Every die hard hockey fan out there loves to reminisce about the days when hockey was popular in the United States, especially when the NHL had reached its peak in the early 90s, right before the first lockout that almost crippled the league.
Games were on ESPN, FOX, and ABC.
Even if you didn't like hockey, there wasn't a sports channel you could watch that didn't advertise "The Fastest Game on Earth."
In fact, for a while, hockey was second only to baseball in terms of television ratings and attendance, if even for a very brief time.
But, now those memories seem like they were taken place in a dream world.
Immediately after Gary Bettman took over as commissioner, there was a lockout that cut the 1994-95 season in half and killed almost all of the momentum from what was one of the most exciting playoff series in NHL history; the Vancouver Canucks vs. the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Finals.
Following that series, hockey was on top for a few weeks in the summer of 1994.
Front pages on the top newspapers in America, clips on nightly news shows, player appearances on talk shows, and many other things—it couldn't get any better.
The die-hard hockey fan then started to cringe in the years following that first lockout. Not only did the league expand to 30 teams from the previous 24, but expanded in all the wrong places.
Cities where people wouldn't know a blue line from a clothesline were now all of a sudden hosting NHL teams.
Nashville, Atlanta, Raleigh, Tampa Bay, and Sunrise became the new locations, and as we look back in retrospect, just how the hell did this ever come to be?
By believing they were still a top sport, the NHL thought they could do no wrong; however, that quickly and completely backfired.
The new expansion teams started out horribly, with bad players and bad records, quickly causing new found popularity to dwindle. And that was only the beginning of the very destructive snowball effect.
Because popularity in these cities dwindled, big name free agents would not sign there and players already on the teams would leave as soon as they possibly could. Then the team loses money and that's how we got our second lockout in just 10 years.
One that for the first time in professional sports, caused an entire season to be lost, along with the NHL's popularity and respect.
We are now four seasons passed the lockout and I'm happy to say that hockey is back on the rise again.
Salary caps have now allowed for every team to have a chance and if the league just stays the course, everything will be fine.
Then we hear that dreaded word again: "expansion."
With different news articles reporting on how Toronto's market can support another team and how the people of Kansas City are dying for a team of their own.
Because of this, I am led to believe that the NHL once again wants to expand, this time to 32 teams. Something that I think will put the final nail in the coffin and destroy this league, once and for all.
For that reason, I write this proposal that you are reading here today.
I offer my thoughts and three little pieces of advice that I think will help fix the NHL. I will refer to them as the three R's: Reduction, Relocation, and Realignment.
As you read on further, hopefully you will make some sense of this and come to an agreement with me. The best part is, if I do say so myself, is that this is all completely realistic and something I think will
- B/R Ticket Guide
Reduction
When the NHL was at its popularity peak, it was no coincidence that the league was smaller. At one point, there were 24 teams and then the league expanded to the better number of 26 in 1994. Only cities that liked hockey and could support a franchise got to host a team.
When the league underwent it's rapid growth to cities that could never support a hockey team, as stated above, is when things started to fall apart.
For that reason, I will propose that the NHL fold two franchises; the Florida Panthers and the Atlanta Thrashers.
Whenever I watch a Thrashers game, I am near dumbfounded at how little attendance they get, even against teams like the New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and Toronto Maple Leafs—three teams that are almost instant big draws when it comes to ticket sales around the league.
Even during their only playoff appearance in 2007, they still did not sell out, and when the Rangers swept them in the first round, I believe that put the final nail in the coffin as attendance was even worse.
Marian Hossa wanted out last season and now Ilya Kovalchuk is itching to go. When he becomes a free agent, you can guarantee he is out of there the second his contract expires. With two superstars now gone, who will draw fans to the arena on a game by game basis?
Brian Little and Tobias Enstrom may be solid players, but they are far from superstar status. All the more reason to rid the league of this team.
The second franchise that should fold is the Florida Panthers. Although the other Floridian team, the Tampa Bay Lightning, seems to do very well with attendance, the Panthers don't come close to selling out.
The only games they do come close to selling out are when the Rangers come to town and you can hear chants of "Lets Go Rangers" in the background. As a Rangers fan, I'm proud; as a hockey fan, I'm disgusted.
It was before a game against the Rangers last season when then Captain Olli Jokinen said, "Looks like we're going to have to play a decent road game," in a pregame interview.
The Panthers had their chance at popularity during the late 90s when being led by players like John Vanbiesbrouck and Robert Svehla. But that time is long gone, and with the recent departures of Olli Jokinen and superstar goaltender Roberto Luongo, how long will it be before Nathan Horton and Stephen Weiss want out?
