Hockey

[ET21]

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[Roadgeekteen]

Back 2 Back

First team to win the cup at home since the 2015 Blackhawks.

[Stephane Dumas]

Marc-André Fleury had been traded to Chicago. https://www.tsn.ca/marc-andre-fleury-chicago-blackhawks-vegas-golden-knights-1.1673506

Marc-André Fleury was traded from Vegas to Chicago on Tuesday, a stunning turn of events that has the NHL's reigning Vezina Trophy-winning goaltender contemplating his future.

The Golden Knights traded Fleury to the Blackhawks for minor league forward  in a salary dump. Fleury is set to count $7 million against the cap next season, the final year of his contract.

And that's if he reports at all. Agent Allan Walsh tweeted, "Marc-Andre will be taking time to discuss his situation with his family and seriously evaluate his hockey future at this time."

[rickmastfan67]

That's a shocker about MAF.

Seems that if he does play a season with Chicago and plans to retire after it, a 1-day contract with the Penguins seems possible now to retire as a Penguin.

[Stephane Dumas]

Philipp Danault leave the Habs and go to L.A. https://www.tsn.ca/nhl/video/kings-sign-danault-to-six-year-33m-contract~2227880

The Kings have signed defensive centre Phillip Danault to a six-year, $33 million contract. How much does this hurt the Canadiens moving forward? What does he bring to Los Angeles? The TSN Hockey panel has more.

[Stephane Dumas]

Former Blackhawks star and goaltender Tony Esposito passed away.
https://twitter.com/NHLBlackhawks/status/1425220145795014658

[1995hoo]

The Athletic reports the City of Glendale will not renew the Coyotes' lease on their arena after next season, in part because apparently the team is close to $1.5 million in arrears on its rent.

Be interesting to see what happens.

[Alps]

The Athletic reports the City of Glendale will not renew the Coyotes' lease on their arena after next season, in part because apparently the team is close to $1.5 million in arrears on its rent.

Be interesting to see what happens.

I'd say they would have to pay the rent, but there's no way they can cover that cost.

[SP Cook]

The NHL wants the team to remain in Phoenix, the 11th largest TV market in the country, in a region that is fast growing, and is the retirement area popular with two hockey friendly regions, Chicago and the upper Midwest; and western Canada. 

That would mean moving, at least temporary to what is currently known as the Footprint Center (it changes names regularly) and share with the Suns.  They played there when they first move to Phoenix.  It was not designed for hockey and won't work permanently.  Another possibility would be Arizona State's basketball arena, but it also was not designed for hockey and would probably seat less than 13K with a rink. 

The team has wanted someone (taxpayers) to build it an arena on the eastern edge of the area, which is where the retirees are more concentrated. 

The usual suspects are lined up, all of which have issues.  In the US, Kansas City has a fairly new arena and no NBA competition.  In Canada, Quebec City has wanted a team since it lost the one it had, but the economic situation there really has no changed, probably gotten worse.

[CoreySamson]

Houston Aeros, anyone? The team could stay in the West division, they already have a stadium, and some people down here have wanted a hockey team for quite some time (plus I'd bet you'd see a lot more new fans, I'm sure I would start watching hockey more if Houston had a team). This would be the perfect time for Houston to get a team.

[Alps]

The NHL wants the team to remain in Phoenix, the 11th largest TV market in the country, in a region that is fast growing, and is the retirement area popular with two hockey friendly regions, Chicago and the upper Midwest; and western Canada. 

That would mean moving, at least temporary to what is currently known as the Footprint Center (it changes names regularly) and share with the Suns.  They played there when they first move to Phoenix.  It was not designed for hockey and won't work permanently.  Another possibility would be Arizona State's basketball arena, but it also was not designed for hockey and would probably seat less than 13K with a rink. 

The team has wanted someone (taxpayers) to build it an arena on the eastern edge of the area, which is where the retirees are more concentrated. 

The usual suspects are lined up, all of which have issues.  In the US, Kansas City has a fairly new arena and no NBA competition.  In Canada, Quebec City has wanted a team since it lost the one it had, but the economic situation there really has no changed, probably gotten worse.

