NHL Set to Expand

[LuncheonMeat]

The NHL apparently invited one of the Seattle groups to their HQs in New York on Tuesday, so unless it was just to scold them for not ponying up the cash I'd say the NHL is still very interested in working something out there.

Our local council asking all 3 groups to work together is the first positive I've heard from Seattle with regard to a NHL franchise here.  Perhaps the NHL is pushing for cooperation?  I can't imagine, with only 2 apps, that they would soldier on.  I think expansion will wait until there is handful of serious bids, or at least the 2 bids that Bettman wants.  And call me crazy, but I don't think that Quebec is one of them.

 

[CarltonTheBear]

Here's PuckDaddy with a pretty good examination on a recent Globe & Mail article on why Quebec is unlikely go get an expansion team:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/nhl-is--eager-to-avoid--expansion-to-canada-143531785.html

It's a fairly large piece so I won't bother trying to pick out a few paragraphs to post, if you're interested in the subject give it a read. Some of their points have already been discussed here; largely that the NHL is more interested in creating new fans in non-traditional hockey markets than giving established ones a new team to cheer for, and that the league is very keen on fixing the conference balance without screwing over an existing team like Detroit or Columbus.

It basically concludes that the NHL could very well wait to give Seattle every chance they can to get back into this process, perhaps even stalling expansion talks until their ready. And that a move back to Quebec is more likely to happen through relocation than expansion.

 

[Bullfrog]

On to phase 2:
https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/las-vegas-quebec-city-nhl-expansion-bids-advance-220621743--nhl.html

https://ca.sports.yahoo.com/news/las-vegas-quebec-city-nhl-expansion-bids-advance-220621743--nhl.html