Back In The Game?

[charger77]

I dont know if the Quebec move was a disaster. 10+ years and 2 Cups later and Denver is a strong thriving NHL city!

-Dan

[DelayedPenalty]

Hamilton Jets? Are you joking?

That would upset alot of Winnipeg fans.

Im going with Hamilton Tigers or Hamilton Steel Hawks

Hamilton Tigers would bring back the history of the former team, similar to the Ottawa Senators. Hamilton Steel Anything just sounds too gimicky and minor league. I'd avoid any steel references.

Leaving the name Coyotes doesn't make much sense. Yeah there are coyotes in Southern Ontario, but I doubt if many people in Hamilton have ever actually seen one, plus continuing to use the name of the team that was "stolen" from Canada might rub some people *coughWinnipegcough* the wrong way.

I think moving the team back to Winnipeg would be a fantastic idea, but Balsillie seems deadset on getting a team in Hamilton or surrounding area. Another team in Canada, regardless of where it is will be a fantastic thing!

[Burmy]

I dont know if the Quebec move was a disaster. 10+ years and 2 Cups later and Denver is a strong thriving NHL city!

-Dan

I agree with you there. Denver is a GREAT city for an NHL team (cold-weather climate and all), but I think they should have made it one of the expansion cities (rather than Atlanta or Nashville). They should NOT have taken the Nordiques from the faithful Quebecois.

[Blitz]

Hamilton Jets? Are you joking?

That would upset alot of Winnipeg fans.

Im going with Hamilton Tigers or Hamilton Steel Hawks

Hamilton Tigers would bring back the history of the former team, similar to the Ottawa Senators. Hamilton Steel Anything just sounds too gimicky and minor league. I'd avoid any steel references.

Leaving the name Coyotes doesn't make much sense. Yeah there are coyotes in Southern Ontario, but I doubt if many people in Hamilton have ever actually seen one, plus continuing to use the name of the team that was "stolen" from Canada might rub some people *coughWinnipegcough* the wrong way.

I think moving the team back to Winnipeg would be a fantastic idea, but Balsillie seems deadset on getting a team in Hamilton or surrounding area. Another team in Canada, regardless of where it is will be a fantastic thing!

JB's most likely not gonna get his way in Southern Ontario. The Buds will make sure of that. Plus Bettman hates Jim Balsilie & will do anything to make this move/purchase difficult. Barring a "lay down & roll over" by Toronto, I would say Winnipeg is probably the best candidate for the 'yotes in Canada, but I wouldn't put it past Gary to try to find a buyer in Hartford or KC first.

[rams80]

I got this off tsn.ca

"Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger confirms there are ongoing talks to bring an NHL team to town."

There's a short scrum with the mayor in the videos section.

He says they are trying to bring hockey to Hamilton permanently. Not on an interim basis before moving on to another location.

Does he have a couple billion dollars with which to buy off Buffalo and/or Toronto permanently?

[Linus]

For anyone on Facebook who would like to support the movement of bringing a 7th NHL franchise to Hamilton, join this group:

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=78760912140

[disman00911]

If Balsillie wants to move the Coyotes to Southern Ontario, that idiot commissioner Bettman should step aside & let it happen. I'm not Canadian, but why do I feel that he has an anti-Canadian bias. If Balsillie wanted to move the team to Kansas City or another US city, Bettman wouldn't try to stop it. I also don't buy Bettman's statement "We fix the problems we don't run out on cities" REALLY?! Ask Quebec, Hartford, & Winnipeg. While I think that the NHL would benifit with more teams in Canada, there are US markets that would make great hockey markets: Kansas City, Houston, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland OR., etc. I would have included Cleveland, but Ohio already has a team (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Should the Coyotes happen to move to Southern Ontario, that would mean that one of the existing Eastern Conference teams will have to move to the Western Conference (most likely Pittsburgh would be that team)

Possible NHL realignment

Eastern Conference

Northeast - Hamilton (PHX), MTL, OTT, TOR, BUF

Atlantic - BOS, PHI, NYR, NYI, NJ

Southeast - WSH, TB, FLA, CAR, ATL

Western Conference

Central - PIT, CHI, DET, CLB, STL

Northwest - COL, MIN, EDM, CGY, VAN

Pacific - DAL, NSH, LA, ANA, SJ

That's my 2 cents

[SenatorJake]

I got this off tsn.ca

"Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger confirms there are ongoing talks to bring an NHL team to town."

