Comments on: It's Almost Over, Preds Migrate North, Trade Possibilities, Bettman Talk

By: revolution77

revolution77 — Tue, 29 May 2007 12:46:21 +0000

One city that i have always thought not only deserves an NHL team, but that i also find surprising that they dont have one is Milwaukee. First off Milwaukee is already home to the Admirals (Nasvilles farm team), and while ive never been to one of the games, i hear from my many family and freinds in the city that they are a rather popular team (even among the pro teams in the city… the bucks, and the brewers). Milwaukee is somthing like the 11th largest city in the nation (with a respectable econemy) so baised upon that i can only assume that there would be no problem actually sustaining the team for years to come. The city also has a new arena built in their downtown which im sure could house an nhl team. also i grew up playing hockey in michigan, and i played against teams in and from wisconsin several times, and if there is one thing about that state that i can claim from my personal experience is that they are very hockey oreinted people. i think that the state of wisconsin and the city of milwaukee have a LOT of potential as far as an nhl market goes, and i think so far these people really either have to root for the blackhawks, or the wild, or as it aparently goes they just root for their home team AHL team instead since they have no nhl representation.

By: wingedim

wingedim — Tue, 29 May 2007 11:03:35 +0000

I agree with the obvious rivalry, but why not restore the SW Ontario rivaly with Detroit? That rivalry is there now in a fashion between Nashville and the motorcity, why not build on it?

By: wingedim

wingedim — Tue, 29 May 2007 11:00:37 +0000

Good article always Mik.

I think that Jim B will keep the Preds in the Nashville, IF he can get the 14,000 season tickets that the league dictates he needs. Otherwise I think you will see him move the team North.

I don't think you'll see them in Hamilton or Kitchener however. I can see MAYBE moving them down to London, so that they are well beyond the 80 Km line that Buffalo and Toronto would scream about and cause lots of grief over. Even though the area COULD sustain 3 teams easily.

By: rojoke

rojoke — Mon, 28 May 2007 13:14:30 +0000

You've touched on something that I think the marketing "geniuses" at the NHL have sorely missed out on. The obvious market to go after in the US is the football audience. It's got the physicality and aggression of football in an enclosed field of play. It's got more flow than football, but it does have some of the same strategy during game play, like defensive coverage, attacking strategy, and special teams play. It also takes advantage of the fact that football only occupies two or three days of the weekly sporting schedule, so it's not difficult to follow both leagues at the same time. The NHL should have been buying time during the NFL season to promote the game, and NBC should be helping by promoting their hockey telecasts during their Sunday night football coverage. But then again, this is a network that doesn't begin airing games until AFTER football season is over, a point that still leaves me wondering who in the hell thought that was a good idea.

By: rojoke

rojoke — Mon, 28 May 2007 13:04:37 +0000

The only problem is that if he moves the team to Kitchener/Waterloo, Balsillie is probably going to want to get into the same division as Toronto in order to take advantage of the obvious rivalry possibilities. If this was going to happen, it would only make logical sense then to revert to a four-division set up, with two divisions of eight and two divisions of seven. If you went with two conference of 15 teams or one conference of 16 and one of 14, it wouldn't matter that much.

By: baltic_thunder

baltic_thunder — Sun, 27 May 2007 17:10:08 +0000

What a long-winded article with little direction. When i awoke from my coma I forgot what had been my reaction. Nashville's an awesome team that belongs in the Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge tri-city area. It would be nice if the Florida Panthers moved – what a sorry franchise that would be most welcome in Kansas City, Seattle or Winnipeg! Phoenix? Ditto. It's been an awesome season. The finals will be terrific and the Sens with take it in 6. I'm looking forward to some big name signings both on the UFA and RFA side. With the Sens winning the cup, MLSE will awaken and smell the coffee and finally decide to put together a competitive team and this will be good for the entire NHL.

By: flamingsenator

flamingsenator — Sun, 27 May 2007 02:11:29 +0000

ur on ur computer......why dont u join the army and get over to iraq

asking why i wouldnt go?....cuz im a dam immagrant (on a student visa...B!aaaaach:p) ......giving me better perspective about the world than u and ur corrupted CNN bullcrap

u watch too much colbert report

By: WDF

WDF — Sat, 26 May 2007 22:10:59 +0000

I think the Preds can move to Kitchener or Hamilton and still keep in the central division. Detroit, Columbus and Chicago are not that far away from Kitchener and a short flight is required. I believe if the Blue Jackets can survive being in the "western" confrence so can a team in SW ontario.
-wdf

By: mundus80

mundus80 — Sat, 26 May 2007 20:54:05 +0000

also i'm from the USA and never lived in Canada but when i have gone on vacation there, it really is amazing how much they love hockey. the only other place i have been to with the general love of hockey like Canada is Sweden.
i have read in a few places about houston trying to get an nhl team. these are just a few http://slam.canoe.ca/97NHLExpansion/zexhou.html http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/4490532.html
but houston lost a there bid in 1997 for expansion due to not havening a new arena but know they have the toyota center.

By: Archion113

Archion113 — Sat, 26 May 2007 19:17:21 +0000

Don't know the story, but his name shouldn't go on there.

I love kids, but the Stanley Cup is the like the Holy Grail. You don't get it and start writing shit all over it.