Contraction for NHL teams??

[ChrisFrez]

Now that MLB owners have voted to eliminate 2 Baseball teams, do you think Hockey could be moving in this direction as well? If so, what teams should be eliminated?

I think my votes would be going to the 2 Florida teams - Florida & Tampa Bay.

[P.J Stock]

I would eliminate the Devils, Flyers, Pens, Islanders

ok, for real, I cant see the NHL doing this.....But the two Florida teams wouldnt be bad candidates.

[cASe SenSiTive]

Yes yes yes! I've been saying this for years.
They need to eliminate at least the Lightning and the Ducks. Columbus and Florida could go too.

[ken_valyi]

Sorry to disagree but Contraction blows even more so than expansion does, IMHO.

I think any league thinking of expanding right now should fire it's comissioner or in baseball's case it's greedy owner fronting as a comissioner. But contraction is completely retarded especially if you have thoughts of expansion later on, which all leagues do.

As a sports fan I find baseball's actions a slap across the face. I've grown tired of their heavy-handed, game destroying tactics that have only hurt their customers, us, at the end of the day. The Players are making more than ever as the rich owners have no rules or regulation to stop them from out right buying poorer teams players. Pure Greed runs baseball, and there's no respect for those that truly appreciated a once fine sport.

/rant

[wingwop]

Actually, I wouldn't be opposed to contraction. If you eliminate some of the shabby teams in the NHL (or any sport for that matter) the talent pool becomes smaller and greater making for a better consumer product. I agree with Ken's statement about the greedy owners, but before our time it was worse. At least the players make piles of money now along with the owners. Either way the fans lose and have lost. They should implement a rule; no winter no hockey team. Sorry Phoenix, Florida, Dallas, LA, etc.

I disagree with Ken about it not being all Betman's fault. He is a proven ass. It may not be better with another commissioner, but it wouldn't be worse. He's a bigger whore than all the owners combined. I thank him for cheap shot hits and injuries instead of fights where players were self policed and held accountable for their actions. I love the game, I hate the business. Sometimes I wish I didn't love hockey, cause I'd want it to go out of business so Betman and his family would starve.

[ken_valyi]

Originally posted by wingwop
I disagree with Ken about it not being all Betman's fault. He is a proven ass. It may not be better with another commissioner, but it wouldn't be worse. He's a bigger whore than all the owners combined. I thank him for cheap shot hits and injuries instead of fights where players were self policed and held accountable for their actions. I love the game, I hate the business. Sometimes I wish I didn't love hockey, cause I'd want it to go out of business so Betman and his family would starve.

WW,

I feel no love for Gary, but commissioners past have eliminated rules that effect the game today, notably the touch-back rule for off-sides, and each team icing one less player for co-incidental minors. Both were implemented because of Gretzky and his run and gun Oilers by Bettman's predassor (alright I can't speel, or think of that shmuck's name! ).

Where Bettman really messed things up is allowing all of this over-expansion, but since every sport did it in the 90's I guess he can't take the complete blame.

Although, that doesn't mean we can't hate him for it.

[P.J Stock]

There is one thing, and one thing only that could make me not really watch Hockey anymore. That is if Mr. Bettman decides there is no place for fighting in the game. Im not a big fan of the instigator rule either. Come to think of it, i might not like the heavy suspensions that are givin out for a player leaving the bench to join an altercation.....Thats when things get interesting. I think fighting is one of the main things that seperates hockey from all the other sports, and it needs to stay.(which Im sure it will)

[Cane Says]

I disagree with contraction. I understand that expansion can hurt the product in the short term by depleting the pool of talented players, but think of all the good for the overall sport expansion can do. expansion can bring new fans into the sport. People can attend the sport, whether it is baseball or hockey, and learn more about it. I didn't know a lot about hockey until the Hurricanes moved from Hartford to Raleigh. Before Hockey came my way i only enjoyed it, but now i love it and can't wait to see the games.
I understand the business ends of contraction, but i think that the fans ae hurt by that practice more than anyone else.