Relocation
In response to all the people saying that Toronto can support another hockey team, I partially think they are right. I'm not sure how a team that close to Toronto will do, but I firmly believe that Canada can use another team.
Rumors about the Nashville Predators relocating have been swirling for as long as I can remember, and I think it will be great for the league if they relocate to Canada.
Cities like Hamilton, Winnipeg, and Quebec, among others, have been brought up, and I'm fine with any of them.
Later in the article, when I get to the third "R" in the series, I will name this relocated team the Winnipeg Jets, just for continuities sake, even though I'm not suggesting that a team actually move there.
The only thing stopping this from happening is a band of about 5,000 die hard Predators fans who don't want their team to leave.
They have made petitions and even raised money, but it seems they are the only fans going to games on a nightly basis.
My message to them: If you love your team that much, then you will follow them wherever they go, as my dad and grandpa did in 1958 when their beloved New York Giants made the move to San Francisco.
Heartbreaking, but necessary.
Realignment
The NHL has undergone several of these in the past couple of decades, and I think it is time for another one—once the league has shrunk to my suggestion of 28 teams.
I used to love the creative conference names such as Prince of Wales (Eastern) and Clarence Campbell (Western). The divisional names were also creative with names such as Patrick, Norris, Smythe, and Adams.
I would love for the divisions and conferences to revert back to those names, but people feel it would be too confusing for the new influx of fans.
I will agree with that for the moment and keep the Conferences the same (because Prince of Wales can become a little annoying after a while). But in the newly aligned divisions posted below, the names have been changed.
Eastern Conference
Patrick Division
1. Toronto Maple Leafs
2. Montreal Canadiens
3. New York Rangers
4. New Jersey Devils
5. New York Islanders
6. Philadelphia Flyers
7. Washington Capitals
Adams Division
1. Ottawa Senators
2. Boston Bruins
3. Buffalo Sabres
4. Pittsburgh Penguins
5. Columbus Blue Jackets
6. Carolina Hurricanes
7. Tampa Bay Lightning
Western Conference
Norris Division
1. Edmonton Oilers
2. Winnipeg Jets
3. Detroit Red Wings
4. St. Louis Blues
5. Phoenix Coyotes
6. Los Angeles Kings
7. Minnesota Wild
Smythe Division
1. Vancouver Canucks
2. Calgary Flames
3. Chicago Blackhawks
4. Colorado Avalanche
5. San Jose Sharks
6. Anaheim Ducks
7. Dallas Stars
By looking at this new alignment, one would think that this was completely random but believe me, there's a method to the madness.
First, each division has an odd number of teams, seven, and each division also includes at least one Canadian team and one "Original Six" team.
Playoffs will also revert back to how they used to be, meaning that it doesn't matter where you finish in the division that determines the playoff bracket, it's where you finish in the standings—something that I have complained about for years.
That about wraps up this proposal, and believe me, it was actually fun to write.
We all love to think that we can have a say in something big, something like the sport we love.
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about 1 month ago
Let's relocate the New York Rangers since there are too many teams located in one damn state anyway. Leave the SE Division alone. Just because your opinion of our division is biased because of the market you are in does not mean our division needs to go away or our team. I am so sick of everyone downgrading the Atlanta Thrashers.
from about 1 month ago
Atlanta and Florida do suck and guess what they shouldn't have been teams to start with. The NHL shouldn't have expanded to southeastern usa it was a mistake with only a few expections. i dont think the teams should be folded though. they should be relocated to a Canadian city like Winnipeg or Hamilton.
from about 1 month ago
The Rangers have a larger fan base that contribute more money to the league then NYI and NJ combined. Why would they move them?!?!
about 1 month ago
Hmm. This didn't take my POTD when I did it in the editing queue. Weird.
Anyway, outside of us disagreeing on the contraction issue, you hit the nail on the head. The division re-alignments are a five star idea and I love the added idea to give each division an original six team.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks for the vote! I still hope to have you on the show some day to discuss this since it has become a hot topic of late with you involved... ;)
from about 1 month ago
I'd still love to be on; You and Alan name a time and I'll work around things like making money or going to classes.
Priorities. I have them.
from about 1 month ago
Who knows, maybe Mr. Bettman will be listening...
*Rolls eyes*
about 1 month ago
Bettman IS THE PROBLEM! Oust him and let Burke have a crack at it!
from about 1 month ago
Thtas dumb....Burke is an idiot, look at where Anaheim is going.
