69 replies to this topic

[thefiestygoat]

Don't expect Seattle to be a viable NHL option for at least a few years - and by then who knows if the NHL would be looking to relocate or expand. As expected the vote went Stern's way and the Kings are remaining in Sacramento. Theoretically expansion wouldn't happen until after the league negotiates a new tv deal (current expires in 2015-16) but I don't think expansion is a given due to how diluted the talent pool already is in the NBA and extreme lack of parity. It seems Seattle is to the NBA, what LA is to the NFL.

 

Not much concrete or important news has come out of Phoenix lately and things seem quiet in Quebec. I still wouldn't be shocked to see the Coyotes playing in QC next year.

[MadDog2020]

Don't expect Seattle to be a viable NHL option for at least a few years - and by then who knows if the NHL would be looking to relocate or expand. As expected the vote went Stern's way and the Kings are remaining in Sacramento. Theoretically expansion wouldn't happen until after the league negotiates a new tv deal (current expires in 2015-16) but I don't think expansion is a given due to how diluted the talent pool already is in the NBA and extreme lack of parity. It seems Seattle is to the NBA, what LA is to the NFL.
 
Not much concrete or important news has come out of Phoenix lately and things seem quiet in Quebec. I still wouldn't be shocked to see the Coyotes playing in QC next year.

If the Coyotes are playing in QC next year, than the NHL's entire realignment plan is fvcked and they'll have to go back to the drawing board. You can't have QC in the Pacific division playing against LA and SJ and having that kind of travel, even for one year. It would be ridiculous.

[RowdyFan42]

Well, it's not good. But from the sounds of it Hansen isn't ready to give up buying the Kings yet. They have also made some headway into the new arena and he might not walk away so fast.

So at this point the arena is happening no matter what? I suppose that's a positive sign for the NHL's prospects in Seattle, although you'd still need an owner and, as fiesty said, the Hansen/Ballmer group won't be all that interested in trying to bring in the Coyotes (or any other team) without first having an NBA team in hand.

[thefiestygoat]

If the Coyotes are playing in QC next year, than the NHL's entire realignment plan is fvcked and they'll have to go back to the drawing board. You can't have QC in the Pacific division playing against LA and SJ and having that kind of travel, even for one year. It would be ridiculous.

Hopefully the NHL has some sort of back up plan...or perhaps they are willing to run the team for another year? I haven't been following the Phoenix situation that closely since Seattle/Sacramento has been such a hot topic lately. I know some new potential owners popped up for the Coyotes but they seemed just as illegitimate as the previous ownership groups. I do wonder if this could end up being like Atlanta/Winnipeg where we hear some whispers and then bam, relocation story appears in late May/early June.

[Vic Rattlehead18]

Heard on NHL network this morning that the oilers are about to get a new stadium agreement too.

[MadDog2020]

If the Coyotes are playing in QC next year, than the NHL's entire realignment plan is fvcked and they'll have to go back to the drawing board. You can't have QC in the Pacific division playing against LA and SJ and having that kind of travel, even for one year. It would be ridiculous.
Hopefully the NHL has some sort of back up plan...or perhaps they are willing to run the team for another year? I haven't been following the Phoenix situation that closely since Seattle/Sacramento has been such a hot topic lately. I know some new potential owners popped up for the Coyotes but they seemed just as illegitimate as the previous ownership groups. I do wonder if this could end up being like Atlanta/Winnipeg where we hear some whispers and then bam, relocation story appears in late May/early June.

I've been wondering what's gonna happen there as well. It's been very quiet. A few months ago, I remember thinking "there's no way the Coyotes open next season in Phoneix" after the latest local ownership group fell through. But I haven't heard a peep about a potential buyer in Phoenix or anywhere else in a while, so who knows, maybe the NHL is gonna run the franchise and keep it there for another year. Nothing this league does surprises me.

[squishyx]

So at this point the arena is happening no matter what? I suppose that's a positive sign for the NHL's prospects in Seattle, although you'd still need an owner and, as fiesty said, the Hansen/Ballmer group won't be all that interested in trying to bring in the Coyotes (or any other team) without first having an NBA team in hand.

I think it's possible, probably a long shot now. If the group felt that they were going to secure 'a' NBA team in the near future they might continue. Arena's take time to build so this would avoid having to play at Key Arena for a couple years which was part of the original plan. I don't think it's likely anymore though given recent events. The immediate prospects for Seattle getting an NBA/NHL team are dashed given yesterdays relocation vote.

I do think think there is hope though, this guy was willing to up the ante $100m in the last week before a couple key votes, and he is trying to get a 20% share of the Kings. His ownership group is obviously very determined and that bodes well for Seattle.

http://www.sonicsare...sonics-faithful

[MDPucks]

If the Coyotes are playing in QC next year, than the NHL's entire realignment plan is fvcked and they'll have to go back to the drawing board. You can't have QC in the Pacific division playing against LA and SJ and having that kind of travel, even for one year. It would be ridiculous.

I have a feeling that the NHL's contingency for moving Phoenix east to Quebec City is:

 

Move TBY & FLA from Northeast to Central

Move COL and/or WPG from Central to Pacific

 

I still believe the NHL would rather relocate Phoenix to Seattle if they had to.  Then Quebec City and Toronto II could be expansion franchises that'll give the NHL owners another huge cash grab on expansion fees.

[ghdi]

I think it's possible, probably a long shot now. If the group felt that they were going to secure 'a' NBA team in the near future they might continue. Arena's take time to build so this would avoid having to play at Key Arena for a couple years which was part of the original plan. I don't think it's likely anymore though given recent events. The immediate prospects for Seattle getting an NBA/NHL team are dashed given yesterdays relocation vote.

I do think think there is hope though, this guy was willing to up the ante $100m in the last week before a couple key votes, and he is trying to get a 20% share of the Kings. His ownership group is obviously very determined and that bodes well for Seattle.

http://www.sonicsare...sonics-faithful

 

Nope. It's over. The Maloofs are selling to the guy who is keeping the team in Sacto.

[thefiestygoat]

Unfortunately for hockey fans in Seattle, a NHL team is an afterthought to a NBA team and with the NBA unlikely to expand or have any franchises on the verge of relocating any time in the next few years, the idea of the NHL in Seattle is dead for now. I'm too tired to look up the details but I believe the Seattle arena only had a few years to get started before the deal expired and it is very doubtful they will be able to get a NBA team by then. I was reading this post on the Sonics blog on SB Nation about the state of the NBA and why all the expansion talk is just lip service to people in Seattle from Stern and found it rather interesting.

 

Seems like as of right now, Quebec City is the only option for the NHL since they have a temporary arena and a new one set to open in 2015, not to mention that the insane fan support. For the sake of discussion and speculation, I wonder what two other cities/areas would be potential NHL destinations should NHL expansion happen?

 

I suppose Markham, Ontario would count as Toronto 2/GTA but last I checked they were having a lot of problems getting approval for that arena project. I have no idea how viable Kansas City would be but the Sprint Center there seats 17,779 for hockey.