me2 said:
There would be a new NHL team in Hamilton in the blink of an eye. Leafs compete for WHA cup, other team competes for the Stanley Cup.
Would the leafs survive? Yes. Would they prosper, not quite as much as they would under a capped NHL, but they'd do just fine.
In the end though, the Leafs would want back into the NHL and now they have Hamilton as a competitior.
First it will not happen that the leafs would leave ..
but just for fun Isn't Hamilton a possible WHA team NOW ?? SO perhaps the rink is already reserved ..
The Leafs could also take the or Convince the Canadian teams to join its new ALL League
They could have Teams in Vancouver, Calgary, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Toronto, Hamilton, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec ..
Think about that .. The CBC and TSN and Rogers Sportsnet would fight for the TV rights .. The CHL(OHL, WHL, QMJHL) could be the feeder systems as the Canadian kids stay in their own Countries ..
Many of the Canadian born NHLers playing in the states may return to play near home .. (J. Sakic, P.Kariya, S.Niedermayer for example to Vancouver) ..
Which league would have the biggest following and fan support the remaining 24 US NHL teams or the New Canadian NHL (its own CFL equivalent if you like) ..
In fact some of those non-tradional US markets would have a real tough time surviving IMO without the Canadian Teams IMO .. Soon you might only have a dozen left in the NHL as some fall by the wayside ..
Hey Maybe those guys that wanted the whole NHL would interested in investing some of those billions in this league ... or maybe even by the tv and promotion rights and make millions in return ..
I still find it hard to believe that the 6 Canadian teams are going to let the US courts decide the future of the 6 NHL teams, with different labour laws and Immegration laws ..