What Al Strachan fails to acknowledge in his column is travel costs for the other NHL teams.
Truth is that Phoenix is in a no mans land both geographically and hockey wise. The teams is surrounded by desert and is pretty far from all the other hockey teams except the Ducks and Kings in LA.
Send a team to Ontario or Vegas. At least in Vegas they would have a monopoly on the pro-sports market unlike Phoenix. Hell even Kansas City would be nice they have an arena.
The sport is stable in Canada. Yes the NHL should expand but throwing out two teams in Florida and one in Atlanta, Phoenix, and Nashville over such a short period of time is just silly, risky, and misguided.
Friday, May 8, 2009
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
NHL Moves
*Sorry for the lack of updates recently. Try to do better in the future.
Well reports now say that Jim Balsillie's pursuit of a NHL franchise has takent yet another turn. Balsillie is currently trying to buy the Coyotes. In my opinion not a bad idea. Phoenix is a terrible place for a hockey team and the Coyotes are underperforming in a bad hockey market.
I always found it bizarre the NHL has more teams in the Sun Belt than Canada. Only three places in the US should the NHL have a team that isn't already there:
Kansas City - though basketball is better but an empty arena is bad
Las Vegas - someone needs to take the risk and put a pro sports team there
Hartford - Whalers fans are a dedicated bunch
Spector points out:
Winnipeg and Quebec City will never again have NHL franchises. Even if they were to build big, shiny new arenas that could seat over 18,000 fans both cities lack the population base to adequately support them.
...to which I reluctantly agree though I would love to see the Winnipeg Jets come back. Still I have a hard time believing that the Jets could be worse off than the Coyotes (except the Coyotes have a nice arena with a terrible name).
Well reports now say that Jim Balsillie's pursuit of a NHL franchise has takent yet another turn. Balsillie is currently trying to buy the Coyotes. In my opinion not a bad idea. Phoenix is a terrible place for a hockey team and the Coyotes are underperforming in a bad hockey market.
I always found it bizarre the NHL has more teams in the Sun Belt than Canada. Only three places in the US should the NHL have a team that isn't already there:
Kansas City - though basketball is better but an empty arena is bad
Las Vegas - someone needs to take the risk and put a pro sports team there
Hartford - Whalers fans are a dedicated bunch
Spector points out:
Winnipeg and Quebec City will never again have NHL franchises. Even if they were to build big, shiny new arenas that could seat over 18,000 fans both cities lack the population base to adequately support them.
...to which I reluctantly agree though I would love to see the Winnipeg Jets come back. Still I have a hard time believing that the Jets could be worse off than the Coyotes (except the Coyotes have a nice arena with a terrible name).
Saturday, April 18, 2009
New GM for the Avs got a lot of work
Francois Giguere was not that great of a GM. We all know that.
However, I have a feeling he was a puppet of Pierre Lacriox so he does deserve a lot of the blame.
The next GM will have a tough time as the Avs have $43.775 million dedicated to 13 players. That leaves about 12 million to sign about have the team. If Sakic comes back the Avs will only have about $6 to spend.
Maybe the Avs can trade up for the first pick and dump some payroll. But the Islanders are struggling economically so that probably won't fit into their self-imposed cap.
However, I have a feeling he was a puppet of Pierre Lacriox so he does deserve a lot of the blame.
The next GM will have a tough time as the Avs have $43.775 million dedicated to 13 players. That leaves about 12 million to sign about have the team. If Sakic comes back the Avs will only have about $6 to spend.
Maybe the Avs can trade up for the first pick and dump some payroll. But the Islanders are struggling economically so that probably won't fit into their self-imposed cap.
Friday, April 10, 2009
Baseball is back
This year in hockey is pretty much been terrible for an Avs fan (Sakic, injuries, last place, the bring on John Tavares or Victor Hedman campaign).
Its good to see baseball coming back. I put the Rockies in a fluid 3rd place behind the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks but I think the NL West is up in the air.
AL East will be interesting can the Yankees get their money's worth. Will Boston keep going. Is Tampa for real?
My answers Yankees will not get their money's worth. Boston will barely make the wildcard but could make a good playoff run. Tampa is the real deal.
AL West is home to my favorite AL team the Mariners but its not looking too good for them. Though I am just glad Griffey is back.
Its good to see baseball coming back. I put the Rockies in a fluid 3rd place behind the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks but I think the NL West is up in the air.
AL East will be interesting can the Yankees get their money's worth. Will Boston keep going. Is Tampa for real?
My answers Yankees will not get their money's worth. Boston will barely make the wildcard but could make a good playoff run. Tampa is the real deal.
AL West is home to my favorite AL team the Mariners but its not looking too good for them. Though I am just glad Griffey is back.
Thursday, April 2, 2009
Smyth out!
Ryan Smyth is out for the rest of the seaon with a fractured hand.
Can we know bring on John Tavares or Victor Hedman?
I'd take either one but my preference would be Tavares because the Avs are have better prospects at defense.
Can the Avs higher better doctors and trainers? It seems like they get the injury bug really bad every year.
Can we know bring on John Tavares or Victor Hedman?
I'd take either one but my preference would be Tavares because the Avs are have better prospects at defense.
Can the Avs higher better doctors and trainers? It seems like they get the injury bug really bad every year.
Broncos won the deal with Cutler?
Well on face value it looks like the Broncos won the deal with the Bears.
Broncos sent Cutler and fifth rounder this year for a first and third round picks this year, a first round next year, and quarterback Kyle Orton.
Broncos got a ton of picks for Cutler and a QB. I think the Broncos won this deal because now they can address their multiple issues during this years draft. These include a linebacker, defensive end, and a running back.
However, its best to withhold judgement on deals involving draft picks until we see what the Broncos do with them.
I am cautious because the Broncos have a terrible history when it comes to the draft. Yet, I do like it so far.
Broncos sent Cutler and fifth rounder this year for a first and third round picks this year, a first round next year, and quarterback Kyle Orton.
Broncos got a ton of picks for Cutler and a QB. I think the Broncos won this deal because now they can address their multiple issues during this years draft. These include a linebacker, defensive end, and a running back.
However, its best to withhold judgement on deals involving draft picks until we see what the Broncos do with them.
I am cautious because the Broncos have a terrible history when it comes to the draft. Yet, I do like it so far.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Cutler saga
I am not convinced that Cutler will be traded. Though the headline from the Denver Post article is eye-catching the article itself sights conflicting reports.
I think in order for the Broncos to trade Cutler a team would have to offer a first round pick and a high quality impact player.
I think in order for the Broncos to trade Cutler a team would have to offer a first round pick and a high quality impact player.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)