Apparently, this time it's to Canada, and, perhaps, signals a merciful end to his failed "Southern Strategy". Still, adding more teams, Gary? MORE TEAMS?? Is that really good for a league that is already so over extended?

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Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, 'cause I get better looking each day. To know me is to love me, I must be a hell of a man. Oh lord, it's hard to be humble, but I'm doin' the best that I can.

Yup...let's just water down the league a little more with a bunch of knuckle dragging wanna be's, Gary. Jesus why can't he see that we need retraction WAY before expansion at this point? If he wants the games to be more entertaining, slash the league by at least 4-5 teams and spread out the talent. This way you'll have more than 2 or 3 guys on a team that are considered stars or super stars. I hope he understands why teams like the Oil and the Isles had their dynasties back in the 80's. Jesus, even an average player then would be considered a power forward or star in today’s game. With 21 teams, the talent was flooding the league!

As much as I want to see more teams back here in Canada, I DON'T want another wave of expansion to be the cause of it.


Can someone please step on him already? Please?

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If it's a tight squeeze, spit on it! - NyI

He's a middling AHL player who had the good fortune of a drunk arbitrator. - The Squanto re: Tim Kennedy

Would you expect him to say something different? He's going to say something to spin a better image of the league's overall viability; just like the NFL wants us to believe Europe and Canada give a shit about them.

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"I'll rap you with my cane; you pencil necked geek!!"

-Bowler, imitating Freddy Blassie, at the very first M & G.

With the league's revenue share structure, Bettman probably thinks that the health and vitality of some more Canadian clubs will help fund failing projects in the south, in hopes to keep exposure of the game strong all across America until it gains some more momentum.

I believe hockey can work in the south, because I believe hockey is an enjoyable sport no matter where you watch it.

However, the approach and introduction was far too fast and direct.

Still, the game is gaining traction. It'll be interesting to see how the NHL fares over the next 10 years.

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Wheelhouse

If Bettman was "serious" - I mean genuinely involved with the process - regarding southern expansion, the NHL would initiate a pilot program to fund or subsidize rinks, and minor Hockey programs.

They would establish a trust or scholarship program that introduced Hockey to varsity sports. They would tie such a program to academics and sporting excellence, in any community they had targeted as having potential for a franchise.

They would provide access - free coverage, via the NHL Network - to the sport and proactively engage the demographic in question.

They would partner with corporate sponsorship and potential ownership groups to provide funding for such programs, as well as subsidies for equipment and ice-time, for minor-league programs.

They would establish a building committee, whose purpose it was to negotiate funding and leasing, for the construction of specification-grade venues which are cost-effective/energy efficient and debt-manageable.

They would establish a pool of monies to be used as low-cost loans to entice ownership groups to seek sole ownership of such venues, in order to unburden the taxpayers of said community - And thereby make any said construction that much more appealing and welcomed.

Such a program, if intitiated today, and implemented within two to four years, would serve as a benchmark for professional sports expansion.

THAT'S how McDonalds' does it; more or less - The investment would reap sound and dedicated fan-bases, and assure success for the NHL, for generations to come.

It would also identify potential pitfalls, and allow the league to withdraw, should their initial assessment be altered by any future economic changes/issues.

Imagine that? Naaaah.

Too much work. Too forward-looking. Too sensible.

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Hold my beer and watch this...

Isn't every NHL franchise required by league rules to establish a foundation that does all kinds of community service projects throughout the local community, including the funding and support of youth hockey?

http://bluejackets.nhl.com/club/news.htm?id=479015

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Wheelhouse

Bravo! Hockey, if you want it to spread, should be done from the bottom up, not the top down. Don't shove a franchise into a location with no hockey tradition and expect it to kick start a love of hockey there. Get hockey ingrained in the local culture first, then you can bring in a franchise. That's why more teams in Canada is a good idea. However, don't water down the talent by adding teams. If Canada needs more clubs, move them from some of the black holes where they are currently floundering.

Ham

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Do you believe yet?

Its just a bad idea overall... I mean come on... move the freakin Coyotes north to Canada, Move the Florida Panthers North to Canada, and move the Nashville Predators to Canada... boom right there... 3 teams with not a lot of fan base moved to canada to help bring in more money in citis and fans that want them...

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LETS GO BUFFALO!

it's kind of funny in an ironic and sad sense that bettman is interested in forming new expansion teams but is never really putting a team where a market for hockey would be. surely he must have advisors who can figure out the hockey interest of the area. Or someone to tell him just throwing a team in a place is a bad idea, you have to get people, some who have no clue what hockey is, interested. maybe include a free package for nhl network with their cable, or satellite.

you want a good example of just throwing a team in a spot and expecting results, the bills and toronto. The NFL gives toronto the shaft repeatedly with crappy teams; the bills pats game would have been a game to send to toronto. Then toronto expects fans to just show up and pay near triple for a team that isn't theirs when they can make the 2 hour drive and pay less, to see the bills play in orchard park. where is the marketing genius. sell it to the fans that they may get a team if they show up strong, don't screw your fans with high prices, give the toronto fans a good product (at least on good team), i mean you give london the chargers, the giants, but screw your neighbors.

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"Tis The Season, Fa la la la la LaFontaine" - Rick Jeanneret

Make more teams in Canada just to see them fail and get moved once again.

I don't know how teams would be able to survive in places where they once had a team and lost it due to money and not having corporate sponsors to help them out.

I'm sorry, but I don't see Canada being able to afford anymore teams because I don't see them exporting that many goods fro corporations to be able to keep afloat that way.

Expansion isn't the answer, it's leave teams alone right now, and if they absolutely need to be moved, then move them somewhere that you know will have the money to support a team, especially in today's economy.

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I would really hate to see Kansas City get a team, unless Phoenix moves there. At least it would have a rivalry with the Blues...

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret