'7' Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 (edited) It's hard to remember it now that virtually every Canadian team, save perhaps the Senators, seems to be able print money. At that time, the Canadian economy was in the dumps. It doesn't take the evil doings of American capitalists or the commissioner to get two teams to leave for greener pastures, and one to a place that had already lost a hockey team. Hell, even the OIlers were in the red when the team was winning, to the point that the amount of debt that Pocklington had to take out to keep the team afloat made Vanderbeek's debt look like a 30 year fixed rate mortgage on a $200,000 house. Bettman's insistence on keeping the Coyotes in Arizona is a bit puzzling. He didn't really put up that much of a fight with Atlanta. It might have had something to do with the fact that the buyer for Phoenix was someone who tried to strong arm the league into putting a team where he wanted to and that the rest of the owners hated. The Atlanta pipe burst unexpectedly while the NHL was trying to do damage control in phoenix. I don't think they saw it coming. The league didn't have the time or resources to save the Thrashers. Frankly they just couldn't be bothered since it was a 2nd chance franchise anyway that should've never been given that chance. That offseason the NHL could've legitimately lost two southern franchises in the same week. All their chips were already in for Phoenix so Atlanta left for greener pastures with no resistance. i do remember the Oilers crises and how they were supposedly close to moving to Houston, still I think their case is more Pocklington than the Canadian dollar. Montreal and Toronto never had any issues, neither did Vancouver. Calgary maybe...but that's a big canadien city so they were never moving. Ottawa was still very new at the time. If given a redo on 1992-1993 expansion...I think the NHL probably puts a team in Hamilton instead of Ottawa. They have had some trouble there but it hasn't been an abject failure. however Hamilton is in the golden horseshoe. It would have been a sure thing. Edited August 27, 2014 by '7' Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck the Duck Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Let's see what corny name they pick My money is on: Las Vegas Gamblers Las Vegas High Rollers Las Vegas Deuces Las Vegas Aces Las Vegas Chips* *I really hope its this one I think they alreayd have (or had) a minor league team named the Las Vegas Wranglers. That would be my bet for a team name. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RunninWithTheDevil Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 what about the Las Vegas Bats? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Derek21 Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 (edited) Las Vegas was building a new arena last year. I'm not surprised they are in the mix for expansion. Seattle is logical. I always felt they'd have to add 2 teams to balance out the realigned conferences. My guess was they'd expand to 32. Not 34. It doesn't add up. I can go along with bringing hockey back to Quebec. Toronto is large enough to have 2 teams. I just wonder what happens if the Leafs continue to struggle. Their fans will go nuts. Haha. I would rather see Florida relocate along with another team than see the league go to 34. But that'll never happen. I'd imagine the players aren't opposed to it because it'll create more jobs. Adding more teams makes the current divisions and playoff format unrealistic. They may as well go back to 6 divisions or expand the playoffs. Give the teams with best records byes. Have real wildcard series. Best of 3 or 5. The only hindrance is the schedule. You can't have postseasons extending into July. I have always been an advocate of starting seasons earlier. Either that or drop down from 82 to 70. I know these are radical suggestions which probably won't happen. But if they go to 34, is 16 realistic for playoffs? Edited August 27, 2014 by Derek21 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dmann422 Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 But if they go to 34, is 16 realistic for playoffs? yes, if it ain't broke don't fix it. Even non hockey fans agree that the nhl playoffs is one of the most exciting sporting events. Diluting it down in any way can only hurt it. It's silly enough as it is that the league plays 1230 games a year to only eliminate half the teams. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BlueSkirt Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 When I want reliable news about the NHL, the last sources I would ever go to are "Sports Illustrated" and "The Sporting News". If this story had any legs then Ontarians would have the inside story...like a security guard at Copps Coliseum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted August 27, 2014 Author Share Posted August 27, 2014 When I want reliable news about the NHL, the last sources I would ever go to are "Sports Illustrated" and "The Sporting News". If this story had any legs then Ontarians would have the inside story...like a security guard at Copps Coliseum Err. you might not care for SI's hockey coverage in general, but they're not like hockeyyinsiderr in that they don't make up sources. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Devils731 Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Err. you might not care for SI's hockey coverage in general, but they're not like hockeyyinsiderr in that they don't make up sources. In this case, isn't it SI just reporting on someone else's report? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MadDog2020 Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 what about the Las Vegas Bats? Winner. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daniel Posted August 27, 2014 Author Share Posted August 27, 2014 In this case, isn't it SI just reporting on someone else's report? That's true. Although it still seems like something that SI wouldn't regurgatate willy nilly. So it's not something you can dismiss. