Rumor - 15 NHL teams could go under in next 2 years

[Money99]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2...simmons/090227

Quote:

I heard in Phoenix, the craziest came from a connected executive who predicted that fifteen NHL teams would go under within the next two years (and was dead serious)

Intersting article about the woes of the NBA.
Even more interesting was the quote I posted.

You always hear rumors about teams struggling in the NHL but the you hear Bettman talk about how they've never been stronger.
The truth usually lies somewhere in-between.

I have a feeling that if the economy doesn't rebound, or only levels out where it is now, we could see as many as 4-6 teams contract in the next 3 to 4 seasons.

Owners would be loathe to do that, but I think a lot of them would rather take the hit on the value of their franchise instead of paying out $10-20M a year helping out franchises that can't be saved.

[CoRruPt-]

Maybe not 15, but I can see maybe up to 5 folding. Phoenix is definitely on top of the list with financial troubles and a lacking fanbase.

Other than that, what other teams? Florida? Atlanta? Nashville? I mean I don't see where the other 11 teams come from that are in imminent danger. I call BS.

[Money99]

Quote: Originally Posted by CoRruPt-

Maybe not 15, but I can see maybe up to 5 folding. Phoenix is definitely on top of the list with financial troubles and a lacking fanbase. Other than that, what other teams? Florida? Atlanta? Nashville? I mean I don't see where the other 11 teams come from that are in imminent danger. I call BS.

Yeah, me neither.

What I found astonishing is how Simmons points out that Memphis only grosses $300,000 a game! And that more than one team is in the same ballpark.

[Vince]

I doubt any of these teams really fold. Except maybe PHX.

Florida has a good fan base, but they just haven't won in a while. Even the best fans in other sports will stop showing up when the product on the field or ice or court is crap.

No different in Hockey which is why I don't like when people say, well ATL has a bad fan base. Well, win for goodness sakes!

[ianlast]

15 teams, my ***. The last thing the NHL and NHLPA wants to do is contract, they'll sooner slash payrolls by 50% than contract teams. Contraction would be an absolute death sentence for the NHL.

If anything, this is going to make moving teams to Canadian cities a more attractive option.

[GrandMaster B]

Quote: Originally Posted by CoRruPt-

Maybe not 15, but I can see maybe up to 5 folding. Phoenix is definitely on top of the list with financial troubles and a lacking fanbase. Other than that, what other teams? Florida? Atlanta? Nashville? I mean I don't see where the other 11 teams come from that are in imminent danger. I call BS.

We don't have a lacking fan base. We are in financial trouble because of the poorly negotiated lease we signed. We have a buyer lined up to take over the team by the end of the month. We aren't going anywhere. Get facts.

[GrandMaster B]

Your link is about the NBA not the NHL. ???

[bullpen]

I hope it does happen.

Get rid of teams like the Islanders, Devils, Trashers, Predators, Blue Jackets, Coyotes, Panthers,Hurricanes and the Lightnings. That would be 225 less players (4th line players and 7th defenseman).

Teams would face each other more often...

But that's not what Bettman is gonna do...he's gonna try to put teams in Europe.....oh yeah, that'll work .....