Western Boycott

[ken_valyi]

Canoe link for reference

The final decision on a possible Leafs travel boycott of two games in Edmonton next year will likely be made by NHL commissioner Gary Bettman. Though the Leafs have floated the idea as a protest of the Oilers proposed move of their farm team to a renovated CNE Coliseum from Hamilton, Bettman can ask the Leafs to restore the games. But sources say he is ready to side with the Leafs and might not interfere. The Leafs also don't want the CNE project because the facility could compete with the Air Canada Centre for small concerts

Sounds like the Oil are shooting themselves in the foot with this move. The Western teams draw sellouts when the Leafs and Habs play there, and to ruin that by moving their farm club in a competing venue of the Air Canada Centre is a dumb deal.

[Hemsky83]

That is dumb. The Oilers are losing around 2-3 million a season by having the team in Hamilton. Having the team in Toronto would save the team money. Do the Leafs believe that the Oilers only sell out when the Leafs come to town. If they do, they are so wrong. The Oilers had 29 sellouts this season including 2 against Minnesota and 1 against Columbus. I believe they had sellouts against weak teams.

[ken_valyi]

It was my understanding... dang if I can't find a story however... that when the Leafs moved from the Western Conference that the Canadian western teams (Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver) had them commit to making two trips a season to their franchises.

Perhaps this was more to help the Flames, which has problems with season tickets, then the Oil.