Nik V. Debs said:
Bender said:
Sorry, bad choice of words. The league is what I meant.
It would be interesting to see your scenario play out but man a new league would wither without the relationships the NHL has fostered over the years, even if they are at their breaking point right now. I wonder how another league could possibly be profitable. Could go the route of WHA.
I think that overestimates peoples attachment to the brand that is the NHL. My only real brand loyalty here is to the Leafs. I think what CF is talking about is teams like the Leafs and the other profitable franchises forming a brand new league as opposed to something starting from scratch like the WHA and on that basis...as long as the quality of hockey is the same I'd actually prefer a newer league that has less central authority.
Right, so say.... Tor, NYR, Mtl, Van, Cgy, Edm, Wpg, Phi, Chi, Det, Pit, Bos, LA, Min, Stl, Col plus maybe a few straddler teams with big pocket owners like Buffalo, Washington and Ottawa (but if the Sens are in, they must be renamed to the 'Ugly Step Sisters') all re-form as a new league with the same franchise names, ownership groups and branding .. these teams generally all make money or are at least not propped up by a league or changing ownership/bankruptcy issues. Some big markets and some smaller ones in there, could operate as they see fit and sign anyone they want. Now that would be fun.
I could see the other franchises forming some AHL'esque league that would probably be a fraction of the scale, but maybe hang on and eventually fade away, WHA style.
Fun to imagine what that would be like.