A Radical Proposal for a better NHL

[Betfair]

Sean Stafford has an idea that would improve every deserving team and make for better hockey.

Despite the usual blusterings from Gary Bettman and company, the dog days of the NHL schedule find it a tough slog to get through. Meaningful playoff games are still months away, and so-called 'parity' means most teams are not out of the race. The problem is the season is too long and the talent base is so diluted that every team has 1 or 2 top players and a bunch of also-rans that are more or less interchangeable parts. Add the 3-point game into the mix and we have a recipe for absolute mediocrity. Not something Bettman wants going into negotiations for a new television deal with NBC and attempting to get back on ESPN. Other than a change to the 3-point system which may happen eventually, the owners aren't going to shorten the season and lose revenue from home dates, and the salary cap system means the days of having a team stacked with stars are over (see: 2010 Chicago Blackhawks)

But what if there was a way to get rid of the weak sisters of the league and make it so every deserving team could afford a handful of high priced players and axe the salary cap? The only way to do that would be to make a 20 team league by folding some franchises and moving others to places where hockey would be king, not Nascar. The top players on those teams would revitalize the rest of the league and make for some truly exciting hockey and true 'parity' not propped up by 3 point nights.

Here are the teams that would fold or move:

FOLDED: Washington, San Jose, Nashville, Anaheim, Phoenix, Atlanta, Carolina, Columbus, Florida, NY Islanders.

MOVED: Colorado Avalanche - 2011 Quebec Nordiques
New Jersey- Winnipeg Devils
Dallas - Kitchener/Waterloo Stars

The new east-west alignment would be as follows:

Continued:
A Radical Proposal for a better NHL : Hockey : Betfair.net

[JunkyardDog47]

Utterly ridiculous. Many players do not want to play on any Canadian team, because of the tex structure in Canada.

[StatQuo17]

not sure about folding so many teams but having canadian teams is better for the NHL. Hockey in canada is like football in the states. Players dont want to play here? The fans alone make players come here.

[Ricky Tan]

Winnipeg can not afford an NHL team

[Ron Mexico]

Send all the teams to Canada.

[T100]

Originally Posted by Ron Mexico

Send all the teams to Canada.

TOO many men wearing mancrush jersy`s up here already

[revnecro1273]

why does tampa bay keep a team? and new jersey move?

[MCP313]

Originally Posted by revnecro1273

why does tampa bay keep a team? and new jersey move?

LOL I think Tampa draws a lot of fans if I'm not mistaken.....BTW I think this is a great idea for the league. Just keep the sport in the towns the people actually care about the game

[HAMILROCK]

these are the teams that need to get out...and especially coyotes and islanders, their lucky they get 10,000 at a game...

Stars
Avalanche
Ducks
Devils
Blue Jackets
Thrashers
Coyotes
NY Islanders

[Keith]

Originally Posted by HAMILROCK

these are the teams that need to get out...and especially coyotes and islanders, their lucky they get 10,000 at a game...

Stars
Avalanche
Ducks
Devils
Blue Jackets
Thrashers
Coyotes
NY Islanders

The Islanders have been putting a shitty product on the ice for years, and they play in an absolute dump--the Nassau Colisseum. It was state of the art........30+ years ago. Now it's just a dump. But, back in the days of Trottier, Bossy, Nystrom, Chico Resch, etc..., they had a monster fan base.

[Davydave]

The time has come where 2 nearby cities should share a local team. Teams that cannot support a team for 40 home games may be able to support one for 20 home games. For example, a Quebec City - Halifax team, a Phoenix-Las Vegas team.... this might be an alternative to contraction in a tougher economic climate.