Seattle to announce

[Blaster86]

This assumes that the Canucks are still contenders at that point. The twins will be gone by then and who knows.

Detroit model ftw imo.

[Tiger]

Be great to have an NHL franchise in Seattle .. am an old fart and remember the fantastic rivalry between Seattle and Canucks in the old WHL (Phil Maloney vs Guyle Fielder ), Yep I was there when Vancouver won the cup !!.. We would often drive down to Seattle to watch games and many Seattle fans would make the trip to the old forum in Vancouver..

[okcanuck]

Be great to have an NHL franchise in Seattle .. am an old fart and remember the fantastic rivalry between Seattle and Canucks in the old WHL (Phil Maloney vs Guyle Fielder ), Yep I was there when Vancouver won the cup !!.. We would often drive down to Seattle to watch games and many Seattle fans would make the trip to the old forum in Vancouver..

I agree . Being an old=timer myself I remember going to the old Forum as a teenager.

One thing I'll never forget was a winger playing with Fielder named Don Chiz. The play-by-play was something like "There goes Fielder down the centre with Chiz trailing"

[Blob Mckenzie]

Wow you cats are old

I also think it would be awesome to have a team down in the Emerald City. It would be a great way to do some shopping, go to Pikes Market and catch a game.

[surreal78]

Wow you cats are old

I also think it would be awesome to have a team down in the Emerald City. It would be a great way to do some shopping, go to Pikes Market and catch a game.

Would be great to have a team down there. Quick drive, go see a 'Nucks game for half the price it is in YVR, grab some dinner and a night on the town. Double the hockey in a 3 hour radius is a win-win.

[black ace]

When Seattle first surfaced a year ago or so as a potential market for a NHL team I didnt think it would get as far as it has. But realistically it couldnt be worse than putting a team in Carolina, Tampa, Florida, Phoenix, Columbus etc etc. Even if the fan base isint there right now they should be given the chance to develop one like the other cities mentioned.

The only drawback would be Seattle then would have a team in the NFL, MLB, NBA, MLS, NLL and the NHL. Thats a lot of pro teams in one city.

It would of course probably open up at least one WHL team to move to BC.

[dbr]

I dislike seeing Columbus lumped in with the Sun Belt markets, Ohio is a far cry from the US south and they do have minor pro teams, the USHL and college hockey, etc.

The problem in that town is the Blue Jackets franchise.

[Fred]

Columbus is a hop skip and a jump form Pitts and Detroit....just poorly managed team. The problem is it needs to make a splash and produce now, and we all know that it's not the way to do it. They don't have wiggle room as a franchise...sad

[black ace]

I dislike seeing Columbus lumped in with the Sun Belt markets, Ohio is a far cry from the US south and they do have minor pro teams, the USHL and college hockey, etc.

The problem in that town is the Blue Jackets franchise.

I agree with what your saying but I was more referring to the fact they were non hockey markets in that they hadnt had NHL teams before like Minnesota or Colorado.

For the most part I think US cities do a better job of supporting minor league hockey than Canadians do. Just look at where most of the AHL/IHL/ECHL teams have been located over the last 20 years. Look at how well US college hockey is supported compared to Canadian college/university hockey (a little different I know).

Another example is the Chicago Wolves average 7,300 fans per game. The Abby Heat avg 3,400.