[Rumour] Group interested in bringing expansion team to New Orleans

[The Yen Man]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Sigh. The NHL is already talent diluted with 32 teams and increased expansion is only going to amplify that further. Just watching international play and seeing what it's like not having traditional 4th liners and 3rd pairing players fill out a roster is a real reminder of what a team full of skill can look like and do for the game.

I dunno if I fully agree. I find the game more entertaining now than it was back in the 90's and early 2000's. Is the talent really that dilluted? Players are faster and more skilled than ever IMO.

I mean, if you are comparing best on best play vs. regular team play, of course there's going to be a drop off.

[OutOfTheCube]

Originally Posted by DoubleK

The NHL is going to have 40 teams, with 32 making the playoffs.

And Sabres will still somehow be in a playoff drought.

[undercoverbrother]

Originally Posted by topfiverecords

I thought New Orleans was sinking?

That's Venice

[Reggie Dunlop]

The Louisiana Po' Boys

Louisiana Hockey Club

[Mr.Coffee]

The bigger the better. Dilute the league and get more interesting games where mistakes are made.

Just don’t extend the season, maybe even make it shorter.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I dunno if I fully agree. I find the game more entertaining now than it was back in the 90's and early 2000's. Is the talent really that dilluted? Players are faster and more skilled than ever IMO.

I mean, if you are comparing best on best play vs. regular team play, of course there's going to be a drop off.

As we see the American machine get more behind hockey, the talent pool will get deeper and more talented IMO. The Canadian development system is archaic and is essentially a numbers game, relying on ultra talented kids to come out of the masses, and they'd better do that before they are 16 or they're done. The USA system with kids feeding into high end national programs but also the NCAA is just far superior and is going to produce a lot more talent.

For example, I don't see the Hughes brothers succeeding they way they did in the Canadian system. Jack was, in fact, denied exceptional status in Canada and then went on to set records in the US system. Quinn wasn't drafted until the 3rd round of the OHL draft.

We've also gotten over this idea that every hockey player needs to be 6'+ and 200lbs+.

[Buff]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

That's Venice

topfiverecords is right... New Orleans is sinking man, and I don't wanna swim.

Either way, if Venice is sinking, I'm going under.

[Lewis_D]

NHL to introduce promotion & relegation when the league reaches 40 teams.

[Reggie Dunlop]

Sounds like more of a tire-kicking proposal.

The NHL will gladly meet with anyone wanting to give them a lot of money.

[WideReceiver]

Terrible idea. Been there twice. It may be the poorest “major” city in the U.S. It will flop like the crayfish they would (hopefully) throw onto the ice.

[dustygoon]

That is the most debaucherous city I've ever experienced.

[TrentCrimmIndependent]

Louisiana Sewer Rats

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

That's Venice

Gord was wrong?

[Reggie Dunlop]

Old Hickory said, "We could take 'em by surprise
If we didn't fire our muskets 'til we looked 'em in the eye"
We held our fire 'til we see'd their faces well
Then we opened up our squirrel guns and gave 'em....

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Hot_Flatus

Sigh. The NHL is already talent diluted with 32 teams and increased expansion is only going to amplify that further.

I think this is a myth.There is far more people playing hockey now around the world compared to the 80s.

[Enoch Root]

Originally Posted by troutman

I think this is a myth.There is far more people playing hockey now around the world compared to the 80s.

100%

Every time NHL records come up (like Ovechkin chasing Gretzky), people argue that the league was talentless back then, and that it is much, much deeper now.

But as soon as expansion is brought up, the old watered-down argument is rehashed.

Pick a lane, people.

[D as in David]

NOLA would be the French version of the Atlanta franchises. It will eventually become the next Quebec City team.

[calumniate]

The New Orleans Bad Catholics

[FlamesAddiction]

The New Orleans Crabs.

It has layers.

[troutman]

The New Orleans Second Lines.

Two meanings.