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 The Atlanta pipe burst unexpectedly while the NHL was trying to do damage control in phoenix. I don't think they saw it coming. The league didn't have the time or resources to save the Thrashers. Frankly they just couldn't be bothered since it was a 2nd chance franchise anyway that should've never been given that chance. That offseason the NHL could've legitimately lost two southern franchises in the same week. All their chips were already in for Phoenix so Atlanta left for greener pastures with no resistance. i do remember the Oilers crises and how they were supposedly close to moving to Houston, still I think their case is more Pocklington than the Canadian dollar. Montreal and Toronto never had any issues, neither did Vancouver. Calgary maybe...but that's a big canadien city so they were never moving. Ottawa was still very new at the time. If given a redo on 1992-1993 expansion...I think the NHL probably puts a team in Hamilton instead of Ottawa. They have had some trouble there but it hasn't been an abject failure. however Hamilton is in the golden horseshoe. It would have been a sure thing. The league saw it coming for years. The Atlanta owners had been feuding and suing one another for a long time. They looked for buyers for a long time. It didn't happen so they sold the team to True North and that was that. Just like with Winnipeg - there were no buyers who were interested in keeping the team in Winnipeg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ZeroGravityFat Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 if they charge the media by the pun, vegas team would pay for itself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 The league saw it coming for years. The Atlanta owners had been feuding and suing one another for a long time. They looked for buyers for a long time. It didn't happen so they sold the team to True North and that was that. Just like with Winnipeg - there were no buyers who were interested in keeping the team in Winnipeg. Feuding owners doesn't = relocation. Heck Anaheim had an incarcerated owner. The Trash had a nice building...they didn't have relocation rumors swirling for years, they were still relatively new. I don't remember hearing anything about them moving until early 2011. And they were gone that spring. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghdi Posted August 27, 2014 Share Posted August 27, 2014 Las Vegas Outlaws This is clearly a litmus test for Vegas. If they can support an NHL team and not run afoul of the obvious there, I wouldnt be surprised to see NBA there next and possibly even NFL or MLB way down the line. Its a rapidly growing city and has been for a long time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triumph Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Feuding owners doesn't = relocation. Heck Anaheim had an incarcerated owner. The Trash had a nice building...they didn't have relocation rumors swirling for years, they were still relatively new. I don't remember hearing anything about them moving until early 2011. And they were gone that spring. It is true that relocation rumors were not there. But it's the same deal as the Winnipeg Jets version 1 - if no one wants to buy the franchise in the city it's in, then either the league has to buy it from the people to keep it there, or the team has to relocate. Bettman said years before Atlanta ended up moving that Atlanta had serious ownership problems - the key is that in this case, Balsille wasn't involved and leaking info to the Canadian press about the sale. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MantaRay Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 I agree wholeheartedly with 7 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarpathianForest Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Las Vegas Call Girls! Waiting to see the crest on the jersey! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
'7' Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Las Vegas Outlaws This is clearly a litmus test for Vegas. If they can support an NHL team and not run afoul of the obvious there, I wouldnt be surprised to see NBA there next and possibly even NFL or MLB way down the line. Its a rapidly growing city and has been for a long time. NBA...maybe. NFL, probably not since they will likely already have a team in LA by then (probably the Rams and maybe even next year) plus the whole gambling thing Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CarpathianForest Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 what about the Las Vegas Bats? How about the Las Vegas Fear? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfitz804 Posted August 28, 2014 Share Posted August 28, 2014 Let's see what corny name they pick My money is on: Las Vegas Gamblers Las Vegas High Rollers Las Vegas Deuces Las Vegas Aces Las Vegas Chips* *I really hope its this one How about the Drunken Whores? That's what I always say when I go there. Or the Wayne Newtons, I can't decide. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AEWHistory Posted August 29, 2014 Share Posted August 29, 2014 Honestly, I'm ok with this, especially if it means Seattle gets a team. I know Las Vegas and Oklahoma City are obviously completely different, but the Thunder show what can happen when a team is the only major professional sport in town. Might be a risk, but it's worth it. I dunno, I think Vegas and OkCity have more in common than first appears. Both have a lot of rollers--one dice and the other holy. Both are are consumed with issues of sin. Both cities have lots of books--one city has books for G-d and the other city books for sports. And finally each city has many large buildings dedicated to what they worship--G-d in one city and gambling in the other. Yep, seems to me they're virtually the same place! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ATLL765 Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 I know I'm digging up a months old thread, but with the league saying there will be a season ticket drive in Vegas to prove there's enough interest and it being speculated in the intermission just now that Vegas and Quebec City would be the two expansion locations, I figure it's a good time to bring this back up.There's just no way in my mind that they allow expansion, but don't even out the conferences. So if QC is really a spot they will expand to, who moves west? Probably won't be Detroit after their move East was reported to be one of the more prominent reasons for the realignment. Does Columbus move back to the west?Or is the talk of expansion to QC bs and another location like Seattle is really the place to be looking at? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HOLLYWOOD Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 (edited) Here's the link for the 'Time-Lapse' cam of the new 20,000 seat arena being build. It will be between the Strip and I-15, behind New York New York casino/hotel http://www.vegaschatter.com/story/2014/10/2/112322/084/vegas-travel/There%27s+A+Live+Web+Cam+For+The+Arena+Under+Construction+Behind+New+York-New+York Edited December 10, 2014 by HOLLYWOOD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mfitz804 Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 (edited) edited to remove joke I had previously made and forgotten. Edited December 10, 2014 by mfitz804 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Brown Posted December 10, 2014 Share Posted December 10, 2014 I already hear people in Quebec grabbing their pitchforks and torches. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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