I actually agree with alot of this article and do believe Bettman is alot of the problem. But franchises in non-hockey based areas as in Atlanta and Florida as mentioned. The several thousand fans in the city shouldnt be the reason for that team to stay, let them go, to a real hockey fan-based team, as in Canada, there fan-base is solid, Oilers had however many sellouts in a row, it was a feat, cant remember the amount though. And Mia, your an idiot, plain and simple.
about 1 month ago
definetly agree. relocation is key, 30 teams can work, but they need to be cared about
about 1 month ago
Great proposal, If I could vote on it, I would.
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"Cities where people wouldn't know a blue line from a clothesline were now all of a sudden hosting NHL teams - Nashville, Atlanta, Raleigh, Tampa Bay, and Sunrise became the new locations, and as we look back in retrospect, just how the hell did this ever come to be?"
Living in a place where I can always find a rink/pond to skate on mid-winter, I wonder how teams in the hotter region of the country haven't already folded.
??
'Can't blame the fans for not understanding the game, having never been around it.
about 1 month ago
Great proposal, If I could vote on it, I would.
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"Cities where people wouldn't know a blue line from a clothesline were now all of a sudden hosting NHL teams - Nashville, Atlanta, Raleigh, Tampa Bay, and Sunrise became the new locations, and as we look back in retrospect, just how the hell did this ever come to be?"
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Living in a place where I can always find a rink/pond to skate on mid-winter, I wonder how teams in the hotter region of the country haven't already folded.
??
'Can't blame the fans for not understanding the game, having never been around it.
about 1 month ago
Meh, it's no secret the NHL isn't as popular as it should be, or once was. But what do you do. I mean, this is a good article, but really nothing that hasn't been said before.
It's obvious these teams shouldn't be there, but I mean hey, Bettman runs the show, unfortunately.
Good article Greg.
about 1 month ago
Totally agree with this proposal. I feel like unless a "warm weather" based franchise is getting good attendance, revenues and is succeeding as an organization entirely, then it should be removed completely or moved to a city with more fan support.
Atlanta does have some potential as a hockey city... it just isn't looking so good. Nashville has some diehard fans like you mention, but as we saw in the NBA with the Sonics, that doesn't really mean much.
I think you should dwindle the hopeless cities down to happy hockey cities before you expand the league.
Just my two cents.
about 1 month ago
A bigger problem isn't necessarily cities having teams that aren't considered hockey markets, it's more the problem in who is owning/running the franchise. Atlanta, Columbus, Florida Panthers are terribly managed teams. Those franchises have so many problems from the ground up. It's not necessarily the problem of them not being hockey markets. The Carolina Hurricanes are doing far better in terms of success on the ice and off than they did when they were the Hartford Whalers. The franchise had a huge turn around and have been to the Stanley Cup finals twice since relocating and one in 2006. They were terribly managed when they were in Hartford, they traded any bit of talent they had for a boat load of players who didn't accomplish anything for them. Trading star defenseman Chris Pronger for Brendan Shanahan only to trade him a year later for aging Paul Coffey and underachieving Keith Premeau , then to only trade Coffey for nothing to the Philadelphia Flyers for nothing in return after 20 games. They drafted terribly and if they did draft a quality player they drafted him for more draft picks. But once they made some foundation in Raleigh they started to get things right and now they're doing good.
A good example is if the Toronto Maple leafs were in any other city everybody would be saying they need to either relocate or fold but because they're an original six team and they have years of history and past success, with having the benefit of playing in the biggest market in hockey, no one really gets on them for making such terrible business decisions. If Atlanta/Florida/Columbus start drafting well, making smart free agent drafts, build their farm system, do better marketing campaigns, people will start going to see their games, who is going to shell out over a hundred dollars to see a disaster on the ice? All those teams are relatively new compared to all the other franchises, if they were all in this slump with over 40 years of being in those markets it wouldn't be a problem. I do agree that the NHL needs to shrink, not necessarily re-locate. With 30 teams and only 16 playoff spots each year, almost half the NHL is on the side lines after the first week of April. When they're were 21 teams when they NHL was at it's peak, they still had 16 teams make the playoffs, only 5 teams sat out compared to 14. In the playoffs anything can happen, when they had 21 teams they played best of 3, then best of 5, then every round became best of 7, but the point in that is, in the playoffs anything can happen, a goaltender can out of nowhere become hot and create an upset, a player can go on a scoring frenzy, a lot of teams are rated by making the playoffs, it really doesn't matter how they do in the season compared to other teams but people outside the die hards like teams that make the playoffs, hard to do that every year or every other year when 14 teams sit out compared to the previous 5. The NHL needs to make a decision to either fold teams and put the NHL back in the range of 26-28 or keep the 30 and make 10 teams in the playoffs where the teams ranked 6-10 play a 3 round series to get it down to 8 and then continue back to the best of 7. That will create more playoff revenue for some teams, it could make the season longer but again to solve that problem you can have the quarterfinals be best of 5 which would only add 1 more possible game to the teams in the 6-10 standings.