But why would any other arena in Phoenix want to take a team that's $1.5 million in arrears? What arena could possibly do that much better at attracting visitors?

[TheHighwayMan3561]

In Canada, Quebec City has wanted a team since it lost the one it had, but the economic situation there really has no changed, probably gotten worse.

In today's multi-billion dollar sports media rights world, the fact that 60-65% of Quebec City is less than proficient in English is also a marketing problem, because it pretty much restricts their pool of fans and corporate cash to eastern Quebec.

[1995hoo]

But why would any other arena in Phoenix want to take a team that's $1.5 million in arrears? What arena could possibly do that much better at attracting visitors?

From what my uncle, whose son played high school hockey in Scottsdale, has said, there are a good number of hockey fans in the Phoenix area but the overwhelming majority of them live on the eastern side of the area (Scottsdale, Tempe) and it just takes far too much time to go to Glendale for weeknight games. It works for the Arizona Football Team because the overwhelming majority of NFL games are played on Sunday.

Who knows how much of a factor that is compared to other issues, but I have no reason to doubt that it is at least "a" factor. Also, you make a very valid point about the arrearages.

Houston Aeros, anyone? The team could stay in the West division, they already have a stadium, and some people down here have wanted a hockey team for quite some time (plus I'd bet you'd see a lot more new fans, I'm sure I would start watching hockey more if Houston had a team). This would be the perfect time for Houston to get a team.

Central Division, actually. The league is reverting to the standard divisions for the upcoming season and they've moved Arizona to the Central to make room for Seattle. Many people have noted how doing that would work perfectly for a move to Houston or Kansas City because they'd already be in the correct division.

(I saw something obviously meant as a joke saying they should move to Atlanta so the original Winnipeg franchise would complete the circle with the new Winnipeg franchise that originated in Atlanta.)

[Roadgeekteen]

I hope the Coyotes don't move the Maple Leafs would not have their best player if it wasn't for the Coyotes.

[Stephane Dumas]

If the Coyotes move to Kansas City, will they dust-off the old Scouts name once weared by the previous team named the Scouts who became the Colorado Rockies after 1976 and then the New Jersey Devils in 1982?

[SP Cook]

If the Coyotes move to Kansas City, will they dust-off the old Scouts name once weared by the previous team named the Scouts who became the Colorado Rockies after 1976 and then the New Jersey Devils in 1982?

Since the Scouts used Indian imagery and referred to the "Indian Scouts" attached to the US Calvary in the old west era, doubt it.

Fun fact, KC originally wanted to be the Mohawks, which was a mash up of the postal code for Missouri and the Kansas Jayhawks, but Chicago objected.  That one wouldn't fly today either.

[jp the roadgeek]

Of course if the Coyotes become Les Nordiques Nouveau, they would have to go into the Atlantic Division.  The easiest solution would have Detroit going to the Central.  However, I would think the timing would be right to put the Florida teams in the Metropolitan (just ridiculous that Boston and Montreal have to fly over all of Metropolitan country to play division games).  Best solution:

Atlantic: BOS, BUF, CBJ/DET, MON, OTT, PIT, QUE, TOR,
Metropolitan: CAR, FLA, NJ, NYI, NYR, PHI, WAS, TB

Either Columbus or Detroit would go west. 

[Stephane Dumas]

If the Coyotes move to Kansas City, will they dust-off the old Scouts name once weared by the previous team named the Scouts who became the Colorado Rockies after 1976 and then the New Jersey Devils in 1982?

Since the Scouts used Indian imagery and referred to the "Indian Scouts" attached to the US Calvary in the old west era, doubt it.

Fun fact, KC originally wanted to be the Mohawks, which was a mash up of the postal code for Missouri and the Kansas Jayhawks, but Chicago objected.  That one wouldn't fly today either.

How about KC "Dustwinds" as a nod to the song from the band Kansas "Dust in the wind"?

[NWI_Irish96]

Of course if the Coyotes become Les Nordiques Nouveau, they would have to go into the Atlantic Division.  The easiest solution would have Detroit going to the Central.  However, I would think the timing would be right to put the Florida teams in the Metropolitan (just ridiculous that Boston and Montreal have to fly over all of Metropolitan country to play division games).  Best solution:

Atlantic: BOS, BUF, CBJ/DET, MON, OTT, PIT, QUE, TOR,
Metropolitan: CAR, FLA, NJ, NYI, NYR, PHI, WAS, TB

Either Columbus or Detroit would go west. 

