NHL Hockey - I want to split into Canadian and American Conferences

[Romeo Delight]

So funny...I heard some analysis about the race...

Something about one horse wanting it more than the other horse...

Holy delusions. More like the one horse had more amphetimines blasted up one of its orifices or was avoiding the beating of his life.

Give up the dream of a US national TV deal. It's not worth this.

[Full Bug]

Originally posted by DavidFlamma
i know this much...

As long as hockey is being played, we should be able to turn on our tv's at 8:00 EST on a Saturday night and not worry if there is a game or not.

I hear you, I forgot that todays Sens/Buffalo game was in the afternoon and missed it, pissed me right off....

[Romeo Delight]

$100 million CBC...$0 NBC

WTF?

[Mr. Vengeance]

Originally posted by ALinChainz
As sad is it is, its about ratings and network television.

The ratings for the Derby is going to much higher in the USA that hockey.

Not to me of course, but thats the deal.

And Bettman is going to kiss NBC's ass.

And that's the problem. We have a commish who cares so much about a country that is mostly oblivious to how great a game this is. They'd rather watch fat guys bowl than the greatest sport there is.

There should never be another game moved to another time to satisfy NBC. In fact, I wouldn't be shocked if NBC decided to not even air the games since the cup will feature a Canadian team, and lord knows, Americans won't watch that.

[Va Beach VH Fan]

The biggest mistake Bettman made after the lockout was he tried to play hardball with ESPN, and in the States, ESPN rules everything on sports....

So instead of agreeing to even a somewhat lightly loaded contract for NHL games on ESPN2, which is now topping 100 million viewers, he made a deal with Versus, which barely has 600,000 viewers.....

[Vinnie Velvet]

Originally posted by Unchainme
Hmmm..Always had an idea to make Hockey More Canada Oriented Rather than having teams in Miami, Tampa Bay and such...Heres what it would sorta look like

Canada Conference

East

Toronto Maple Leafs
Ottawa Senators
Montreal Canadians
Hamilton (expansion.)
Halifax
Quebec Nordiques (Come back, like the Cleveland Browns.)

West

Calagary Flames
Edmonton Oilers
Vancouver Canucks
Winnipeg Jets (Again, Come back like the Cleveland Browns.)
Saskatchewan (Expansion.)


America Conference

East
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Pittsburgh Penguins
Philadelphia Flyers
New Jersey Devils
New York Rangers

West
Detroit Red Wings
Chicago Blackhawks
Colorado Avalanche
Minnesota North Stars (Minnesota Wild merge with Dallas to recreate The old team.)
Los Angeles Kings
St. Louis Blues

I like that idea Unchainme.

Although teams in Halifax and Saskatchewan may be a tough sell.

And not sure about the North Stars coming back (although it would be nice).

Nice idea though -- Canadian and American conferences.

[Romeo Delight]

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CP) - Canadian entrepreneur Jim Balsillie has entered into a letter of agreement to buy the NHL's Nashville Predators for US$220 million, owner Craig Leipold confirmed Thursday.

The goal is to seek approval from the league's board of governors and close the sale by June 30, Leipold said, adding he'd lost US$70 million during the team's nine seasons.

Balsillie is co-CEO of Waterloo, Ont.-based Research In Motion (TSX:RIM), the company that makes BlackBerry handheld devices.

"This is a dream he's wanted and he's stepped up," said Leipold.

"It's time to give someone else the chance to take the Nashville Predators to the next level," Leipold said during a news conference.

Leipold predicted that "we'll have hockey here for a long time" if attendance improves. Balsillie will make an effort to keep the team in Nashville, he suggested.

"I think he's going to give it a chance," said Leipold. "If (attendance) is over 14,000 paid, it's not going anywhere."

If paid attendance does not average at least 14,000 next season, the team could pay an exit fee of US$18 million to get out of its arena lease and leave Nashville.

"I have come to the conclusion I cannot make it work here," said Leipold, adding that perhaps Balsillie will bring new ideas that will turn things around.

Balsillie didn't immediately return a phone message.

In a statement, Balsillie said he is respectful of all the "due diligence" required before the deal can close.

"This is still Craig Leipold's franchise until the deal is completed, so for me to comment at this time on any number of topics relative to the franchise would not be appropriate," Balsillie said in the release.

He added that he planned to visit Nashville, talk with Predators fans and "become more familiar with the community" once the deal is final.

Balsillie tried last autumn to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins. He offered $175 million, but he dropped it when commissioner Gary Bettman attached a list of conditions to the sale.

Among those, it is believed, was the stipulation that he not move the club until after every possible avenue was exhausted.

That condition likely wouldn't apply to Nashville, given Leipold's many failed efforts at increasing the club's corporate support. While the NHL doesn't want teams moved, Nashville hasn't shown that it will support the Predators long term.

Speculation has long been that Balsillie would like to bring an NHL team to Waterloo. His biggest hurdle in relocation the Predators would be settling the territorial rights with the Toronto Maple Leafs and Buffalo Sabres, who would both take issue with another team in the region.

Under NHL by-laws, a team cannot move within 80 kilometres of another city's corporate limits. Kitchener-Waterloo is just about on the border of the Maple Leafs' territory.

Leipold said last January he was looking for one or more local investors to buy up to 40 per cent of the team in the hope that local owners could boost attendance. No local buyer or buyers stepped forward.<

If the Predators had advanced to the NHL's conference final or even the championship series, it "could potentially change the whole aspect of this team" and investors might have stepped forward, said Leipold.

"It didn't work out," he said. "That's just the way it is.

"We had injuries and, unfortunately, we got knocked out in the first round."

Leipold signed a multiyear naming-rights deal for the city's hockey arena with Franklin, Tenn.-based Sommet Group last week. The revenue from that agreement goes to the team.