There's a short scrum with the mayor in the videos section.

He says they are trying to bring hockey to Hamilton permanently. Not on an interim basis before moving on to another location.

Does he have a couple billion dollars with which to buy off Buffalo and/or Toronto permanently?

I doubt it. These are just the negotiations that are going on.

Also, it turns out that Bettman was responsible for the Florida and Anaheim expansions. So Florida is another failing market (extremely low paying attendance, little to no media coverage, continually missing the post-season) that he is responsible for.

Also on the topic of the last post before this one where Cleveland was mentioned. I would just like to point out that even though Columbus has a team, it would be truly awesome if the Cleveland Barons came back to the NHL. They would have an instant rivalry with Detroit, Pittsburgh and Columbus (some divisional re-alignments recquired). As usual though, ownership with deep pockets would have to be willing to give this project some time. I think that eventually though, success would come as it seems to finally be coming to Columbus.

[oddball]

If Ballsillie can get rid of Bettman, the league will do so much better. We need to contract the league and get rid of Nashville, Phoenix, Tampa, Atlanta, and Florida. Denver didn't steal Quebec as Quebec City didn't have the funds to build a new arena. If I remember right, they didn't even have funds to build a new hospital. Did Phoenix steal the Jets? I don't know, but if it was the same situation as in Quebec and the lack of funding that was crippling the team and the owners of the team, then it's just economics and if that's the case then I don't ever see a team in Winnipeg again. If they couldn't compete in the NHL and have a stable franchise 10 years ago, what makes you think they can compete now. Having a major league sports franchise is more than people filling the gates. Now are Nashville, Phoenix, Tampa, Atlanta, and Florida complete disasters? You betcha! They are all Bettman's love children.

[rams80]

I got this off tsn.ca

"Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger confirms there are ongoing talks to bring an NHL team to town."

There's a short scrum with the mayor in the videos section.

He says they are trying to bring hockey to Hamilton permanently. Not on an interim basis before moving on to another location.

Does he have a couple billion dollars with which to buy off Buffalo and/or Toronto permanently?

I doubt it. These are just the negotiations that are going on.

Also, it turns out that Bettman was responsible for the Florida and Anaheim expansions. So Florida is another failing market (extremely low paying attendance, little to no media coverage, continually missing the post-season) that he is responsible for.

Also on the topic of the last post before this one where Cleveland was mentioned. I would just like to point out that even though Columbus has a team, it would be truly awesome if the Cleveland Barons came back to the NHL. They would have an instant rivalry with Detroit, Pittsburgh and Columbus (some divisional re-alignments recquired). As usual though, ownership with deep pockets would have to be willing to give this project some time. I think that eventually though, success would come as it seems to finally be coming to Columbus.

Where does it say he was responsible for them? I'm pretty sure they were announced prior to his taking the job.

[FiddySicks]

If Ballsillie can get rid of Bettman, the league will do so much better. We need to contract the league and get rid of Nashville, Phoenix, Tampa, Atlanta, and Florida. Denver didn't steal Quebec as Quebec City didn't have the funds to build a new arena. If I remember right, they didn't even have funds to build a new hospital. Did Phoenix steal the Jets? I don't know, but if it was the same situation as in Quebec and the lack of funding that was crippling the team and the owners of the team, then it's just economics and if that's the case then I don't ever see a team in Winnipeg again. If they couldn't compete in the NHL and have a stable franchise 10 years ago, what makes you think they can compete now. Having a major league sports franchise is more than people filling the gates. Now are Nashville, Phoenix, Tampa, Atlanta, and Florida complete disasters? You betcha! They are all Bettman's love children.

How is Tampa a total disaster?

[CC97]

I got this off tsn.ca

"Hamilton Mayor Fred Eisenberger confirms there are ongoing talks to bring an NHL team to town."

There's a short scrum with the mayor in the videos section.

He says they are trying to bring hockey to Hamilton permanently. Not on an interim basis before moving on to another location.

Does he have a couple billion dollars with which to buy off Buffalo and/or Toronto permanently?

I doubt it. These are just the negotiations that are going on.

Also, it turns out that Bettman was responsible for the Florida and Anaheim expansions. So Florida is another failing market (extremely low paying attendance, little to no media coverage, continually missing the post-season) that he is responsible for.

Also on the topic of the last post before this one where Cleveland was mentioned. I would just like to point out that even though Columbus has a team, it would be truly awesome if the Cleveland Barons came back to the NHL. They would have an instant rivalry with Detroit, Pittsburgh and Columbus (some divisional re-alignments recquired). As usual though, ownership with deep pockets would have to be willing to give this project some time. I think that eventually though, success would come as it seems to finally be coming to Columbus.

Where does it say he was responsible for them? I'm pretty sure they were announced prior to his taking the job.

I'm pretty sure they were awarded their franchises just a few weeks before Bettman became commissioner

[rams80]

If Balsillie wants to move the Coyotes to Southern Ontario, that idiot commissioner Bettman should step aside & let it happen. I'm not Canadian, but why do I feel that he has an anti-Canadian bias. If Balsillie wanted to move the team to Kansas City or another US city, Bettman wouldn't try to stop it. I also don't buy Bettman's statement "We fix the problems we don't run out on cities" REALLY?! Ask Quebec, Hartford, & Winnipeg. While I think that the NHL would benifit with more teams in Canada, there are US markets that would make great hockey markets: Kansas City, Houston, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland OR., etc. I would have included Cleveland, but Ohio already has a team (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Should the Coyotes happen to move to Southern Ontario, that would mean that one of the existing Eastern Conference teams will have to move to the Western Conference (most likely Pittsburgh would be that team)

Possible NHL realignment

Eastern Conference

Northeast - Hamilton (PHX), MTL, OTT, TOR, BUF

Atlantic - BOS, PHI, NYR, NYI, NJ

Southeast - WSH, TB, FLA, CAR, ATL

Western Conference

Central - PIT, CHI, DET, CLB, STL

Northwest - COL, MIN, EDM, CGY, VAN

Pacific - DAL, NSH, LA, ANA, SJ

That's my 2 cents

The only way to fix those problems involves having a working human cloning machine to double the population of those markets. There were fundamental issues with those markets that cannot be corrected no matter how much time and effort is put into it. Phoenix is, with admittedly a lot of work, correctable. Atlanta is correctable. Nashville is correctable.

Also...Pittsburgh to the Western Conference is a nonstarter. As is Nashville to the Pacific Division.

Seattle might work if only you could fit both a NHL rink and a decent amount of fans into the arena.

Here's my suggestion, operating on the premise that the NHL won't cut a break for Balsillie even if they have to have him in the league.

Eastern Conference: Same

Western Conference:

Pacific: VAN, LA, ANA, SJ, DAL

NorthwestONT, CAL, EDM, COL, MIN

Central: Same

[SenatorJake]

If Balsillie wants to move the Coyotes to Southern Ontario, that idiot commissioner Bettman should step aside & let it happen. I'm not Canadian, but why do I feel that he has an anti-Canadian bias. If Balsillie wanted to move the team to Kansas City or another US city, Bettman wouldn't try to stop it. I also don't buy Bettman's statement "We fix the problems we don't run out on cities" REALLY?! Ask Quebec, Hartford, & Winnipeg. While I think that the NHL would benifit with more teams in Canada, there are US markets that would make great hockey markets: Kansas City, Houston, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland OR., etc. I would have included Cleveland, but Ohio already has a team (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Should the Coyotes happen to move to Southern Ontario, that would mean that one of the existing Eastern Conference teams will have to move to the Western Conference (most likely Pittsburgh would be that team)

Possible NHL realignment

Eastern Conference

Northeast - Hamilton (PHX), MTL, OTT, TOR, BUF

Atlantic - BOS, PHI, NYR, NYI, NJ

Southeast - WSH, TB, FLA, CAR, ATL

Western Conference

Central - PIT, CHI, DET, CLB, STL

Northwest - COL, MIN, EDM, CGY, VAN

Pacific - DAL, NSH, LA, ANA, SJ

That's my 2 cents

The only way to fix those problems involves having a working human cloning machine to double the population of those markets. There were fundamental issues with those markets that cannot be corrected no matter how much time and effort is put into it. Phoenix is, with admittedly a lot of work, correctable. Atlanta is correctable. Nashville is correctable.

Also...Pittsburgh to the Western Conference is a nonstarter. As is Nashville to the Pacific Division.

Seattle might work if only you could fit both a NHL rink and a decent amount of fans into the arena.

Do you work for Gary Bettman's radio show? Newsflash: 95 % of people in Phoenix and Atlanta don't even know they have a hockey team.

