2025-2026 NHL Offseason

Indifference71 wrote:

MayDay10 wrote:

The problem is, more than half the teams lose money, many of them lose a pile of money.

Not even spending to the cap, the Sabres sell out every game and lose money, especially if they miss the playoffs... (tickets arent cheap either)
Pittsburgh is the same way.

The NHL wants to roll the responsibility onto the players, by hitting a reset button. The problem is, the cap will continue to creep up and teams will continue to be under water.

The PA and owners need to come up with a good system that benefits everyone, makes every team sustainable, and allows for the league to grow.

That's fucked up that Buffalo sells out every game and still can't make money. Is that because the players take too much money or is it a poorly run organization??

Like you said, they have to come up with a system that benefits everyone. The problem is what the owners are proposing seems to be a system where they are guaranteed to make money. It shouldn't be like that.

Well they do spend to the cap.
The corporate presence is not available for top dollar suite and sponsorship. The commercials you see on the telecasts are a joke. We get very high ratings, but the population pool is much, much lower than Boston, NYC, Philly, Chicago.

The current owner doesnt mind losing money to stay competitive, but if he leaves, there is no long-term viability

Indifference71 wrote:

polaris_x wrote:

maybe there should be revenue sharing amongst the owners?

Thats what the players are proposing. Not sure if there is any type of revenue sharing system in place currently.

There is.

It isnt that strong though, and a lot of rules. You have to hit attendance #'s, have to increase revenues/ticket prices from prior season, and a team like the Islanders cannot collect due to size of market

MayDay10 wrote:

There is.

It isnt that strong though, and a lot of rules. You have to hit attendance #'s, have to increase revenues/ticket prices from prior season, and a team like the Islanders cannot collect due to size of market

Yeah thats what I thought. I know the players proposal was a drastic change to the system. Pretty ridiculous that the Islanders can't collect just because of market size.

polaris_x wrote:

lukin2006 wrote:

Yeah he controls the owners...got proof.

well ... considering the teams that are primarily losing money are his idea ... and that instead of moving phoenix to a better market - he made the league buy the franchise to continue this fiasco ... i'd say he controls the owners ...

where they going to move Phoenix to...the NHL market is saturated...I know everyone is in love with Winnipeg and they sell out and all...but I doubt staying 18 million below the cap will allow them to be competitive and will the sell out continue once the novelty wears off.

The owners were in love with the expansion fee they were receiving...don't blame the salesman (Bettman) if your people didn't do their homework before putting teams in those markets...same as those owners who paid the fee...did they not put a business plan in place.

Indifference71 wrote:

lukin2006 wrote:

I agree the owners want protection from themselves...no doubt...but maybe some of these players like Suter, Weber and Parisse could show a little loyalty to teams that drafted spent $$$ on there development, etc. I agree with the owners not wanting to allow free agency until the 10 year mark.

I think if people check the numbers they'll see the game has grown leaps and bounds under his leadership, again no Bettman fan, but he takes his orders from the owners, i'm pretty sure he doesn't tell them what to do.

The loyalty thing is a bunch of horseshit. If there's a team out there willing to pay you a ton more money, you'd be a fool not to take it. 10 year mak for free agency is pretty ridiculous if you ask me. To not be a free agent until 28-29 years old at the earliest is a bit much.

The game has definitely grown, but this will be the 3rd work stoppage under Bettman. Sure, he takes his orders from the owners but I don't believe for one second that he has no influence at all.

sure he has influence...bottom line is that the owners still hold the vote...he has no vote, he presents his case to the owners...they either back him or they don't.

lukin2006 wrote:

MayDay10 wrote:

That is a terrible idea, IMO.



I believe we will see a Toronto II, Seattle, and Quebec City. I think there will be 1 more relocation and 2 expansion

Doubt you'll see another team in Toronto...the leafs are territorial...I think they could pretty much demand whatever fee they want from any team wanting to set up shop within their territory.

Why would the NHL move the southern/western teams? If the southern/western teams move, so do the television markets. That means those hockey fans in the south (myself included) wouldn't be able to see any games. That would be a very quick way to cut off a big chunk of fan base, I would think.

lukin2006 wrote:

The only place most people in the south want to see ice is in their drinks .

While I realize you're trying to be cute, I would like you to know that as a hockey fan in the south, I am DYING knowing there might not be a hockey season. I'm not joking.

I hate football, I hate baseball, I HATE NASCAR... I'm dying. So please have some pity on me. Those of you in the north have established college hockey leagues. We're not so lucky. :(

drivingrl wrote:

lukin2006 wrote:

MayDay10 wrote:

That is a terrible idea, IMO.



I believe we will see a Toronto II, Seattle, and Quebec City. I think there will be 1 more relocation and 2 expansion

Doubt you'll see another team in Toronto...the leafs are territorial...I think they could pretty much demand whatever fee they want from any team wanting to set up shop within their territory.

Why would the NHL move the southern/western teams? If the southern/western teams move, so do the television markets. That means those hockey fans in the south (myself included) wouldn't be able to see any games. That would be a very quick way to cut off a big chunk of fan base, I would think.

That is the key... Yes, the southern markets don't get good ratings (compared to traditional US hockey markets), but if your broadcast partner pulls games from entire large TV markets, it effects the marketability of the game to advertisers.

lukin2006 wrote:

don't watch college hockey...it's quite boring...here in Canada we have amazing junior hockey leagues. Hockey will be back by Christmas or shortly after and I really don't get overly interested until play off time and I'm pretty sure it'll be back by then.

:fp: Yes, it must be nice. :roll: