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Originally Posted by ssiguy
I always found it odd that Cleveland never got a team but now that Columbus has one, I don't think they ever will.
Toronto could support another team financially but I think the city is just too tied to The Leafs. One may survive in LV but only due to tourist, a bit risky.
Quebec would do well and I think Seattle would as well, I think some of the suffering southern teams like Florida, Anaheim, and Phoenix should just call it quits. They were never really embraced by the cities anyhow. I think SLC would do well and it definitely has a real winter and is a winter sports mecca with skiing and playing host to the Winter Olympics. I also think Indianapolis, and Milwaikee, could make a go of it and possibly Kansas City.
I do not think the league needs more teams but rather a shifting of locations. Florida, Phoenix, and Anaheim could be moved to other locals and no one would even notice. The Islanders are also struggling.
Toronto could maybe support another team but I think other cities, especially Seattle and Quebec should be at the top of the list and I definitely do not agree with more total number of teams in the league. Bettmen has never cared about the sport and sees it as strictly another business like Starbucks or IBM. The quality of the game is irrelevant to him.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Buckeye Native 001
Cleveland had a team (the Barons, IIRC) for a few seasons back in the 1970s, but I don't believe another Ohio city would be able to support an NHL team. Columbus is barely able to support the Blue Jackets. I'm a fan, but I live on the opposite end of the country.
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This is actually really interesting stuff. Cleveland should have been admitted to the league in the 50s but the NHL owners were a really nit picky bunch and didn't want anybody else getting a piece of their pie. Cleveland should be right up there with Chicago and Detroit, but it wasn't meant to be. Eventually the Barons did make it to the NHL after the Oakland Seals (California Golden Seals) moved there in the 1970s. Cleveland actually ended up "merging" with the Minnesota North Stars. In the early 90s the Barons were techinally unmerged from the Minnesota and moved to San Jose, which is why the Sharks ended up with a bunch of North Stars in their first year.
Cincinatti was one of the 6 remaining teams from the WHA when that league merged with the NHL in 1979. The NHL admitted Edmonton, Winnipeg, Quebec City, and Hartford but paid Cincinatti and Birmingham $1.5 million to cease operations. Discussion took place in 1976 to admit Cincinatti and Houston to the NHL along with EDM, WPG, QUE, and HFD.
Mark Messier actually started out with Cincinatti but became eligible to be drafted in 1979 after the team folded and the Oilers snagged him in round 3.
Among the smartest decisions of the Bettman era was expansion to Columbus. It's a large northern city, new arena, no professional sports presence, and a solid economy based around a university. I think Cincinatti could have worked, and maybe still could, because of the absence of an NBA team and natural rivalry with Columbus.