Detroit got out of the Central because they didn't want to be the only team in their division in their time zone. Bad for your TV ratings to have most of your road games being late starts locally.

[1995hoo]

Of course if the Coyotes become Les Nordiques Nouveau, they would have to go into the Atlantic Division.  The easiest solution would have Detroit going to the Central.  However, I would think the timing would be right to put the Florida teams in the Metropolitan (just ridiculous that Boston and Montreal have to fly over all of Metropolitan country to play division games).  Best solution:

Atlantic: BOS, BUF, CBJ/DET, MON, OTT, PIT, QUE, TOR,
Metropolitan: CAR, FLA, NJ, NYI, NYR, PHI, WAS, TB

Either Columbus or Detroit would go west. 

The league won't split Philadelphia and Pittsburgh. They did that in the 1990s and more or less acknowledged that it was a mistake.

They're also unlikely to split Columbus from Pittsburgh because they've acknowledged that the visiting crowd when Pittsburgh visits Columbus is important revenue for said franchise.

The better solution, if there were to be a relocation to Quebec, would be for the Florida Panthers to move there while the Coyotes move to Houston or Kansas City. It's quite understandable why the league doesn't want to let that happen, though, especially when it would leave Tampa essentially orphaned geographically.

[TheHighwayMan3561]

Detroit pressed loudly for years to be moved to the Eastern Conference to cut their West Coast trips, and being a legacy franchise it's unlikely they will be made to go back.

[Stephane Dumas]

In memory of Rod Gilbert who was part of the "GAG line" with Jean Ratelle and Vic Hadfield with the NY Rangers in the late 1960's-early 1970's.
https://twitter.com/NYRangers/status/1429595170484465669

[KCRoadFan]

Canada recently reopened their border to Americans, but the US hasn't reciprocated yet. Assuming that doesn't change in the next couple months, how will that affect the schedule this season (or at least the early part of it) vis-a-vis the Canadian teams? Or are there exemptions in place for them, assuming they're vaccinated? That's what I would like to know.

[KCRoadFan]

If the Coyotes move to Kansas City, will they dust-off the old Scouts name once weared by the previous team named the Scouts who became the Colorado Rockies after 1976 and then the New Jersey Devils in 1982?

Since the Scouts used Indian imagery and referred to the "Indian Scouts" attached to the US Calvary in the old west era, doubt it.

Fun fact, KC originally wanted to be the Mohawks, which was a mash up of the postal code for Missouri and the Kansas Jayhawks, but Chicago objected.  That one wouldn't fly today either.

How about KC "Dustwinds" as a nod to the song from the band Kansas "Dust in the wind"?

I don't really like that name - but here's some names I've thought up for a hockey team that comes to my city, as well as my reasons for them:

KC Blades (takes the name of a former minor-league team, from the now-defunct IHL)
KC Bosses (alludes to "Boss Tom" Pendergast; also follows the "leader word" naming convention of the Royals and Chiefs)
KC Jazz (alludes to the city's musical history; unlike a certain basketball team in Utah, the team's name would actually make sense for KC)
KC Mavericks (takes the name of an existing minor-league team in the area, as a number of new or relocated baseball teams have done over the years; presumably, if KC gets a major-league hockey team, the existing team would relocate or at least change their name)
KC Smokers (alludes to barbecue, which is a big part of KC's identity)
KC Twisters (alludes to the city's location in "Tornado Alley")
KC Wizards (takes the former name of the Sporting KC soccer team; also alludes to "The Wizard of Oz," which is set in neighboring Kansas)

What do you make of these names? I think they're great.

[Alps]

Canada recently reopened their border to Americans, but the US hasn't reciprocated yet. Assuming that doesn't change in the next couple months, how will that affect the schedule this season (or at least the early part of it) vis-a-vis the Canadian teams? Or are there exemptions in place for them, assuming they're vaccinated? That's what I would like to know.

There are procedures in place to allow them to play.