[911neverforget]

except the leafs are a losing team ? what's your point? the ranger's have won the cup long since the leafs have,and their tickets are expensive,the lightning are the champions and their tickets are cheap,compared to the rangers or an NFL football or MLB game,if there weren't any american teams or advertising,the NHL would be as lacklustre as the CFL,but it would be good hockey,as there wouldn't be many teams and the quality of player's would be way higher,Unfortunately,the CFL will alway's be a place for guy's like doug flutie that can't make an NFL roster,but if all the US nhl teams did fold,then hockey would be canada's game again, ,they just wouldn't have any american television or advertising $$,and struggle 'til they folded,it isn't 1966 anymore,....the US would just start another league w/out canadian teams,and the amount of american corporate and television $$'s would kill the canadian game,but it would still be good local hockey up there, just not televised beyong regional levels,all the good player's would head south for the $$,(can you blame them?)........go to a lightning or panther game,they fill the stadium every night,alot of snowbirds getting to watch their favorite teams in action,.for 1/2 the cost of a ticket in ottawa,or toronto.Hockey is the cheapest pro sport to attend in the USA,and the player's make peanut's compared to pro athletes in the big3 sports.,that's why the owner's waited the player's out,they know they could start a new league,w/out them,I think the top 10 college football teams pay their player's more,under the table, than than the NHL pay's. $23M team salary cap?....lol .......the univ. of Florida,budget's that much for extra footballs /season.

[dennis_is_canadian]

The salary cap is around 40 Million, the minimum is around 23. I don't know the exact numbers but that's where they are around I think. But I do get your point, NHL players are paid less than other leagues, but that's because revenues are higher in other leagues, just the way it is.

You said Florida fills the arena every night? Not even close, there may be snow birds who go to the games but there are not enough to fill the arenas. I watched every Leafs game last season (except one against Boston, but they lost). Anyway, alot of the times in certain places the arenas had AHL type crowds, and most of them were Leafs fans lol.

Flordida state has 2 NHL teams, 1 is pushing it let alone 2. Bring The Panthers to Winnipeg, I want Luongo, best damn goalie out there (atleast my favorite anyway).

[ManifestDestiny]

When do you all think a Canadian team will fianally win the CUP?

[DerbyX]

$1:

but if all the US nhl teams did fold,then hockey would be canada's game again, ,they just wouldn't have any american television or advertising $$,and struggle 'til they folded,it isn't 1966 anymore,....the US would just start another league w/out canadian teams,and the amount of american corporate and television $$'s would kill the canadian game

Wrong. A principle reason behind difficulties in Canadian teams competeing with American ones was the disparity in dollar value (back when it was .65). Even though Canadian teams could fill their arena's everynight the revenues generated were less then american counterparts. It is unfortunate that this lockout happened at a time when our dollar was much stronger and CDN teams would have been far better equiped financially to compete. A CDN only NHL would include all current CDN teams and bring in the strongest OHL, WHL, QMJHL & AHL teams. The NHL had the worst TV contract of all the pro-sports so teams wouldn't be losing much money by losing US sponsership (which is not a certianity b/c many US fans watch CDN hockey). Strong ticket & merchandise sales coupled with a good CDN TV deal could easily allow a CDN NHL to operate at US level salaries/revenues.

The CFL has made great strides since the mid-90's. Attendence & viewership is way up and the league financially very stable. CDN expansion will likely happen in Halifax and possibly 1-2 more new cities as interest continues to grow. It is true that we don't have any where near the money that your leagues do but so what? Does that make you better then us. Do you consider every single person with more money then you better then you. You don'tlike the CFL then don't watch it. You don't like Canada then don't come onto our site posting (on every thread) some bullshit self-serving posts designed to get some Canadian to make disparaging remarks about the US back.

[Bigboy]

OneNationUnderGod OneNationUnderGod:

When do you all think a Canadian team will fianally win the CUP?

When they have more canadians in the teams.. With a Cap more canadians should wanna play for canadian teams. (except for hockey loving markets in the states)

[canadian1971]

I WILL NOT PAY TO SEE THE BASTARDS PLAY.