[rams80]

If Balsillie wants to move the Coyotes to Southern Ontario, that idiot commissioner Bettman should step aside & let it happen. I'm not Canadian, but why do I feel that he has an anti-Canadian bias. If Balsillie wanted to move the team to Kansas City or another US city, Bettman wouldn't try to stop it. I also don't buy Bettman's statement "We fix the problems we don't run out on cities" REALLY?! Ask Quebec, Hartford, & Winnipeg. While I think that the NHL would benifit with more teams in Canada, there are US markets that would make great hockey markets: Kansas City, Houston, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland OR., etc. I would have included Cleveland, but Ohio already has a team (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Should the Coyotes happen to move to Southern Ontario, that would mean that one of the existing Eastern Conference teams will have to move to the Western Conference (most likely Pittsburgh would be that team)

Possible NHL realignment

Eastern Conference

Northeast - Hamilton (PHX), MTL, OTT, TOR, BUF

Atlantic - BOS, PHI, NYR, NYI, NJ

Southeast - WSH, TB, FLA, CAR, ATL

Western Conference

Central - PIT, CHI, DET, CLB, STL

Northwest - COL, MIN, EDM, CGY, VAN

Pacific - DAL, NSH, LA, ANA, SJ

That's my 2 cents

The only way to fix those problems involves having a working human cloning machine to double the population of those markets. There were fundamental issues with those markets that cannot be corrected no matter how much time and effort is put into it. Phoenix is, with admittedly a lot of work, correctable. Atlanta is correctable. Nashville is correctable.

Also...Pittsburgh to the Western Conference is a nonstarter. As is Nashville to the Pacific Division.

Seattle might work if only you could fit both a NHL rink and a decent amount of fans into the arena.

Do you work for Gary Bettman's radio show?

No, but it's easier and feasible to build an interest in hockey in large US markets than it is to double to population of a group of 3 markets that were only in the league for a generation, and at that because Canada nearly revolted on the NHL.

[Lee.]

Little known fact regarding the Jets leaving town in the first place-

Back when it became apparent that the old Arena was woefully inadequate for NHL-calibre hockey (bad sightlines, 10 luxury suites, etc), a company named Ogden Entertainment Services came to City Hall with a plan to build a new, 18,500-seat arena in downtown Winnipeg (basically where CanWest Park is now), all on their own dime. Part of the features of the new arena would have been a Hard Rock Cafe, as well as a posh new casino on the upper levels of the arena, which would have rivalled that of any in Vegas (or at the very least, Atlantic City).

Ogden was looking for only two concessions from local and provincial governments-

1. Sell them the land for a dollar, and collect full tax value on it in perpetuity, and

2. Let Ogden keep the revenues from the casino.

The provincial government, which held a chokehold (and still does) on all casino and lottery revenues in the province of Manitoba, said "no thank you."

There you go; reason "A" that the Jets are no longer in the NHL.

Also, in 1981 or so, the Jets were almost sold to an ownership group in Hamilton who was going to move the team; the owner at the time, Michael Gobuty, was hours away from closing the deal when the remaining minority owners of the team made him an offer he couldn't refuse. So there's your "Hamilton Jets" trivia of the day.

[BigMac12]

This is why, as a Pheonix fan, that this is so hypocritical; they ask for Phoenix, Carolina, Atlanta, etc, but thou shall not harm the Kings, Sharks, Stars, Blues, etc.

[Sodboy13]

If Balsillie wants to move the Coyotes to Southern Ontario, that idiot commissioner Bettman should step aside & let it happen. I'm not Canadian, but why do I feel that he has an anti-Canadian bias. If Balsillie wanted to move the team to Kansas City or another US city, Bettman wouldn't try to stop it. I also don't buy Bettman's statement "We fix the problems we don't run out on cities" REALLY?! Ask Quebec, Hartford, & Winnipeg. While I think that the NHL would benifit with more teams in Canada, there are US markets that would make great hockey markets: Kansas City, Houston, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland OR., etc. I would have included Cleveland, but Ohio already has a team (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Should the Coyotes happen to move to Southern Ontario, that would mean that one of the existing Eastern Conference teams will have to move to the Western Conference (most likely Pittsburgh would be that team)

Possible NHL realignment

Eastern Conference

Northeast - Hamilton (PHX), MTL, OTT, TOR, BUF

Atlantic - BOS, PHI, NYR, NYI, NJ

Southeast - WSH, TB, FLA, CAR, ATL

Western Conference

Central - PIT, CHI, DET, CLB, STL

Northwest - COL, MIN, EDM, CGY, VAN

Pacific - DAL, NSH, LA, ANA, SJ

That's my 2 cents

The only way to fix those problems involves having a working human cloning machine to double the population of those markets. There were fundamental issues with those markets that cannot be corrected no matter how much time and effort is put into it. Phoenix is, with admittedly a lot of work, correctable. Atlanta is correctable. Nashville is correctable.

