Hockey

[ce929wax]

I would think that the NHL would want the next expansion team to come out of the Eastern Conference to balance things out.

[Flint1979]

I think some of these teams might need to be relocated. I can see a few teams such as the Florida Panthers, Carolina Hurricane and still the Arizona Coyotes that it wouldn't hurt to relocate them. Move Carolina back to Hartford, move Florida to Quebec City and move Arizona to Seattle. I have no idea why the NHL is interested in entering markets that are not hockey markets. Like the Vegas Golden Knights, I really still don't see a team succeeding for long term in that market.

[rickmastfan67]

I would think that the NHL would want the next expansion team to come out of the Eastern Conference to balance things out.

The problem there is that the Western Conference has less teams right now.  Only way the Eastern Conference could have an expansion team is to have one of it's teams move to the Western Conference first.

[jp the roadgeek]

Seattle is already said 32nd expansion team, so any chance of an expansion team switching to the Eastern Conference is nil.  Only swap that could take place is swapping Detroit and Nashville.  As it is now, the Eastern Conference is confined to one time zone; the swap would upset the apple cart and Red Wings fans would be subject to many late nights..

[ce929wax]

Hey, we dealt with late nights when the Wings were in the Western Conference, so it wouldn't be the end of the world.

[Flint1979]

Hey, we dealt with late nights when the Wings were in the Western Conference, so it wouldn't be the end of the world.

But that's the main reason the Wings moved to the Eastern Conference.

[Bruce]

The problem I was having with finding a suitable location and wondering why not that location was that the city is too hilly and everything is developed around downtown so there aren't too many options available and what would be available is too far from downtown. Why not just demolish Key Arena and build a new arena on that site? A new arena would most likely fit the block from Republican to Thomas and 1st N to the line that would be 2nd N if that street was a through street.

KeyArena's roof is a historic landmark, which is why the "renovation" is really a full-scale teardown of everything under the roof to accommodate the larger arena. The 1995 renovation was somewhat similar, with the old coliseum roof being the only real remainder of the original structure from the World's Fair.

Since Seattle Center is itself eligible for landmark status (and it would be submitted, willingly or not), the arena really can't intrude on the International Fountain to the east. So it's pretty much stuck in the oblong block.

[Bruce]

The NHL Board of Governors is expected to approved an expansion team in Seattle tomorrow. Only took 102 years after our first Stanley Cup.

[ET21]

Seattle is a go, with Arizona moving to the central division

[ce929wax]

I was wondering who was going to move to the Central Division.  I thought it might be Vegas, but Arizona is the logical choice.

[1995hoo]

I was wondering who was going to move to the Central Division.  I thought it might be Vegas, but Arizona is the logical choice.

That way when the Coyotes move to Houston there's no further realignment needed!

[Alps]

I was wondering who was going to move to the Central Division.  I thought it might be Vegas, but Arizona is the logical choice.

That way when the Coyotes move to Houston there's no further realignment needed!

But when they move to Quebec City there will be.

[Henry]

I knew it would only be a matter of time before Seattle got back into the NHL! Perhaps this (and the upcoming rebuild of Key Arena) should pave the way for a Sonics comeback? (up yours, OKC!)

[okc1]

On thread - Not sure about Houston, given Atlanta failed twice and problems in Glendale and Miami. I am sure Seattle will be a great NHL city.

Off thread - Amazing after 10 years the emotion of the Sonics move is as strong as ever. Many in OKC would like to see the Sonics back to see the red-hot rivalry with the Thunder!

[Bruce]

Personally, I hope the NBA comes begging to the city and gets a hard rejection. They had their grubby hands all over the move and should pay the price of losing one of America's best cities (which continues to get better).

Back to hockey: I hope that we get the Metropolitans name revived. Anything Native American (e.g. Totems) is a no-go, especially since totem poles were never part of the traditions of tribes in the Salish Sea region and were introduced by white settlers in an attempt to spice up their new cities. The other "finalists" that keep appearing (Kraken, Sockeye, Sasquatch, Freeze) are corny and really don't distinguish themselves as a potential long-term name...you have to find something timeless.

[Stephane Dumas]

Personally, I hope the NBA comes begging to the city and gets a hard rejection. They had their grubby hands all over the move and should pay the price of losing one of America's best cities (which continues to get better).

Back to hockey: I hope that we get the Metropolitans name revived. Anything Native American (e.g. Totems) is a no-go, especially since totem poles were never part of the traditions of tribes in the Salish Sea region and were introduced by white settlers in an attempt to spice up their new cities. The other "finalists" that keep appearing (Kraken, Sockeye, Sasquatch, Freeze) are corny and really don't distinguish themselves as a potential long-term name...you have to find something timeless.

How about the "Cascadians" as a nod to the Northwest area sometimes referred as Cascadia?

[Alps]

obRoads: Seattle Alaskans in memoriam of 99?

[Henry]

Back to hockey: I hope that we get the Metropolitans name revived. Anything Native American (e.g. Totems) is a no-go, especially since totem poles were never part of the traditions of tribes in the Salish Sea region and were introduced by white settlers in an attempt to spice up their new cities. The other "finalists" that keep appearing (Kraken, Sockeye, Sasquatch, Freeze) are corny and really don't distinguish themselves as a potential long-term name...you have to find something timeless.

I like the Metropolitans idea, especially since it would be a tribute to the 1917 Stanley Cup champions. After all, Ottawa did this with the Senators.

[1995hoo]

Our Caps Christmas ornaments came. I hope these images display. (The Cup at the top of the tree next to the 9-11 memorial ornament was not part of the Caps' set.)

[1995hoo]

Flyers fired coach Hakstol, a couple of weeks after firing GM Hextall. If you work for the Flyers and your name is Hookstol, you'd better brush up your résumé.

[1995hoo]

Our season-ticket renewal package came today. Something spiffy was in the box....

[Stephane Dumas]

The St. Louis Blues changed goalers and Jordan Binnington had reversed the Blues fortunes.
https://lastwordonhockey.com/2019/02/18/st-louis-blues-winning-with-jordan-binnington/
https://torontosun.com/sports/hockey/nhl/blues-season-saviour-binnington-has-travelled-long-winding-road-to-nhl

[ET21]

Hawks into the 2nd wild card spot after being left for dead at the start of the new year. And of course, TB just dominating

[1995hoo]

This is the front cover of the book I'm reading. Everyone remembers these infamous uniforms. But look at the mascot (Nyisles, pronounced "Niles" ). How did Islanders management fail to notice that he has a rolled-up condom on his head??!!!!! (Why did my autocorrect just try to change "condom"  to "condominium" ?)

[Stephane Dumas]

I saw an article from June 2018 about players who played for the St. Louis Blues who had won the Stanley Cup with another team.
https://bleedinblue.com/2018/06/09/st-louis-blues-won-cup-elsewhere/
https://twitter.com/STLBlueshistory/status/1004922925219184641

If the Washington Capitals had finally menaged to end their championship drought. Why not the Blues? They're the last 1967 expansion team who still hadn't won yet.