NHL

Thanks Mike…no matter what I’m a hockey fan, and I always will be. What bothers me, added on to what I mentioned above, is the “we don’t give a crap about our fan base” attitude. They say how much they love the fans, but they are taking away the game we love to watch. I understand it’s all business…but doing this disrspects the fans and let’s face it, we’re the ones putting money in their pockets.

videoman320: I read an article with Ovetchkin and he said the owners also want the players to give back 20% of the existing contracts of the players. To me a contract is a contract. Also heard the players are willing to give up part of their 57% share if the owners will agree to revenue sharing amongst the owners. The bigger market teams don’t want to do it and I don’t blame them. There is no such thing as a small market in sports. Put a good product on the ice and you will draw. There are teams way under the salary cap so they have no one to blame but themselves. Also giving 5 and 6 million dollars a year to guys that can’t score 30 goals is their fault not the players.Last year Troy Brower, Andrew Ladd, and Kris Versteeg three former Blackhawks all scored more goals than Patrick Kane. Yet he is making over 6 million a year and they are gone. Its all about how you spend,especially in a salary cap sport. I agree with thereadog Hamilton and Quebec City should both have teams. Hamilton has been screwed by the league for over 20 years. I’m sure all fans would love to see the Montreal, Quebec rivalry back in the league. Giving Atlanta a second chance was a dumb mistake.

I couldn’t agree with this more. Great point on Hamilton. Any why not a 2nd team in Toronto? The Leafs are getting the highest ticket prices in the league in one of the biggest markets. NY has 3 teams – you mean to tell me that if you put the Coyotes in Toonto, it wouldn’t work? They would go from the bottom few in revenue to the top.

I read the thing on Ovechkin as well and the salary roll back. I know its out there but I can’t see it. If that happens, we ae in for another long lockout. I think this will probably go to early December but what do I know. Hopefull its over soon though.

VAiN: I’d rather see a team go where one doesn’t exist and grow the market. The NW is hurting.. how about Seattle or Portland?

Seattle sounds like a big frontrunner for a team so that is certainly possible. I like that idea, plus Quebec, Hamilton or even Hartford again. Doubt they’d ever go back to Hartford because its not a major market and they are smack between Boston & NY but who knows.

Portland would be my first pick for a U.S franchise. They have supported the Winterhawks junior team for decades. I would never go back to Hartford or any other U.S city that has failed in the past. NEVER should have given Atlanta a second chance.

VAiN: I agree with that… and Atlanta was a horrible idea. The population there isn’t what you’d call a Hockey crowd…

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I hear what you’re saying about Atalanta….

Reminds of something I heard a police detective say on one of those cop shows: “The problem with trying to solve a murder in Atlanta is that everyone’s DNA matches and the dental records never show anything.”

Hartford is different from Atlanta in that it wasa hockey market and drew big crowds prior to their departure in 97. Atlanta never was a hockey market. Hartford lost their team because you had an owner who wanted a new building and the state wouldn’t pay for it. He got one in Raleigh and moved the team.

Suebndave is right about the former owners in Hartford, Howard Baldwin & Co., trying like hell but they had found it very difficult because the move killed the CT market. Last I heard the Baldwins were pushed out because they owed everyone under the sun money from rebranding the team the Whale. Its a shame it will never work there. Still a fun place to go and watch a game…and I will probably make the drive up for an AHL game as this lockout starts cancelling games.

Games have been cancelled thru 11/30.