It is Leipold's team until at least June 30.

"This is truly one of the toughest days of my life," said Leipold. "I poured my heart and soul into this franchise for 10 years."

He lives in Wisconsin.

"We have had the most incredibly wonderful time owning this team," he said. "My family, my kids, we just love doing this."

But he's tired of losing millions.

[Romeo Delight]

Coming to a Canadian city near you!

That's right...they saw my thread.

Kitchener/Waterloo Hosers. They are just far away from TO, Buffalo, etc to avoid any ridiculous territorial claims.

If NY can support 3 teams, certainly hockey insane Ontario can have 2 teams.

hmmm...just over the wire...Balsillie has bought a huge piece of property around Waterloo in the last few days.

Very nice.

All the owners will agree to this because the Preds cost every team money in the new CBA.

The dream of Bettman's NHL is coming down piece by piece, starting here

[Va Beach VH Fan]

I was in both Waterloo and Kitchener in March for some training (3 guesses what I do for a living)....

That area isn't what I would call metropolitan....

But you guys are probably right, if they do end up moving, the remnants of the people who can't get in to the ACC will more than fill up a new arena there....

Originally posted by DavidFlamma
hmmm...just over the wire...Balsillie has bought a huge piece of property around Waterloo in the last few days.

Very nice.

I didn't see that bro, got a link ???

[Romeo Delight]

The best thing here is that The Waterloo Predators will win a cup before the Leafs :bottle:

[Romeo Delight]

Originally posted by DavidFlamma
So funny...I heard some analysis about the race...

Something about one horse wanting it more than the other horse...

Holy delusions. More like the one horse had more amphetimines blasted up one of its orifices or was avoiding the beating of his life.

Give up the dream of a US national TV deal. It's not worth this.

Well, NBC has promised not to break away from the Stanley Cup Final for Wrestling, re-runs of Superstars Competition, or any Feats of Strength tourneys.

How generous of them. Do we still have Saturday afternoon games

[Romeo Delight]

Originally posted by Va Beach VH Fan


I didn't see that bro, got a link ???

I couldn't find it, but they were talking about it on the sportstalk radio here at length.

It will come out tomorrow I suppose. Right now there are 100 stories with the same 5 facts.

[Full Bug]

Originally posted by DavidFlamma
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (CP) - Canadian entrepreneur Jim Balsillie has entered into a letter of agreement to buy the NHL's Nashville Predators for US$220 million, owner Craig Leipold confirmed Thursday.

Deliver us a real hockey team!

Memo to: Canadian billionaire Jim Balsillie.

From: Toronto hockey fans.

Dear Jim:

Please help us. We are in desperate need of a hockey team.

Okay ... another hockey team. You know. Like, a real one.

We are trapped here in Toronto watching the hated Ottawa Senators vie for the Stanley Cup, the greatest prize in professional sports, while our beloved boys in blue play ... golf. Again.

We’re desperate. Now that you’ve bought the Nashville Predators, please bring them to Toronto. Or anywhere within driving distance.

Kitchener-Waterloo? Hamilton? You choose, we’ll cheer.

When you pack the trucks to move, don’t get sucked in by Kansas City’s charm. There are no real hockey fans there.

C’mon, Jim. New York has two hockey teams. L.A. has two hockey teams. For !@@#$#@>! sake even !@@#$# Florida has two hockey teams.

What are we here, chopped liver? This is the Leaf Nation talking, home of the Toronto Maple Leafs, an Original Six team and the most storied franchise in NHL history. Okay, except for Montreal.

Mr. Balsillie, what can we do to help?

Would you like us to kidnap Gary Bettman and string him up by his tongue until he agrees to let you locate here instead of forcing the team to stay in Nashville? Just say the word.

Seeing as how you’re the CEO of Research in Motion, we could all buy BlackBerrys as a sign of good faith. Would that help?

Hey, here’s an idea. How about we burn Maple Leafs Sports and Entertainment to the ground and consign everyone in it into the fiery pit of eternal damnation for failing, in the hottest hockey market in North America, to give us a team capable of making even the first round of the playoffs? Again.

Okay, maybe that was a bit extreme.

But please try to understand Mr. Balsillie. We’re desperate. We’ve been waiting 40 years for the Leafs to win a Stanley Cup, which, when you think about it, is as long as it took the Israelites to find the Promised Land. Unlike them, we’re still wandering in the desert and it doesn’t look like anyone’s going to part the sea any time soon.

Mr. Balsillie, we appeal to you as hockey fans. Well, not as hockey fans who ever actually get to see a game at the Air Canada Centre. Who can get a ticket, let alone afford one?

As you may have noticed, the corporate twits who hog all the best seats at the ACC arrive at the games fashionably late and leave stupidly early.

We’re not them. We’re the real fans — who only get to watch the Leafs on TV.

So we’re ready, willing and able to fill any arena you name.

Just don’t make us sign over our first born for season tickets.

Please, Mr. Balsillie. Send us a sign!

:D

[Angel]

Originally posted by Vinnie Velvet
Although teams in Halifax and Saskatchewan may be a tough sell.

And not sure about the North Stars coming back (although it would be nice).

Nice idea though -- Canadian and American conferences.

Why do you think SK would be a tough sell? Regina has the best fans of any professional sport, IMO. NHL would receive HUGE support here!

[Romeo Delight]

Bettman in his state of the league address was talking of Winnipeg as if he was seriously considering it as a possibility.

It is a smokescreen to avoid too much talk of the impending move to Waterloo.

Bettman is cautious because he will anger TO and Buffalo owners, but it will happen.

I happen to know that Nashville players are looking at houses in the greater TO area as we speak.

Take it for what it is worth but it is a done deal.