supporting a team, or teams... and even another GTA team runs a risk of being ignored (only selling out Leaf and maybe Hab games) and then falling off the map shortly thereafter.
Look at Edmonton (and this is not meant to be offensive to Oiler fans, they do support that team well)... they can barely afford to have an NHL franchise, their ownership doesn't have the pockets to stomach any financial loss, and seem to be resigned to being a development team with an occasional ability to make a strong run, since every player who required 5m or more seems to have a short stay or are traded beforehand. Its the same problem the Flames had in the past, but Calgary is a slightly larger, well-off and much more corporate based market. If Edmonton can barely do it... no other Canadian market can even consider it, and that's in a 30 team league with several financial sieves and revenue sharing.