NHL to Atlanta odds just increased significantly

[dj4aces]

Those were never perfect numbers, they were awkward numbers for divisions and playoffs.

Yes, Hindsight is 20/20.

People will be saying the same about 36, too.

This is an awfully weird hill for folks to die on because whether they like it or not, expansion is coming. So they might really like 32, but that number will change Just as people really liked 30, and really liked 21.

 

[KeydGV21]

When there's an equal number of US teams as the other major sports leagues who, I'm sure by pure coincidence and no correlation at all, rake in way more $$$. You're really concerned over the last 2 guys on an active roster that get single digit minutes in a game versus 1+ billion expansion fee and staking a team in the largest city and business hub in the southeast. Wild.


Oof, thinking these guys don't have families, or that these young players won't want to go to an NHL game, and that there's no correlation with hockey interest in the area with amount of interest in attending an NHL game.

You’re looking for somewhere between a 37-40 team league with 32 U.S. teams.

Meaning there will ALWAYS be at least a 36-39 year Stanley Cup drought.

The fastest way to kill the NHL is make it abundantly clear to fans that there is a good chance they’ll never see a championship in their lifetime

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

One more point about the location. This map shows population change between the 2010 census and the 2020 census. The red dot is the location for The Gathering. Does this help explain?

The map source

 

[tucker3434]

You’re looking for somewhere between a 37-40 team league with 32 U.S. teams.

Meaning there will ALWAYS be at least a 36-39 year Stanley Cup drought.

The fastest way to kill the NHL is make it abundantly clear to fans that there is a good chance they’ll never see a championship in their lifetime

Let me tell you about college athletics…

It’s sports. People come back because next year could always be the year.

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

You’re looking for somewhere between a 37-40 team league with 32 U.S. teams.

Meaning there will ALWAYS be at least a 36-39 year Stanley Cup drought.

The fastest way to kill the NHL is make it abundantly clear to fans that there is a good chance they’ll never see a championship in their lifetime

Literally half the league makes the playoffs. I don't think adding 2 teams to the league is all the sudden going to chase away any fans because they feel their team no longer has a chance.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Yes, Hindsight is 20/20.

People will be saying the same about 36, too.

This is an awfully weird hill for folks to die on because whether they like it or not, expansion is coming. So they might really like 32, but that number will change Just as people really liked 30, and really liked 21.

lol, no hindsight, it was obvious then and still now, those numbers aren’t the best, for divisional lineups.

 

[dj4aces]

lol, no hindsight, it was obvious then and still now, those numbers aren’t the best, for divisional lineups.

It was obvious to you, perhaps. I know folks -- even here -- who used to say 21 was perfect. 30 being perfect is a common refrain I saw when Vegas was being considered. Please don't try to tell me folks weren't saying this stuff, because they absolutely were, and folks will be doing the same when expansion from 36 to whatever comes next is being considered.

The fact is, the only people who see this as some sort of irreconcilable issue are people who simply don't want expansion. 32 isn't perfect, nor was 30, nor will 36 be. "Perfect" will only be achieved when the Board of Governors are happy. This is a business decision above all else. Complain all you want, but expansion too is coming.

 

[KeydGV21]

Let me tell you about college athletics…

It’s sports. People come back because next year could always be the year.

In college athletics winning your conference is a big deal…Or making the sweet 16…


That’s not the case in professional sports, so I’m failing to see your point

Literally half the league makes the playoffs. I don't think adding 2 teams to the league is all the sudden going to chase away any fans because they feel their team no longer has a chance.

Completely and totally missed the point. Congrats!

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Completely and totally missed the point. Congrats!

Quoted your post and it didn’t make sense. Congrats.

 

[KeydGV21]

Quoted your post and it didn’t make sense. Congrats.

Reading comprehension must be hard for you…

I mention Stanley Cup droughts and you come back with number of teams that make the playoffs…

Maybe figure out the difference between those two things before being sarcastic?