One thing I like about the Nashville situation is when they threatened to sell the team and relocate, it created a huge buzz and people started to care about the team, the Capitals did this in the 80's and it worked for them. Having 5,000 die hard fans who buy season tickets is actually not a bad number for a team that has only been in existence for 10 years. The Predators also have been in the playoffs for the past 4 years straight, pretty good success for a team whose best free agent signing was Paul Kariya after his pitiful performance in Colorado in 2003-2004 season. Jason Arnott is no slouch either. They still stay competitive to make the playoffs even after trading key players such as Vokoun and Timonen, and letting Kariya leave via free agency. They're managed nicely by not spending millions of dollars on free agents who are only there for the money and aren't actually helping their team move forward. They have stayed quiet and making smart signings at reasonable prices with Radek Bonk, Jason Arnott, Jean-Pierre Dumont and have spent their money on their own players such as Weber, Hamhuis, Suter, and Erat. They built a quality goaltender in Dan Ellis after many thought they'd crumbled after the departure of Tomas Vokoun. They're a team that will catch on, they're making their own stars, many people love home grown talent over a huge free agent talent who is past their prime. Give the Predators time to grow, their babies compared to a team such as the Montreal Canadiens in the NHL. Moving a team like the Florida Panthers and Atlanta Thrashers into a traditional hockey difference won't make a difference if they're still being run terribly. There's a lot of good points in this article but there's really a lot more to it than all that. The NHL became a joke because of the 2 lockouts in a 10 year period and turned a lot of people off. That's not those franchises faults exactly, they came into the NHL at the wrong time. The NHL is back on its track to being more popular and when that happens those franchises will do better in their markets. But a lot has to do with the product on the ice as well. Hockey has been built up to be a mans man sport, the toughest sport in the world but trying to limit fighting with adding the instigator rule, talks of banning fighting together, debating on whether their should be penalties for head checks, talks of getting rid of the no-touch up rule, hurts their image too. Yeah, people don't want to see players get hurt but in every sport freak accidents happen. After Zednik got a skate in his neck there was actually talks about neck guards in the NHL, if a player wants to wear a neck guard go for it, don't make it mandatory. With anything freak accidents happen, such as the San Jose player who broke his leg last season trying to make a touch up on icing. Touch up makes hockey more interesting and exciting, watching two players in a foot race for the puck is exciting and top of that if it creates a goal out of it, hey thats a highlight reel play. Don't try to make the game less exciting because once in a great while a player gets hurt in freak accident, those accidents are always going to happen, players know the dangers in playing hockey, if they wanted a safer sport they'd go play golf. The same goes with the debate on making players mandatory to wear half shields, that should be the own players choice, its been a little more common than normal a player is catching a puck in the face but what are you going to do when more players get hit in the jaw, make them wear cages? It worked for them to wear helmets because they NHL got faster and more physical imagine a player like Dion Phanuef or Scott Stevens for that matter playing in the 50's and 60's when players didn't wear helmets, that I can understand. Betteman needs to go, thats for sure, he's hurting the game too much with these talks. Another thing I do like about the re-alignment is each conference has 2 divisions instead of 3. Which only 2 teams would be guaranteed seeds in the playoffs, instead of three especially when you consider how weak of a division the Southeast and Central division are.
about 1 month ago
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/27887-nhl-a-proposal-for-contraction
Kinda similar...
