[Rumour] Four New Expansion Team by 2017

[DJones]

Might have been touched upon in the Vegas thread but this is just ridiculous.

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nh...065603703.html

How the hell would 4 teams be able to put a team on the ice. The protected 1 goalie, 5 def, 9 forwards just wouldn't work. Who would buy a team when they would have to fill it with a bunch of 3rd and 4th liners split between four new teams?

[You Need a Thneed]

no need for another thread.

[codynw]

The league needs less teams, not more. Terrible idea.

[troutman]

The source is a tweet by Howard Bloom@SportsBizNews :

NHL expansion – four teams added by 2017, Quebec City, Toronto, Seattle, and Las Vegas $1.4b in expansion fees

I don't know if this is just his opinion, or based on evidence.

[troutman]

Howard Bloom @SportsBizNews · 1h
Jumping on CTV News at 12:20 why the NHL is set to expand

[ForeverFlameFan]

I hate the idea of 4 new teams, would only want 2 more. So, 2 teams would have to relocate.

Would hate seeing the Coyotes go, but I would have Florida and the Coyotes relocate + 2 new teams.

[Cflames_12.5]

I am interested. To me growth is a good thing. I'm sure the NHL execs wouldn't be adding teams unless the league could handle it.

[DJones]

If indeed they are all expanding what would happen to the divisions? Detroit would have to come back to the West haha.

Seattle to Pacific
Vegas to Pacific/central
Quebec and TO to Atlantic
Maybe put both florida teams in the Metro?

Then one Eastern team would have to move to the west to even them up

[Ashasx]

I don't want any more teams.

[Joborule]

Four seems excessive, and I hate the idea of keeping unbalanced conferences. If anything, they should expand by two, and relocate two teams so the conferences remain balanced.

[Caged Great]

I don't mind it. There is enough talent to go around.

[troutman]

2017 is the NHL's Centennial Season.

[Ashasx]

With 4 new teams in an expansion draft, I can only imagine that you'd be able to protect fewer players than usual.

Teams could be gutted.

[Badgers Nose]

From CP Forum 2042:

"I welcome expansion and can't wait to watch all 120 teams play. I'll be cheering as Aarvark McBain scores a modern day record 619 goals. The 20 foot nets were a great idea too! Commissioner Macho Nacho Supreme is the best thing that ever happened to the NHL!"

[codynw]

This better not mess with where Calgary picks in next year's draft.

[Sidney Crosby's Hat]

For those who don't know him, here is Howard Bloom's M.O.:

1. Say something ridiculous that has no basis in fact or is speculation based on someone else's speculation.

2. Get paid to appear on a handful of radio shows and TV shows explaining why what he said is true.

3. Profit.

[getbak]

Originally Posted by troutman

2017 is the NHL's Centennial Season.

2016-17 will likely be celebrated as the centennial season (1991-92 was the 75th anniversary season), which lines up perfectly with the opening of the new arena in Las Vegas in May 2016.


As I pointed out in the other thread, this is the longest period of time without an expansion since 1967. Between 1967 and 1979, the league expanded from 6 to 21 teams. It remained a 21 team league through the 1980s, and expansion began again in 1991. Between 1991 and 2000, the league went from 21 to 30 teams. This will be the 15th year with 30 teams.

[Bandwagon In Flames]

I really cannot believe how many people don't want new NHL franchises. Are you all really that selfish that you don't want this sport to grow?

With the amount of decent players unable to find contracts lately, I would welcome the idea of new franchises. If it means more talent will be staying in the league and not moving onto the KHL or unnecessarily buried in the AHL then why not?

There's a nice hard cap system in place to ensure teams balance out relatively quickly, so the growing pains wouldn't be too long.

[Finger Cookin]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

no need for another thread.

We need 10 expansion threads.

[Ashasx]

Originally Posted by Bandwagon In Flames

I really cannot believe how many people don't want new NHL franchises. Are you all really that selfish that you don't want this sport to grow?

With the amount of decent players unable to find contracts lately, I would welcome the idea of new franchises. If it means more talent will be staying in the league and not moving onto the KHL or unnecessarily buried in the AHL then why not?

There's a nice hard cap system in place to ensure teams balance out relatively quickly, so the growing pains wouldn't be too long.

Which players aren't finding contracts?

There are no quality hockey players without an NHL contract.

People don't watch hockey for players like Paul Bissonnette.

In fact, I'd argue the NHL already has too many players like that right now.