 

[AtlantaWhaler]

Reading comprehension must be hard for you…

You said

The fastest way to kill the NHL is make it abundantly clear to fans that there is a good chance they’ll never see a championship in their lifetime

Which is dumb. It’s ok… just own it

 

[AKL]

You’re looking for somewhere between a 37-40 team league with 32 U.S. teams.

Meaning there will ALWAYS be at least a 36-39 year Stanley Cup drought.

The fastest way to kill the NHL is make it abundantly clear to fans that there is a good chance they’ll never see a championship in their lifetime

That's not how that works

If a team is good, fans will always ant to be there in case that is the year

Minnesota sports fans have one of the longest championship droughts across all four sports, but when the teams are good fans still come out to support all of those teams

Leafs and Canucks fans haven't seen a championship in 50+ years, those fans still come out

Fans already know it's a long shot to win the championship, they come out for the chance, and they hope it's their turn

That doesn't change by adding 2, 4, or 6 more teams

 

[Golden_Jet]

That doesn't change by adding 2, 4, or 6 more teams

Just lowers the odds nothing more, obviously was easier in original 6 to win.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

Yes, Hindsight is 20/20.

People will be saying the same about 36, too.

This is an awfully weird hill for folks to die on because whether they like it or not, expansion is coming. So they might really like 32, but that number will change Just as people really liked 30, and really liked 21.

If NFL expanded to 36 first no one would be saying its weird,

 

[tucker3434]

In college athletics winning your conference is a big deal…Or making the sweet 16…


That’s not the case in professional sports, so I’m failing to see your point


Completely and totally missed the point. Congrats!

On the rare occasions my alma mater wins their conference or has a run in the tournament, I remember the season for the missed opportunity, which is pretty much how I feel when the Avs choke in the playoffs.

 

[dj4aces]

In college athletics winning your conference is a big deal…Or making the sweet 16…

I'm not a college sports fan, but do you know how many colleges there are with sports programs? You can take Final Four in basketball, Frozen Four in hockey, or even the College Football championship, and it all remains the same. There are literally hundreds of teams, but only one will win a championship. Yet look at all the fans who show up, who fill all the stadiums, whether it be the smallest Division III basketball arenas to the largest Division I football stadiums. Some of those teams don't have a chance, but year in and year out, fans show up.

That, I think, is what was meant by the mention of college sports.

If NFL expanded to 36 first no one would be saying its weird,

Oh, absolutely! They wouldn't even think it's weird hour four divisions have five teams, while four others only have four. It'd be super smart to capitalize on popularity by awarding franchises to Boise ID, Birmingham AL, Lincoln NB and Bowling Green KY. If the Lions aren't on, I'll certainly be looking forward to watching the Falcons lose to the Alabama Salamanders!

 

[KeydGV21]

On the rare occasions my alma mater wins their conference or has a run in the tournament, I remember the season for the missed opportunity, which is pretty much how I feel when the Avs choke in the playoffs.

Which the relevance of this fact very much depends on your alma mater…

If it’s Alabama or Ohio St a loss in the CFP is a fail…but every Fairleigh Dickinson consideres last years basketball team a roaring success.

College sports has different expectations for what makes a successful season. Pros are championship or bust.

I can’t believe there are people struggling with this concept

If NFL expanded to 36 first no one would be saying its weird,

I’m already opposed to the NFL being this large and would be banging the same drum…

 

[tucker3434]

Which the relevance of this fact very much depends on your alma mater…

If it’s Alabama or Ohio St a loss in the CFP is a fail…but every Fairleigh Dickinson consideres last years basketball team a roaring success.

College sports has different expectations for what makes a successful season. Pros are championship or bust.

I can’t believe there are people struggling with this concept


I’m already opposed to the NFL being this large and would be banging the same drum…

In all sports, you either find ways to get enjoyment out of non-championship seasons, or you just be miserable forever.

If the only time you enjoy the NHL is when your team is winning the cup, why watch at all?

