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elSicomoro · 01-18-2003, 03:36 PM

I loved the big ice action during the Olympics...I'm all for the NHL expanding the surface.

Having listened to the CBC for most of the past 2 weeks, the whole situation with the bankruptcies of the Sens and Sabres has been big news.

Many Canadian sports folks have said that the NHL expanded way too fast...from 21 in 1990 to the current 30. The Canadian teams left are having a hard time staying afloat, primarily b/c of the fact that they have to pay players in US dollars, and b/c of the high Canadian taxes. They've also noted that in some places of expansion, the novelty is gone (Florida, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Columbus, Nashville).

I agree with that to a point...but IMO, the real problem is shitty management. The San Jose Sharks only exist b/c the NHL didn't want Gund moving the North Stars there in 1990 (and the new North Stars owner wound up shipping them south to Dallas anyway). That move was as bad as the Cleveland Browns moving to Baltimore in '95.

Then you have Phoenix, which seems to finally be getting its shit together financially. The Pens, which (thankfully) were saved by Super Mario (How funny is that...he was the team's biggest creditor). And the Sens have been in financial chaos since day one. And the Isles, who are getting their footing again under new ownership. (Though my personal opinion is that they should ditch Uniondale and share the Garden with the Rangers.)

The NHL went through some of this same shit in the 70s: Remember the Oakland Seals? The Kansas City Scouts? The Cleveland Barons?

The Sabres...I feel so bad for them. The whole Adelphia thing put them in the hole. And that's a real hockey hotbed...there is apparently some guy heading a group up there more than ready to buy the team.

There has been talk of the Sens being bought and moved to Hamilton, ON (which has an antiquated arena) or Portland (which is more feasible, given Paul Allen and his never-ending bank account). I'd hate to see that happen...Ottawa lost the Sens once already (to St. Louis, in 1934), and I think if they had the right management up there, they could survive.

I feel the pain of the Sens and the Sabres. I watched the Blues be sold to a group wanting to move the team to Saskatoon, only for the NHL to block the sale. And now, the Blues are one of the most stable and popular teams in the NHL. And the Blues are without a doubt, my favorite sports team out there...not having them around while growing up? Man, I don't want to even imagine it.

01-18-2003, 03:36 PM	#12
elSicomoro Person who doesn't update the user title Join Date: Jan 2001 Posts: 12,486	I loved the big ice action during the Olympics...I'm all for the NHL expanding the surface. Having listened to the CBC for most of the past 2 weeks, the whole situation with the bankruptcies of the Sens and Sabres has been big news. Many Canadian sports folks have said that the NHL expanded way too fast...from 21 in 1990 to the current 30. The Canadian teams left are having a hard time staying afloat, primarily b/c of the fact that they have to pay players in US dollars, and b/c of the high Canadian taxes. They've also noted that in some places of expansion, the novelty is gone (Florida, Tampa Bay, Atlanta, Columbus, Nashville). I agree with that to a point...but IMO, the real problem is shitty management. The San Jose Sharks only exist b/c the NHL didn't want Gund moving the North Stars there in 1990 (and the new North Stars owner wound up shipping them south to Dallas anyway). That move was as bad as the Cleveland Browns moving to Baltimore in '95. Then you have Phoenix, which seems to finally be getting its shit together financially. The Pens, which (thankfully) were saved by Super Mario (How funny is that...he was the team's biggest creditor). And the Sens have been in financial chaos since day one. And the Isles, who are getting their footing again under new ownership. (Though my personal opinion is that they should ditch Uniondale and share the Garden with the Rangers.) The NHL went through some of this same shit in the 70s: Remember the Oakland Seals? The Kansas City Scouts? The Cleveland Barons? The Sabres...I feel so bad for them. The whole Adelphia thing put them in the hole. And that's a real hockey hotbed...there is apparently some guy heading a group up there more than ready to buy the team. There has been talk of the Sens being bought and moved to Hamilton, ON (which has an antiquated arena) or Portland (which is more feasible, given Paul Allen and his never-ending bank account). I'd hate to see that happen...Ottawa lost the Sens once already (to St. Louis, in 1934), and I think if they had the right management up there, they could survive. I feel the pain of the Sens and the Sabres. I watched the Blues be sold to a group wanting to move the team to Saskatoon, only for the NHL to block the sale. And now, the Blues are one of the most stable and popular teams in the NHL. And the Blues are without a doubt, my favorite sports team out there...not having them around while growing up? Man, I don't want to even imagine it.