NHL Expansion to Vegas - Official

[Vegas Halo Fan]

The longer that they screw around with this, the more that interest cools. Foley collected season ticket deposits with the blessing of the league. If those are now held for two years while the NHL procrastinates, there are going to be a lot of pissed off people. The NHL has a lot of good will here, but that is a fragile thing if they play games with the local populace.

Edited January 31, 2016 by Vegas Halo Fan

[gotbeer]

Bettman extended to 2022. 

 

At this point, Foley should just buy the Raiders, and move them to Vegas. 

[gotbeer]

No decisions reached says NHL after Quebec report

 

NHL really just needs to shit or get off the pot.  This indecision is looking more and more like incompetence, and is really getting ridiculous. 

[Vegas Halo Fan]

Gary Bettman visited Las Vegas. He was here when the drive was kicked off for deposits on season tickets, and it was all done with the league's blessing. Screw 'em. The arena is built and it opens next month. He had a chance to be the only pro game in town, and now he wants to jack us around.

Edited March 8, 2016 by Vegas Halo Fan

[Thomas]

I don't think Vegas is the problem. I think the lack of a second viable team is. Quebec is DOA.They could go with an odd number of teams but it'd be..unpleasant. I think they really really want Seattle to get their arena situation dealt with.

[Angel Oracle]

Get your act together Seattle!    Don't you want a classic rivalry with the 'Nucks?

[HaloCory22]

Seattle really needs to get this done. They have a huge hockey following in WA with the WHL already. It'll only get better with an NHL team there. Plus, I want the NHL up there when I move to Seattle in the next few years!

[nate]

just say no to expansion!

[Schildog]

seriously. clean up the mess in arizona before expanding.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

There was talk of the Coyotes moving into the new arena here before expansion talk started. Bettman said no to them moving. The Florida Panthers seemed like an ideal choice for relocation, but with them having a solid season, that seems to have died down.

[gotbeer]

NHL expansion for 2017-18 to be determined by June

 

and

 

Allen: If the NHL expands, it needs to do the draft right

 

Good luck Vegas.

[Tank]

"To give expansion teams a better chance at success, the NHL should allow existing teams to protect six forwards, four defensemen and one goalie. Only one-year pros should be exempt. Once a team loses a player in the draft, it can protect three more players. No team can lose more than two players. General managers won’t love that plan, but it would give expansion teams a good start."

 

if i'm the expansion team, i love this idea. if i'm a team like the kings, ducks, or blackhawks i absolutely loathe the idea of losing someone outside of my top 6 forwards.

[Angel Oracle]

I would consider moving Florida and Arizona to Las Vegas and Seattle, in whatever order.

Neither has any SC titles history.  

Granted the arenas are both newer than the Honda Center, 1998 for the Panthers (BB&T Arena) and 2003 for the Coyotes (Gila River Arena).

[gotbeer]

"To give expansion teams a better chance at success, the NHL should allow existing teams to protect six forwards, four defensemen and one goalie. Only one-year pros should be exempt. Once a team loses a player in the draft, it can protect three more players. No team can lose more than two players. General managers won’t love that plan, but it would give expansion teams a good start."

 

if i'm the expansion team, i love this idea. if i'm a team like the kings, ducks, or blackhawks i absolutely loathe the idea of losing someone outside of my top 6 forwards.

 

Ducks get the double wammy.  I'd hate to lose someone outside of the top 4 defensemen also.  Not to mention top 1 goalie.  But I think the goalie situation will be resolved this offseason. 

[gotbeer]

I would consider moving Florida and Arizona to Las Vegas and Seattle, in whatever order.

Neither has any SC titles history.  

Granted the arenas are both newer than the Honda Center, 1998 for the Panthers (BB&T Arena) and 2003 for the Coyotes (Gila River Arena).

 

Last I heard, Coyotes are near a deal with ASU.

 

Boivin: Coyotes could be closing in on arena deal with ASU

[nando714]

Went to gila river arena a couple weeks ago. Small arena but it was fun and attendance was good vs Florida on a Saturday night

It was also $1 beer night

Edited March 17, 2016 by nando714

[Pujols4MVP]

Despite the success this year, Florida should be moved. A healthy run franchise thats perfect for a new city.

The opposite can be said for Carolina who last made the playoffs 10 years ago & hasn't had the #1 pick in that time frame to help with a rebuild.

[gotbeer]

Sounds more and more like at least one team is going to get approved.  Why would you approve a expansion draft rules if you weren't going to add one? 

 

What was approved:

 

https://news.yahoo.com/nhl-outlines-framework-potential-expansion-draft-024716792--spt.html;_ylt=A86.Jyhk5uxW_VEArNhjmolQ

 

Teams would be allowed to protect seven forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender or eight skaters and a goaltender. Players in their first two years in any league and unsigned draft picks are all exempt.

Deputy commissioner Bill Daly stressed that teams "may lose a good player, but it's only one" — under the one-team scenario.

 

 

[Pujols4MVP]

I'm hearing that because players with no movement clauses might take up a protection spot that teams will buy out over paid players who have no movement clauses before expansion draft so they can protect more worthy players.

For the Ducks that means buying out Bieksa so they can protect Lindholm, Fowler, Vatanen. Theodore should be exempt as he won't have 3 years NHL experience by time of expansion draft. Assuming they trade Vatanen & since theodores exempt, they can just buy out bieska, protect Lindholm/Fowler/Manson & let someone take Despres/Stoner to shed some salary.

Forwards for Ducks to protect: Getz, Perry, Kesler (all 3 have NMC), Rakell, (1 player they re-sign like Mcginn/Perron). If they trade vatanen & Andersen should have enough to keep mcginn & Perron & re-sign lindholm, so then u would have mcginn & Perron protected. Leave Silfverberg unprotected & hope Vegas takes him. Like Theodore, Ritchie will be exempt so the 7th forward they protect could be cogliano ?

[gotbeer]

The wording that worries me though.  2 years in any league.  That would make Ritchie and Theodore open.  With a smart GM.  Vegas might be pretty good in that first year. 

 

The big hurdle is the no trade clauses.  If they go the route of the no trade people are added to the list of exemptions, that would hurt a lot of teams.  Because there are lots of people with NTC, that teams would love to jettison.  Then again, adding those people to the open to draft, that would also hurt the player. 

[nate]

I really hope that they don't expand.  Expansion makes the quality of play worse.

[Pujols4MVP]

I've read that it's 3 years experience in a league where they lose their exemption ?

[Angel Oracle]

I really hope that they don't expand. Expansion makes the quality of play worse.

30 teams is plenty enough in both the NBA and NHL.

[Vegas Halo Fan]

The arena opens April 6 with a concert.

[Pujols4MVP]

I think the proposed expansion draft may cause teams to sign a player for the purpose of leaving them unprotected as teams are forced to leave 25% of previous seasons salary unprotected. Basically offer a player u figure u will lose in the draft anyways a raise or sign a career AHLer to a 1 year 2 to 3 million without a no trade clause & then leave him unprotected in expansion draft to help get to that 25% of previous years salary unprotected.

I figure the Ducks will lose Josh Manson in the expansion draft so they could offer him a new contract so that they leave enough salary unprotected.