Hyperbole?

[mustang]

....from an NBA All Star Game column by a semi-annoying ESPN columnist, Bill Simmons.

"Looking at the big picture, the league won't struggle even 1/10th as much as the NHL in years to come -- of all the wildest predictions 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)..."

Possible, you all think? Would we be candidates here?

[Netminder]

....from an NBA All Star Game column by a semi-annoying ESPN columnist, Bill Simmons.

"Looking at the big picture, the league won't struggle even 1/10th as much as the NHL in years to come -- of all the wildest predictions 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)..."

Possible, you all think? Would we be candidates here?


What would make you think ,NOT:noidea::noidea:

[Avery86]

Just because someone is dead serious doesn't mean their opinion is accurate in any way whatsoever.

15 teams? Please. This "executive" honestly believes that half the NHL is going to fold within two years?

[Hoek]

Out of a whopping fifteen teams? Sure.. probably.. don't see why not. If half the league is shutting down I don't see why we wouldn't be among them.

That said, I don't see half the league shutting down. At least not in TWO YEARS. If that's the case I'd say we have a lot more to worry about than sports teams, anyway.

[Netminder]

Out of a whopping fifteen teams? Sure.. probably.. don't see why not. If half the league is shutting down I don't see why we wouldn't be among them.

That said, I don't see half the league shutting down. At least not in TWO YEARS. If that's the case I'd say we have a lot more to worry about than sports teams, anyway.

We DO. This stuff is not even close to being worked out.

"We are in danger of being overwhelmed with irredeemable paper, mere paper, representing not gold nor silver; no sir, representing nothing but broken promises, bad faith, bankrupt corporations, cheated creditors and a ruined people." - Daniel Webster

[TexasBolt]

The NHL's structure is not nearly as messed up as the NBA's, where teams are paying half as many players twice as much money collectively. And even when teams screw up, they're not screwing up with players to the tune of $15M a year like some of the knucklehead NBA GMs.

[Netminder]

The NHL's structure is not nearly as messed up as the NBA's, where teams are paying half as many players twice as much money collectively. And even when teams screw up, they're not screwing up with players to the tune of $15M a year like some of the knucklehead NBA GMs.


Apples to oranges, NBA takes in a hell of lot more $$$$$ than NHL

NBA can afford to make a mistake with players, NHL can't.

[Avery86]

Apples to oranges, NBA takes in a hell of lot more $$$$$ than NHL

NBA can afford to make a mistake with players, NHL can't.

So .. are you agreeing that 15 teams will fold within two years?

[mustang]

I didn't mean to imply that I agreed that fifteen teams would fold in 2 years. It is probably hyperbole.

But even if half that number did so, or at least were enticed to move, it's pretty worrisome to think that we might be on that list. I mean, Atlanta, Florida, Nashville (?) are the first ones that jump out at me. Maybe the Isles, if that market can't sustain 3 teams, and maybe a surprise team we wouldn't expect (Dallas? Columbus? Carolina? Buffalo?).

But that's only, like, 5 teams.

[Hoek]

You forgot Phoenix, which is probably top of the list right now.

[mustang]

You forgot Phoenix, which is probably top of the list right now.

you're right...it's always the one staring you right in the face you forget...

[Netminder]

So .. are you agreeing that 15 teams will fold within two years?

With the $$$$ being what it is,could happen,and relocations very possible,
Thing's are going to get a lot worse, before they get even close to starting to get better. Just printing more dollars, wont cure it.

If you take away 2500 free tickets from home games,that is worrisome.

The need to charge empolyee to park,is also.

[Avery86]

I don't really buy the argument of charging employees to park as an indicator of the financial status of the team. How many countless universities and colleges make their professors and faculty buy parking permits?

I could see relocation for Phoenix within the next two years, but not really anyone else ..

[Sotnos]

Is it hyperbole? Yeah I'd say so.

Biggest difference between the NHL and NBA is the tv contract, and from what I hear the stations paying the NBA ridiculous money aren't getting the #s to justify it anymore.

[WaiverWire]

I do not agree that up to 15 teams could fold., but I know some very well may.

NHL is different than MLB, NFL, NBA as the gate in the NHL is needed to pay the players as they have no real TV contract that pays anywhere near what the other leagues have.

Renewals are going out at the worst possible time with the markets at the lowest they have been in over a decade. Next year does not look any better as we have printed so much money inflation could kick in and things could be much worst than they are now. WE could be looking at interest rates like the early 80's when my mortgage rate for my first home was 18%!

It is time for the owners in the NHL to sit back and look at why they brought in Gary Bettman. They did so in order to increase the NHL revenues via more fans an TV contracts because as stated the gate was paid mostly to the players.......something like 85%. I know if I was an owner I would be looking as to why Bettman was here and what he has done to reach these goals, if he even has. I think he has not and I would motion to replace him for failed to provide what he was told to do.

If reports of the inflation that may just be around the corner, occurs, the NHL will have to look at ways to cut costs or put more fans in the seats. The only thing at this point I can see happening in order to save some teams is ask the players to rollback the prices of contracts.

[Sotnos]

It is time for the owners in the NHL to sit back and look at why they brought in Gary Bettman.
To raise revenues for them, which he has done very well.

They did so in order to increase the NHL revenues via more fans an TV contracts because as stated the gate was paid mostly to the players.......something like 85%. I know if I was an owner I would be looking as to why Bettman was here and what he has done to reach these goalsThe goal of the new CBA was to get that % down...it did so. :noidea: Hell, Bettman wanted a salary cap in the mid-90s but the owners overruled him since they wanted the expansion money they got from the late 90s additions.

Sorry, I know bashing on Bettman is a sport in itself to most people, but to claim that the owners should be unhappy with him is, well, goofy.

You are scaring me with talking about an 18% mortgage, btw. :p

[WaiverWire]

Everything you post about what Bettman has done is tied to the fan and the dollar in their pocket. Once the fan stops spending, which many have, the NHL is in trouble as they have no other source of revenue, such as the large TV contract owners wanted. Why do you think they brought in a NBA guy.

Bettman has only been able to change the flow of funds from one source, the fan. He has failed to add the other stream. Because of this things may get very rough in the NHL. We are already seeing teams that are seeing this problem and are now having to reduce their income flow without being able to reduce the out flow of their money.