 

[johnnyonthspot]

That's not how that works

If a team is good, fans will always ant to be there in case that is the year

Minnesota sports fans have one of the longest championship droughts across all four sports, but when the teams are good fans still come out to support all of those teams

Leafs and Canucks fans haven't seen a championship in 50+ years, those fans still come out

Fans already know it's a long shot to win the championship, they come out for the chance, and they hope it's their turn

That doesn't change by adding 2, 4, or 6 more teams

This is the year the leafs can do it.
The cup is up for grabs.
They made some understated but good moves.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

The fastest way to kill the NHL is make it abundantly clear to fans that there is a good chance they’ll never see a championship in their lifetime

And yet, most of the professional sports leagues now are at or around 32 teams and still are growing fans even though it is unlikely that most will see a championship in their lifetime.

The truth is that most fans see that on opening day their team's statistical chances of winning a championship are exactly equal to those of the other teams.

The real discouragement for some fans is that their organization sucks (Cleveland Browns, Oakland Athletics, Arizona Coyotes, etc.), but even they can hope that someday their owner dies or sells and somebody competent takes over. That has nothing to do with the number of teams in their league.

 

[BKIslandersFan]

I’m already opposed to the NFL being this large and would be banging the same drum…

Fair.

 

[KeydGV21]

And yet, most of the professional sports leagues now are at or around 32 teams and still are growing fans even though it is unlikely that most will see a championship in their lifetime.

The truth is that most fans see that on opening day their team's statistical chances of winning a championship are exactly equal to those of the other teams.

The real discouragement for some fans is that their organization sucks (Cleveland Browns, Oakland Athletics, Arizona Coyotes, etc.), but even they can hope that someday their owner dies or sells and somebody competent takes over. That has nothing to do with the number of teams in their league.

Is that because of the number of of teams though?I’m under the impression that fantasy/gambling is a huge driver for ratings, especially so with the NFL…

I suppose more games=more action so this would be great for those fans. But for fans of a team, expansion sucks

 

[Space umpire]

There are 2-3 players on most every team that probably should be playing in the AHL, but are forced onto an NHL roster because there isn't enough quality talent out there to fill those spots. Adding more teams means that number will grow.

I have an idea, why don't we grow the number of teams to 40? How about 50? When does enough become enough?

Bulls—t!
Before the NHL REALLY expanded their player search to places outside North America most teams had a decent 1st line, ok 2nd line a defensive 3rd line with PKers and a 4th line that couldn’t skate. Only 5 D got real ice with a 6th guy often getting 5 minutes. That was a 21 team NHL. Now most teams have 2 lines that are threats the 3rd lines on most teams are decent and 4th liners often PK and some used in shut down roles.
Hockey is as strong as it’s ever been.

 

[VivaLasVegas]

But for fans of a team, expansion sucks

Does it really for the average fan? I've been to many, many, many big league sporting events in my life and interacted with literally thousands of other fans, I can't recall ever hearing a single person complain about the league (whichever it was) having too many teams. The average fan is just there to have a good time, but it is their credit cards which actually fund things and not the relatively few super-loyal whose souls cannot go to heaven peacefully unless their team won it all.

If winning it all were the sine qua non of sports, the Cleveland Brown stadium would be completely empty every at home Sunday. The harder truth is that sports is simply a form of entertainment, nothing more and nothing less, and the more fans who are entertained the best it is for the average fans. Expansion entertains more fans; ergo, expansion is good from this perspective as well as the financial ones.

 

[5 Minute Major]

I'll believe it when a rich person hands Bettman a billion dollar check. Until then, an arena development plan isn't a guarantee of a team coming in. When Kansas City got an arena, everyone knew that it was only a matter of time before they'd get an NHL and/or NBA team. And yet it never happened, as the owners are happy with it printing money as an event venue.

That being said, as for talent dillution, just a reminder that star players feast when opponents are weak. There's a reason why Gretzky thrived in an era when the NHL was adding a team practically every other year.

In Wayne Gretzky’s first 12 NHL seasons there was no expansion. It was a 21 team league. You are completely wrong.