Is it time for the NHL to contract (shrink)?

Question

This question was put forth bt Bob McCown on his show yesterday. His question in fact was "Since the 6 Canadian Teams supply 40% of the league income shouldn't the Six Canadian Teams Secede and form their own league?"

Before you threaten and report me McCown is US bred, born and educated. He lives in Toronto and Las Vegas. And is one of the foremost authorities in Sports today.

The Bobcat. (Google him if you need to)

Answer 1

Tom

i know your just Quoting McCown but 40% of the leauge's revenue?    i highly dout that statistic to be true

Answer 2

I would have no problem with the league removing teams in Miami, Los Angeles, Nashville and Phoenix.  With the amount of talent that is available globally, I'd love to see how much more entertaining the games would be with only 26 teams.

Answer 3

Who cares what Bob( McClown) say's= hey if the canack's what to have they own league let them go for it just like they did with their football league (yes they have one but nobody cares or watches them in the States) they will slowly fade away =don't let the Zamboni run you over A===as far as the CUP DETROIT HAS IT ( come and try to get it back )A

Answer 4

8 years ago the cdn teams were all in trouble except Toronto......

no need to contract as long as there are markets that would take / support a team.  There is probably room for 2 in Canada.

Bob McCowan is in my humble opinion nothing but a **** disturber.  Can't stand the guy.

Answer 5

If they split the league...who would win the Stanley Cup.....just the thought of this upsets me.

Answer 6

I really wish the Canadian teams would secede because I'm tired of the snobbish attitude that Canadians have towards America. That way I won't have to tolerate all the whining about a lack of teams or the fact that Canada "deserves" more of them.

Want more teams? Populate some cities!

While you're at it, make it financially attractive for teams to operate in the Great White North!

Go form your own league and make sure you play your players well to stay north of the border. Otherwise, deal with it.

Jesus!

Answer 7

Will never happen, and no it's not time. Most of that 40% comes from two teams- Toronto and Montreal. the rest would have a lot of trouble apart from the NHL. And two teams isn't much of a league.

Also, a lot of it has to do with the weak US dollar. Once that goes back to normal the percentages will be less out of whack with historical data.

This topic has been beaten to death and the answer is always the same. Never going to happen.

Answer 8

I don't like Bob McCowan!

Never did!

He is an arrogant slob!

Not my cup of tea, at all!

Answer 9

The 40% Stat is true because some teams are losing money each year

I am a Die-Hard hockey fan but i think we could learn from other sports

Soccer- Have An A Pool and a B Pool as well as challenge clubs around the world in a champions league

or

Baseball- Have a Canadian League and an American League, even amount of teams in each

Those were just some random ideas but this might work better

these teams should go, 24 teams would be perfect

Florida, Atlanta, Tampa, Carolina, Nashville, NYI

Dallas, Pheonix and LA

should move to either (in order)

Kansas City, Quebec City, Winnipeg, Seattle, Hamilton, Flint or Halifax

So Assuming KC, QC, and WPG get teams the League would look like

Atlantic

BOS

NYR

WSH

PHI

NJ

PIT

NorthEast

MON

OTT

TOR

BUF

QC (LA)

DET

Central

KC (DAL)

CLB

STL

MIN

WPG(PHO) How Fitting

CHI

Western

CGY

EDM

ANA

VAN

SJ

COL

I smell excitment so listen up Betman

Answer 10

I've been hearing this ever since the lockout and I'm not sure what it would accomplish.  I think it's in the benefit of the league to stay the way it is, or even expand to have a European Conference.

I think it's in the interest of those 6 CA teams to stay open to expansion era teams - they generate more income from having more games.  No way they'd have 82 games + current playoff format if it shrunk down to 6 teams.  And if they did secede, I bet ticket prices would skyrocket, not exactly benefiting Joe Leafsfan.

I think it's in the interests of the rivalries to stay the way it is.  Rivalries lose their appeal if the oponents play too often, IMO.  How often do Michigan & Ohio State play?  Not that often.  CA teams have some good rivalries going on from some OLD TIME hockey scores which is great for herritage.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nhl/attendance...

Check out where the CA6 are in attendance.  They may be making more money off tickets and merchandise, but the love isn't necessarily there.  Look at Tampa.  Worst team in the league and still 8th ahead of Edm. and Vanc.

I don't mind this debate b/c I doubt the league (even Bettman) would ever s***w 24 teams like that.  Let me reiterate - it would devistate those teams.  A lot of small market teams like Raleigh, Atlanta and Pheonix rely on the different teams cycling through.  Perhaps, in the future if there is "too much" talent it may be necessary to have a small elite league, but I garuntee you NYR and DET would be in it.

Answer 11

That is temporarily the case as the US dollar value has shrunk against the Canadian dollar. In a few years that will all change again.