Also...Pittsburgh to the Western Conference is a nonstarter. As is Nashville to the Pacific Division.

Seattle might work if only you could fit both a NHL rink and a decent amount of fans into the arena.

Do you work for Gary Bettman's radio show? Newsflash: 95 % of people in Phoenix and Atlanta don't even know they have a hockey team.

I'm guessing your definition of "95% of people" in Orange County don't give two flips about the Ducks. And yet...

Let's try this:

Phoenix is hanging by a thread at this point. It will take an owner committed to both immediate winning and to the market itself (Reinsdorf?) to keep the Coyotes around past 2010.

Atlanta is a city that doesn't care enough about any of its sports franchises to show up until they're in the second round of the playoffs. Waddell is killing any hope for this franchise to resuscitate. He goes, someone competent comes in, people will pay attention, and the money will come in.

These two markets are not dead issues by virtue of their latitudes alone.

[rams80]

I dont know if the Quebec move was a disaster. 10+ years and 2 Cups later and Denver is a strong thriving NHL city!

-Dan

I agree with you there. Denver is a GREAT city for an NHL team (cold-weather climate and all), but I think they should have made it one of the expansion cities (rather than Atlanta or Nashville). They should NOT have taken the Nordiques from the faithful Quebecois.

The faithful Quebecois chose not to replace their ancient craphole of an arena-knowing damn well the consequences of that. Let's stop the pity parade for them.

[SenatorJake]

If Balsillie wants to move the Coyotes to Southern Ontario, that idiot commissioner Bettman should step aside & let it happen. I'm not Canadian, but why do I feel that he has an anti-Canadian bias. If Balsillie wanted to move the team to Kansas City or another US city, Bettman wouldn't try to stop it. I also don't buy Bettman's statement "We fix the problems we don't run out on cities" REALLY?! Ask Quebec, Hartford, & Winnipeg. While I think that the NHL would benifit with more teams in Canada, there are US markets that would make great hockey markets: Kansas City, Houston, Milwaukee, Salt Lake City, Seattle, Portland OR., etc. I would have included Cleveland, but Ohio already has a team (Columbus Blue Jackets)

Should the Coyotes happen to move to Southern Ontario, that would mean that one of the existing Eastern Conference teams will have to move to the Western Conference (most likely Pittsburgh would be that team)

Possible NHL realignment

Eastern Conference

Northeast - Hamilton (PHX), MTL, OTT, TOR, BUF

Atlantic - BOS, PHI, NYR, NYI, NJ

Southeast - WSH, TB, FLA, CAR, ATL

Western Conference

Central - PIT, CHI, DET, CLB, STL

Northwest - COL, MIN, EDM, CGY, VAN

Pacific - DAL, NSH, LA, ANA, SJ

That's my 2 cents

The only way to fix those problems involves having a working human cloning machine to double the population of those markets. There were fundamental issues with those markets that cannot be corrected no matter how much time and effort is put into it. Phoenix is, with admittedly a lot of work, correctable. Atlanta is correctable. Nashville is correctable.

Also...Pittsburgh to the Western Conference is a nonstarter. As is Nashville to the Pacific Division.

Seattle might work if only you could fit both a NHL rink and a decent amount of fans into the arena.

Do you work for Gary Bettman's radio show?

No, but it's easier and feasible to build an interest in hockey in large US markets than it is to double to population of a group of 3 markets that were only in the league for a generation, and at that because Canada nearly revolted on the NHL.

Revolted? How? By continually being the ones who make up a third of the revenue of this league despite only having 6 teams? By being the only country to broadcast NHL games nationally on a channel that is in the average citizen's home (TSN/CBC/Sportsnet/RDS)? By filling our newscasts with NHL highlights even when a Canadian team is not involved? You can't question the Canadian public's loyalty to the NHL, you'd be better off questioning our loyalty to beer and donuts.

Where's Phoenix's loyalty to NHL? Miami or Atlanta's loyalty? I don't see them in the seats at the arena. I see barely any news coverage for the NHL in those local markets. I think many citizens of those cities are unaware they even have an NHL franchise. I question their loyalty to the NHL and I have a basis to do so.