Bigger for the NHL?

[Swedishpredator]

Eichel and McDavid dosent deserve to play for that dysfunctional franchise (Edmonton).

Canes and Yotes need something to get their franchises back on track...or for yotes its more like just getting some certain top 6 players.

 

[CH25]

It'd be better for the NHL if they went to a team like the Leafs

Plus having one of these players doesn't guarantee a thing

 

[Sam Spade]

It'd be better for the NHL if they went to a team like the Leafs

Plus having one of these players doesn't guarantee a thing

Agreed on both counts.

 

[The Hockey Tonk Man]

I don't want the Oilers to get either..Buffalo hasn't tanked the past 4-5 years like Edmonton.

 

[Ishdul]

I don't think Buffalo is run especially poorly, or at least they haven't shown it under Murray. It's pretty clear what they were going for this year and it wasn't a run at the playoffs. I don't think there should be any specific concern about them 'ruining' McDavid or Eichel.

I'm reasonably confident that McDavid could turn around just about any team in history.

 

[LeafsNation75]

If the NHL wanted Connor McDavid to play somewhere I think they would want him in Toronto. You have the biggest market in Canada and I would say it's the biggest market in the NHL with a passionate fan base. Plus you have the story of the kid who is from Newmarket, Ontario playing for his favorite team he grew up watching.

 

[Frenchy]

If the Canes or Yotes are in position to draft Eichel or McDavid i'm all for it .
But to say that those players MUST go to those cities because they would deserve them , over the 28 other NHL teams( including the Oilers ) , i dont agree .

Right now the NHL works with a draft lotery , and the winner will draft no1 and THAT team will deserve McDavid.

 

[CowMix]

Isn't Buffalo a pretty big market for the NHL? It always produces good TV ratings, seems like NHL would be just as happy with McDavid going there.

 

[Frenchy]

If the NHL wanted Connor McDavid to play somewhere I think they would want him in Toronto. You have the biggest market in Canada and I would say it's the biggest market NHL with a passionate fan base. Plus you have the story of the kid who is from Newmarket, Ontario playing for his favorite team he grew up watching.

They said the same thing about Eric Lindros and JT

 

[Frenchy]

Isn't Buffalo a pretty big market for the NHL? It always produces good TV ratings, seems like NHL would be just as happy with McDavid to go there.

I would be really happy for their fans if they could land McDavid, all they need to do is draft first overall

 

[RiceCooker]

If the NHL wanted Connor McDavid to play somewhere I think they would want him in Toronto. You have the biggest market in Canada and I would say it's the biggest market in the NHL with a passionate fan base. Plus you have the story of the kid who is from Newmarket, Ontario playing for his favorite team he grew up watching.

The NHL doesn't have to grow the game in Toronto or any other Canadian city, teams like Arizona, Carolina, Florida, etc. need a superstar to hopefully fuel some interest and gain a bigger fan base.

Hopefully McDavid can turn a franchise around in the States like Crosby did with Pittsburgh

 

[CH25]

The NHL doesn't have to grow the game in Toronto or any other Canadian city, teams like Arizona, Carolina, Florida, etc. need a superstar to hopefully fuel some interest and gain a bigger fan base.

Hopefully McDavid can turn a franchise around in the States like Crosby did with Pittsburgh

Arizona and Florida will still be operating at a loss even with Mcdavid. Leafs will make the NHL huge money if they can at least make the playoffs and go deep a few years

 

[TheTwelfth]

Arizona and Florida will still be operating at a loss even with Mcdavid. Leafs will make the NHL huge money if they can at least make the playoffs and go deep a few years

You should spend more time at the stock markets with your ability to see the future

 

[HockeyThoughts]

I hope Arizona drafts and then immediately move to Quebec City.

Now THAT would be fun. (but with the weak Canadian dollar it's unlikely to happen right now )

 

[HockeyThoughts]

You should spend more time at the stock markets with your ability to see the future

It's not exactly hard to foresee that two hockey markets, that have never been passable, let alone good hockey markets will remain as such even with the addition of a singular player.

 

[LeafsNation75]

The NHL doesn't have to grow the game in Toronto or any other Canadian city, teams like Arizona, Carolina, Florida, etc. need a superstar to hopefully fuel some interest and gain a bigger fan base.