The article I wrote 5 months ago says the same thing, so I agree, but there is a huge problem as far as jobs go. The NHL will ultimately lose money over this, and after all is said and done, a business is all this league is. As much as we all want contraction, we have to realize that the NHL is not going to do this.
from about 1 month ago
Thanks Alan.
about 1 month ago
expansion is pure profit to the existing teams so it will probably happen. However as a fan i agree totally with ur proposals. Firing Bettman would be such a great idea anybody would be better as commish. Versus just doesn't air any hockey games i rarely even check the channel since they max 1 game a week, and God forbid they air more games and boot the duck hunting and rodeo "programming". For contraction to happen the NHL would have to buy a franchise, its minor league affiliates, and then dispersal draft the contracts of the players to the surviving teams.
about 1 month ago
Not to draw away from the article, but I would ask that those leaving comments avoid calling others stupid or an idiot and things along those lines. Make your points but don't make it personal.
about 1 month ago
Bettman needs to go... every since he took over the league has been on a slide, as bad as the Dow the last couple of months. Thats what happens when you put a man who didnt know what a puck was until he took the rains. The greedy owners were to blame as well, all to happy to take the franchise fees. Toronto, well southern Ontario could support another team, easy!! Good article Greg.
Check out my youtube videos, called "Hockey's Real Fans"
The Captain
TOsports.ca
CaptainFanatic.com
about 1 month ago
Love the article for the most part, just a couple of problems with the divisional alignments.
I would switch Pittsburgh with Washington, while there certainly is some old Patrick Division history with the Caps and teams like the Islanders, Rangers and Devils, I think there is even more history with Pittsburgh. I think that division would be okay without Montreal and Toronto too, you could move them to the Adams Division, and really have a serious rivalry built around Montreal, Toronto and Ottawa, plus keeping the old Adams Division matchups alive with Boston and Buffalo. Tampa Bay, Columbus and Carolina are for the most part interchangeable, there can be natural rivalries in either division in my opinion.
As for your Western Conference, there would be an uproar in Alberta if you split up Calgary and Edmonton, there's no way that would happen. Same with Chicago and St. Louis, that's always been a rivlarly, not only in hockey, so there should be no reason to split them up.
Outside of that, I agree Betteman has pretty much been the main culprit for why the sport has taken a huge plunge on his watch. It is terrible for the game and its loyal fans.
about 1 month ago
It was a good article on some points. How could the blackhawks, redwings, and blues not being in the same divison? Why does everyone want a team back in Quebec and Winnipeg? it didnt work there before why do it again?
about 1 month ago
i agree on most of that except would have blackhakws and av's in the norris divison.And the kings and coyotes in symthe.Also i would make sure boston and ottawa in the same divison.But also i would down the line i would have 32 teams
about 1 month ago
They should bring back Hartford with a good owner!!!!!!!!!!!
about 1 month ago
I LOVE that you added the conference names back in.
I was in an online ESPN chat with Bettman a few years ago and asked him why he took out the division names. He said, "to make the game more accessible."
I found that absurd. He stripped the history out of the game...he does not care about the NHL.
The Hurricanes also refuse to acknowledge their past in Hartford....it is a shame...it should be embraced!
about 1 month ago
I pretty much agree with everything you said but for brevity's sake I will sum up my general thoughts in two words:
Fire Bettman.
Really it's that simple, nothing you are suggesting will happen so long as that weasel is in charge.
about 1 month ago
I agree with pretty much what you said also Gregg, great article!
The league really screwed themselves over with the teams in the south. There really isn't a huge fan base there to begin with and think about it, there are very few ice rinks down south and the ones that are there are most likely booked non stop. Kids dont get into it because there isnt a place to play. Now up north, kids can play all winter long on ponds and homemade rinks to go with the indoor rinks already in place. The kids up north grow up loving the game while kids in the south dont really grow up playing it an could carealess if they have a NHL team or not.
That is what seperates football, baseball, basketball, and even soccer from hockey. The first sports I listened are played all over the place no matter what the weather and while kids are growing up they fall in love with the sports that they play and are closest to them. Hockey is different. You can only play where you have a rink and that doesnt happen down south.
No real fan base to begin with added with kids that grow up not getting into the teams equals no attendence.
I agree with the above comment too, fire bettman. He hasnt done anything good for this league, just ruined a good thing. I highly dislike him (trying to keep it family friendly lol). It is time for some change to get this league back on top. Hockey is one of the greatest sports ever played and should be treated that way. Not the butt end of jokes.
about 1 month ago
Lou Lamourillo for NHL chairman!
about 1 month ago
The bottom line:
1. The majority of owners love Bettman, the lockout and salary cap drastically increased their franchise values
2. Expansion means more revenues for the league
3. Expansion means more contracts for players
4. Expansion puts million$ right into the NHL coffers
So it's NHL business vs. NHL fans - and as long as gate revenues from the "strong" franchises continue, there will always be revenue sharing for the "weak" teams. So, while there ARE teams in financial trouble the only people really suffering appear to be the billionaire owners who have the money to hold on until their team turns the corner.
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