NHL Hockey thread

[katmai]

This seems more like a squeeze play for Phoenix to be honest.  I can't imagine the NHL wants to play out of the 11,000 seat Key Arena.

The intention isn't to stay at Key, do you know how to read Beeb?

[viper37]

This seems more like a squeeze play for Phoenix to be honest.  I can't imagine the NHL wants to play out of the 11,000 seat Key Arena.

The intention isn't to stay at Key, do you know how to read Beeb?

But there's no other arena, nor any plans to build one currently, afaik.  Or am I wrong?  Do you have an arena project under construction?

Until last week-end, there were no prospective owner in Seattle, the deal was to get both NBA&NHL franchise, maybe just NBA, but certainly not just NHL.

[Barrister]

This seems more like a squeeze play for Phoenix to be honest.  I can't imagine the NHL wants to play out of the 11,000 seat Key Arena.

The intention isn't to stay at Key, do you know how to read Beeb?

But the plan *IS* to play out of Key Arena until a new arena is built.

[katmai]

But there's no other arena, nor any plans to build one currently, afaik.  Or am I wrong?

You are not wrong, the other plan for arena is sitting there and the city council wants to review as that was based as you say on NBA team first, NHL secondary.


He I'm as surprised by this as anyone. From reading the Seattle sports reporters this is a very fast moving project.

[Barrister]

I thought my wedding was pretty good, but this couple had a better one.

That's right - their marriage was a Hartford Whalers themed wedding:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/hartford-whalers-themed-wedding-beer-man-included-puts-144902410.html

[katmai]

How your wife ever agreed to marry you...

[Valmy]

The Hartford Whalers?  Wow they must be old.

[Barrister]

The Hartford Whalers?  Wow they must be old.

You don't have to be old to reminisce about the return of WHA teams to the NHL.

[PRC]

I thought my wedding was pretty good, but this couple had a better one.

That's right - their marriage was a Hartford Whalers themed wedding:

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nhl-puck-daddy/hartford-whalers-themed-wedding-beer-man-included-puts-144902410.html

How could that possibly be better than your wedding!? 

The fattest bridesmaid couldn't even wear a tube-top dress and the shade of her mismatched curtain is a different cast than what everyone else is wearing... and fatty looks like the happiest one there.

It's a lame, gimmicky, grasping event that can only end in tears and spouse-breach. 

How could your wedding conceivably be worse than this farce!?

[Barrister]

http://translate.google.com/translate?hl=en&sl=fr&u=http://tvasports.ca/hockey/lnh/un-moment-critique-labeaume-30042013&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dhttp://tvasports.ca/hockey/lnh/un-moment-critique-labeaume-30042013%26biw%3D1301%26bih%3D612

Mayor Labaume of Quebec City sounds very positive about getting a team for September, although of course he didn't actually say anything...

[viper37]

BB, the article is dated april 30th:
Le 30 avril 2013 à 16h26 | TVA Sports / Patrick Caisse

All he says he's that there might be a team available, and he will do everything he can, along his partners, to get it. It says nothing else really, because he doesn't know anything.

And the construction strike will complicate matters.  There will be delays for the new arena, and the old one can not be renovated either.

[Barrister]

So it is.  Ignore please. 

[viper37]

Glendale city council has pushed back it's decision the June 29th, possibly July 5th.
I think they want to try Bettman's bluff.

In my opinion, Bettman is fucked with this.  He really doesn't want to be seen as the "bad guy" who will move the team, but he sure doesn't want to finance the full losses of the team.  And there are some contracts expiring by June 30th...

And it's getting too late to move a team.  Anywhere.  Who wants a team in July with no arena ready, no coach, no goalie, lots of free-agents? All for a price in excess of 170M$?
The NHL will likely have to support a team for a full year, with no help from Glendale this time, so that means 25-30M$ less in their pockets by the end of the year. 

I still don't trust the news about these mysterious owners in Seattle willing to pay 220M$ for this year.  But if they think they can make it work, well, so be it.

They don't talk about dates, but it's still an update:
http://prohockeytalk.nbcsports.com/2013/06/19/city-of-glendale-meets-questions-remain-about-coyotes-deal/

[fhdz]

Hossa missed the morning skate but is supposed to play tonight. You think he'll get on the board for the 'hawks or do you think he'll be playing at less than 100%?

[Barrister]

Glendale city council has pushed back it's decision the June 29th, possibly July 5th.
I think they want to try Bettman's bluff.

In my opinion, Bettman is fucked with this.  He really doesn't want to be seen as the "bad guy" who will move the team, but he sure doesn't want to finance the full losses of the team.  And there are some contracts expiring by June 30th...

And it's getting too late to move a team.  Anywhere.  Who wants a team in July with no arena ready, no coach, no goalie, lots of free-agents? All for a price in excess of 170M$?
The NHL will likely have to support a team for a full year, with no help from Glendale this time, so that means 25-30M$ less in their pockets by the end of the year. 

I still don't trust the news about these mysterious owners in Seattle willing to pay 220M$ for this year.  But if they think they can make it work, well, so be it.

I think Seattle is a bluff to be honest.  There just isn't time to move a team.  Quebec City at least has some infrastructure on the ground (remember it's not just the on-ice stuff - you have to sell ads and tickets and the like), but there's nothing in Seattle.

But Phoenix does seem to be pushing back.