Will this be the Isle's last season in Long Island?

Wang is pretty pissed, will the team move next year?

my guess is no, they drafted Tavares he had a goal and an assist he can make the franchise profitable again. There isn't too many places in the USA he could move tho, and i doubt the Canadia hating Bettman will let him move it to Canadia

what about back to Hartford? (pipe dream)

I just talked to a friend out in Seattle who is on several planning and zoning committees for the city. Granted, he might be talking out of his ass on this one, but they are pushing for a new sports franchise and the sport they are talking the most is hockey.

He said that there are two teams that have contacted them about their intention and viability of upgrading key arena for an NHL team.

He didn't think it was likely that key arena in particular could handle an NHL team. There would have to be a new arena built that could accommodate 20k and that just doesn't seem likely at this point.

For the near future, I wouldn't count on Portland or Seattle being viable locations unless an owner really puts their own money on the line and builds a new location.

The Islanders lease doesn't expire until 2015 and is apparently ironclad.

Islanders' Lease Prohibits Move

But when that time roles around if there's no new arena in sight, I wouldn't be opposed to a move, preferably just up the road to Hartford.

That would makes sense as to why Aaron was telling me "don't expect any news" until 2012. That would give Seattle three years to get an arena up and going from planning to open. Right now, they are simply investigating sites which would be able to handle the parking/arena with infrastructure around it without costing a lot.

is there enough of a demand out in Seattle for a pro team? I know a few guys out there who could give 2 shits about hockey.

Is there a demand in Atlanta, Phoenix, Tampa, Nashville... *grins* you get the idea.

There is a stronger youth hockey program in the pacific northwest than in Florida... Not as strong as canada or minnesota or michigan... but still.

lol i know what you are saying. it just seems like there could be better markets than the Pacific Northwest (I highly doubt Seattle is feeling pain still from the Sonics leaving) for hockey.

But knowing Bettman, he will put an expansion team in a market where it will be able to keep its head above water for a few years before the novelty wears off.

It really is time to move franchises to Canada, American markets are starting to be slim, maybe in the northeast like Hartford or Maine but there isn't too many places you can put a team in the USA.

Canada has a good number of options, they have Winnipeg, Ontario, Saskatchewan, Qebek, etc , what NHL needs to do is get teams in Canada and get owners who are willing to do what it takes to make the team a success not just, "hey look we're in Canada lets not care and we'll make money" mentality.

00Xtremeninja wrote:

what about back to Hartford? (pipe dream)

No. Rangers would be pissed.

They are going to stay on the Island, they are just going to move countys.

Bring back the SEALS!

Seals! Atlanta Flames! Whalers! Jets! Nordiques!

Barons! Rockies! Scouts!

00Xtremeninja wrote:

is there enough of a demand out in Seattle for a pro team? I know a few guys out there who could give 2 shits about hockey.

QTF. When I lived out there NO one gave two shits about puck. Of course that was in '90-'92 and it was all about Grunge, heroin and Red Hook beer. Them losing a franchise already in the inferior, but more popular sport of hoops, does not bode well for the city to land any other sport team for a while. I love that city, but I don't want them to land a team. I want hockey teams in hockey markets. I'm sick of this Bettman "If you build it, they will come" bullshit thinking. My theory is that the next relo within the NHL, whether it be NYI, Fla, PHX or Atl as the likeliest subjects, will be to Quebec City. Read somewhere the other day they are moving ahead with a $400M sports arena. That will go a long way in seeing NHL in QC again

Well building a new arena doesn't is not what it's cracked up to be, while it is important it could be a disaster for the City.

Kansas City built the Sprint Center in hopes they would get The Pens or New Orleans Hornets. They got squat but a new arena for concerts and trade shows.

exactly, use KC's example of how new fancy stadium does not equal team coming there.