Hopefully McDavid can turn a franchise around in the States like Crosby did with Pittsburgh

Carolina has already won a Stanley Cup in 2006 and had a Finals appearance in 2002. If anything that's what should grow the game down there.

Besides their 1996 Stanley Cup Finals appearance the Panthers haven't success like in a long time and I don't think McDavid would help that. I mean how come their other top 3 picks like Ekblad (1st in 2014) Huberdeau (3rd in 2011) and Barkov (2nd in 2013) haven't been able to get their fans out there. Plus didn't some people say them brining back Luongo would help their attendance because he was a very popular player his first time with them.

As for the Coyotes if the NHL wanted them to have someone save their franchise the smarter choice would be Auston Matthews who is from the State of Arizona and what better player for them to draft and market to their fans.

Finally if it wasn't for revenue sharing chances are the Hurricanes, Panthers, and Coyotes couldn't survive and they have the Leafs to thank for that from the money they get from them. So if anything the NHL owes Toronto for that and having them win the Draft Lottery to select Connor McDavid would only be a good thing for the NHL and they would make even a lot more money compared to him being drafted somewhere else.

 

[CowMix]

It's not exactly hard to foresee that two hockey markets, that have never been passable, let alone good hockey markets will remain as such even with the addition of a singular player.

Star players and winning can grow a market anywhere. Its been proven many times in the NHL and other sports leagues.

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

I think NJ receiving one would be great...

 

[Faltorvo]

Isn't Buffalo a pretty big market for the NHL? It always produces good TV ratings, seems like NHL would be just as happy with McDavid going there.

what the OP is essentially trying to say is

if your in a market that will support your team regardless of it's standing, well

then your not worthy of these players , loyal gate productive fans bases step aside

we want to grow the NHLs bottom line on your backs.

 

[Vesa Awesaka]

Auston Matthews needs to go to Arizona next year.

A superstar that's actually from the area, an area which isn't populated by too many hockey players, would help the whole franchise, not too mention how much it'd help minor hockey in Arizona as a whole.

Then once Austin Matthews establishes himself as a star he'll take him talents to south beach. Then the arizona fans will burn him jersey. Then the prodigal son will return to arizona. My god.... It will be the biggest marketing success ever for the NHL

 

[NHL Fanatik*]

It's not exactly hard to foresee that two hockey markets, that have never been passable, let alone good hockey markets will remain as such even with the addition of a singular player.

Florida gets fans in the seats when they are winning, IIRC in the playoffs they fill seats.

 

[I am not exposed]

I think the NHL needs to re-do the lottery (I hate tanking) ... evenly spread out the chances of teams that didn't make the playoffs for the #1 overall pick

Yes they should do that this season.

 

[MuffinMerc]

Please no McDavid in Toronto. Sports media here in Canada is already Leafs non-stop despite them being horrible forever, if they got McDavid the Leafs media would smother this kid to death before he left the draft.

Agreed. If McDavid ended up in Toronto then the rest of us (Ottawa, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Edmonton, and Vancouver) would never hear the end of it. I can hear Toronto media mulling already.

 

[tarheelhockey]

Carolina has already won a Stanley Cup in 2006 and had a Finals appearance in 2002. If anything that's what should grow the game down there.

It did grow the game, tremendously. It's pretty obvious if you live here that there's a visible hockey/Hurricanes fanbase.

But surely you don't think those experiences should STILL be driving ticket sales? As if the intervening decade just didn't happen at all?

 

[PitPenguin]

It did grow the game, tremendously. It's pretty obvious if you live here that there's a visible hockey/Hurricanes fanbase.

But surely you don't think those experiences should STILL be driving ticket sales? As if the intervening decade just didn't happen at all?

also in the ECF in 2009. i think this team could still be great (but not with the roster they currently constructed). if they sell everyone & i mean everyone (except Lindholm & Faulk. + opens up cap space on a budget team), get a top 2 pick (from the fire sale) & all the depth players you can for the future (trades) , add a veteran leader or two. & boom

they just arent good enough for the metro division. i am a huge fan. probably my second favorite team in the league and i hate seeing them this way...