Bettman says he won't contract. I think he's missing the biggest part of the NHL's financial problems. Overexpansion into not only nontraditional, but clearly nonsupportive NHL markets.

I'm neutral in the matter. I think the players are overpaid, the Owners are greedy and Bettman is a flippin a**hole.

I hereby present my contraction list.


1. Florida
2. Carolina (Although I would allow a move back to Hartford)
3. Atlanta
4. Columbus
5. Phoenix (I would allow a move back to Winnipeg)
6. Anaheim - A DISGRACE
7. Nashville
8. San Jose

Would bring the NHL from 30 to 22 teams. Move Carolina and Phoenix back and the NHL keeps 24 teams.

looks good but they should probably contract Bettman's ass too.

I would leave San Jose but contract TB as well. I know its a bad PR move, being they have the cup, but Fla is not ready for NHL.

While were at it how about contracting the Flyers--just because.

Carolina--As a rapid Whalers fan, this would make my day.

Anaheim--Demographically, 2 teams in LA is just insane. It may've been OK in 1993, when this team started, but too much has changed for 2 teams to do well.


Honestly, I'd start small and whack these 2 first....Other might follow, though.

P.S: You could substitute the Kings for the Ducks...

NHL is bad shape...so more than 2 may fall.

Add Pittsburgh and Buffalo and keep San Jose and Nashville.

Having Anaheim and LA is a total joke. Make a choice-one might make it, not both.

Carolina
Phoenix
Anaheim are the three first teams that i would contract
To take teams out of Connecticut and put in Carolina and Winnipeg and put in Phoenix has to be the two stupidest moves Hockey governors made.
In Anaheim hockey is about the last thing someone unless they relocated from East Coast would care about.

Minnesota - Would have to move a team back there... probably Tampa Bay
Anaheim - Two in the LA market is too many. It doesn't work for basketball, doesn't work for hockey.
Phoenix - Gretzky owning be damned
Columbus - Nothing good has ever come out of Columbus
Carolina - Despite being owned by a Detroiter, hockey isn't good in the Carolina's
Florida - They only have Luongo... and he's basically a sitting duck
Washington - All they have is Ovechkin (pronounced Ovashin) and he was their first round, first overall, draft pick this past June.
Pittsburgh - They're bankrupt.

What I did was take the bottom 8 teams in the league, that weren't Original Six teams (so the Rangers were safe) and got rid of them. Then, there would be a draft with all their players, and there would be a draft lottery to see who picks where. Rosters would expand and the amount of jobs would drop, but not totally. They expanded too fast and the talent pool was diluted. And with this boring brand of hockey, the NHL isn't going to gain any new fans. Well, that is if they ever come back.

Survivors
Boston - Can we contract the owner?
Philadelphia
Toronto
Ottawa
New Jersey
Montreal
Islanders
Rangers
Washington
Florida or Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay
Detroit
San Jose
Vancouver
Colorado
Dallas
St. Louis
Minnesota
Los Angeles
Pheonix
Chicago

Your Fired!!!
Nashville
Florida or Tampa Bay
Edmonton
Anaheim
Calgary
Columbus
Atlanta
Carolina
Pittsburgh
Buffalo

Keep Pittsburgh remove Florida.

Buffalo has Tom Gulisano (sp??) as the new owner. He's loaded, and can afford to spend to keep the team there. They have been sucessful at the gate in the past. I would leave them.

Pittsburgh has to go. #66 can only do so much for them.

Otherwise, I agree with Guns' list, for the most part. I would cut it more, if possible. If they got down to 16 teams, It would be a solid league, from a financial poit, as well as an entertainment standpoint.,

Get rid of:

California Golden Seals
Cleveland Barons
Kansas City Scouts


Bring Back:

Montreal Maroons

C'mon man.
I lived in Edmonton for 14 years before wising up and moving to the coast.

The only things to do there are to shoot gophers in the summer and watch hockey in the winter.
You're taking away half their fun.
:lol:

Seriously.
The Alberta hockey fans are solid.
Maybe they're not big market, but if run properly, they can do well.

Doug S.