Do you think the NHL has too many teams?

Question

Come on: 30 teams?!? Why? I watch the old games on the NHL Network and ESPN Classic (when they're not too busy showing poker), and see how incredible the game was when only guys who actually BELONGED in the NHL could make it.

I'm not necessarily advocating a return to the Original Six, but 30 is just nuts! When the Habs only come to Detroit every other year, there's a problem.

Answer 1

Yes i think the NHL should get rid of at least 4 teams

Answer 2

No. It's fine. And Guys like Bill Clement even say we could expand two more.

30 is a good number. And the NHL is never going to reduce the number of teams, barring having to rebuild the league after a nuclear war or something.

Answer 3

i actually happen to think that 30 is the perfect number.

i dont think that it would be good for the league or the talents to go back to an lower number of teams... besides... which teams should leave then? and were should they go? down to AHL?

Answer 4

nope..i like it the way it is =)

Answer 5

I don't think that is too bad considering that NFL has 32, MLB has 30, and NBA has 30. So no I don't think that is too many.

Answer 6

I don't have anything against any particular teams that apply to my answer but the NHL had too many teams when the Capitals and Scouts joined the league. And overexpansion isn't limited to the NHL either.

Since I began getting into sports in 1968, the 4 major leagues have expanded by 51%.

Ridiculous.

Answer 7

2 too many

I would like to see Atlanta get bounced, I mean one playoff berth and they are rebuilding again?

Florida Panthers number 2, They made a flukey cup run, had Pavel Bure and that's about it, time to pull the plug.

I would like to see the NHL get back to possibly 24 but 28 would be a great start that about 40 less minor leaguers.

Also another advantage of having less teams along with less minor league talent is that you have more "star" players playing together on teams

Answer 8

i believe that phoenix, nashville, atlanta are not hockey towns- hockey has no business here! i dont think that anyone would miss the panthers. the lightening are on the fence; they have some great players, so i would keep that one team in florida. PHX, NSH, ATL, FLA is 4 teams gone. If you want to start with just 2, take the coyotes and the preds and move them to canada-winnipeg and quebec.  the dilution of talent is not the biggest problem- it's that these hockey clubs could not / will not ever establish a true identity nor make their home city into a "hockey town" with diehard fans.

side note: i think it is ridiculous that it is in any way difficult to find the draft results on nhl.com tonight. the league just loves to shoot themselves in the foot. i mean, come on! they should have a BIG LINK on the front page that says "HERE ARE THE DRAFT PICKS." (enough ranting)

Answer 9

No, I love it the way it is.

Answer 10

Yeah but the talent is starting to catch up with the Europeans as well. I think what you really want is a Canadian league, they play a different type of hockey then most Europeans. Remember the original 6 didn't have the Europeans. Now I'm not saying there is anything wrong with wanting a league of one style, but keep in mind that having teams that just fit the talent pool isn't going to get the same type of play.

Answer 11

I don't think there are too many teams, most of the other professional sports leagues have about 30 or over. I do think there is way to many American teams though, bring back the Jets!!

Answer 12

not enough Canadian teams that's for sure.