Can't wait for Coachs Corner again though!

[DerbyX]

$1:

I WILL NOT PAY TO SEE THE BASTARDS PLAY

Who are you referring to? The leafs, flames, american teams?

[canucker]

I think he means all NHL.

I would go again with no problem. I do hope the ticket prices are lowered substantially though.

[canucker]

dennis_is_canadian dennis_is_canadian:

The MTS Centre has a capacity over 15,000. How many NHL teams have a daily attendance of 15,000 or more? I know alot of the teams do fill arenas with larger capacities, but there are alot of teams with large capacities and less attendance. With the NEW salary cap, owners can build a competitve roster which is affordable for smaller markets. Enter Winnipeg!

Less capacity means more demand so the tickets would sell fast and every game would be sold out.

Bring the NHL back to Winnipeg, I need to see the NHL live some day and traveling to Toronto is too pricey, and good tickets are near impossible to get.

Dennis

You do have a point but I still don't think they would make enough money to support an NHL team. Teams make much of their money in the playoffs and an arena of only 15,000 would not be sufficient enough. If they were considering an NHL team in Winnepeg, they would of made a larger arena. The MTS Centre was specifically made for the Moose. They won't be building another arena anytime soon.

[Tman1]

Well, Im sure they can expand it by a couple of thousand or so, not hard. The fanbase in Winnipeg is enough as it is and your wrong, teams dont make much of their profit in the playoffs, it helps, but check the Oilers, they made the playoffs for 3 or so years yet lost millions of dollars. Winnipeg has been hungering for an NHL team since the Jets.

[canucker]

Tman1 Tman1:

Well, Im sure they can expand it by a couple of thousand or so, not hard. The fanbase in Winnipeg is enough as it is and your wrong, teams dont make much of their profit in the playoffs, it helps, but check the Oilers, they made the playoffs for 3 or so years yet lost millions of dollars. Winnipeg has been hungering for an NHL team since the Jets.

Not true, most teams do make most of their money in the playoffs. That's when most teams will sell out their arenas. Especially in the States. Edmonton is one team.

[DerbyX]

The biggest problem was the disparity in the dollar. In the 80's when it wasn't as bad and salaries weren't as large we say CDN teams compete and win the Stanley Cup, what 6 out of 10 times. The 90's saw the CDN dollar drop to .65 average and wages were almost always paid in US dollars so that CDN teams had less money because their "revenues" were worth less then US teams. As long as we stay >.80 in dollar value our ability to compete should be OK.
Hockey would benefit greatly from a european soccer style set-up which would allow a much larger # of professional teams but in several levels of divisions where they move up and down. Teams that are doing poorly will drop to a lower level (less cost, less salaries) and still survive professionally and still be able to compete.

[Tman1]

canucker canucker:

Tman1 Tman1:

Well, Im sure they can expand it by a couple of thousand or so, not hard. The fanbase in Winnipeg is enough as it is and your wrong, teams dont make much of their profit in the playoffs, it helps, but check the Oilers, they made the playoffs for 3 or so years yet lost millions of dollars. Winnipeg has been hungering for an NHL team since the Jets.

Not true, most teams do make most of their money in the playoffs. That's when most teams will sell out their arenas. Especially in the States. Edmonton is one team.

Canucker, unless you have some stats to back up your claim, I hardly think your in a position to say that most teams make most of their money in the playoffs. The amount of money the teams pay their top players in context with the cost of a ticket is not next to each other. Are you speaking soley on Canadian teams who must make the playoffs in order to make cash injections or just any team in the NHL? A lot of U.S based teams don't make the playoffs, yet they are more financially stable then their Canadian counterparts...hmmm why? I think I even read that even thought the Flames made it to the finals, they STILL lost millions of dollars, why? As you claim that teams get most of their money from the playoffs...

[canucker]

I thought it was fairly obvious....

[canucker]

If a team makes the playoffs, and another doesn't, who do you think will make more money? They get more sponsors, TV exposure, ticket prices go up, etc.