A blog about the Buffalo Sabres

Monday, November 10, 2008

New Team?

by Anne

There's been lots of buzz about the possible 2nd team in Toronto. TSN has an article about how this potential team could be instantly worth $600 million. WHOA.

So, what do you think? Would a 2nd Toronto team be good? Do you think it would hurt or help the Sabres? Would it make a difference to us? Could Jim Ballsilie FINALLY own a team?

I think Canada needs more teams. I know a lot of American hockey fans would bludgeon me for saying that, but the sport is FROM Canada, they obsess over 16 year olds playing hockey, hockey is their national sport, its their NFL. I don't understand why there are only 6 Canadian teams these days.

My personal take is that they'll move a team there. Why? Recognition. I know Canadians love their hockey, but to get them to jump ship and follow a new team, they'd need a draw. The teams I've heard most rumored to move are Phoenix (Gretzky behind the bench and some up and comers on the ice) Atlanta (Kovalchuk and Lehtonen) and Columbus (Nash & Co.). However, could you really start cheering for a team that used to be another team if you were formerly a Leafs fan? Lord knows expansion teams are not exactly brimming with tons of talent and current superstars. Then again, neither is the Toronto Maple Leafs. OH I WENT THERE.

Where would this team play? I'm assuming they'd have to share time at the ACC, and how would that go down? They'd have to schedule two hockey teams, a lacrosse team AND the Toronto Raptors in the same building and I'm pretty sure that would be a total nightmare. Does downtown Toronto have room for another hockey arena?

BUT, I want to know what everyone thinks, if this does happen, expansion or move? Which team moves? I can't wait for the name debate, hahaha.

7 comments:

  1. Move. PHX and Hotlanta are the two most likely, maybe putting one in the GTA and the other in Winnepeg. Also, in the long run it would be a good thing for the league and maybe good for rivalry purposes. In thoery it's easier to hate someone geographicly closer to you, right?

    ReplyDelete
  2. I think another team in Toronto is silly personally... another team in Canada is a good idea... they already have Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto... there is a lot of ground to cover between one side of Canada to the other...

    ReplyDelete
  3. Move. PHX and Hotlanta are the two most likely, maybe putting one in the GTA and the other in Winnepeg. Also, in the long run it would be a good thing for the league and maybe good for rivalry purposes. In thoery it's easier to hate someone geographicly closer to you, right?

    Winnipeg definitely needs a team again. I'm sure that a GTA rivalry would be a HUGE deal on HNIC, they freak out over the battles of Alberta and Ontario, battle of Toronto would be insane.

    ReplyDelete
  4. another team in Canada is a good idea... they already have Ottawa, Montreal, and Toronto... there is a lot of ground to cover between one side of Canada to the other...

    definitely. there's 2000 miles between Toronto and the nearest Western Canada team but there are 3 teams in the New York metropolitan area.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Definitely a move. I think if they added yet another team in Toronto, it would destroy part of the Leafs fanbase with their long streak of not winning and Cup, and plus, maybe those southern Ontario fans that root for the Sabres would suddenly start checking out the other team as well. It would be bad for both sides.

    They need to move a team that's not doing so well in the market right now. Preferably Nashville. I know there's constant talk of Balsillie (That's how you spell his name, right?) wanting to buy the team (or any team), and try to move them up to Canada. Besides, there's enough teams in the NHL as is, we don't need 31.

    ReplyDelete
  6. I talked about this with my mom the other day. I think they could handle another market, Ontario's a giant. And it's just Canada - more hockey is usually a good thing. Although, I can see both sides to the point... could go either way. I'll have to bring that up with some Toronto bloggers.

    ReplyDelete
  7. I'd give it to Winnipeg first but they left for a reason. It wasn't the fans but the money issues. Sad but true.

    DO NOT take the team from C-bus. They may be rough on the ice but their fans are pretty hardcore. They sold out every game of the first 2 (or 3?) seasons even though they were owning the basement. Having a pro team has done wonders to the downtown Columbus area. Trust me on this one. (and their ownership is loved by the fanbase, go figure)

    Take Nashville. They don't seem to appreciate what they have down there..

    ReplyDelete

Glossary... Sort of

  • "Ryan Miller" Shutout - A 58 minute multi-goal shutout lead that is blown by Miller allowing one meaningless goal
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  • Butter Snaps - Carolina Hurricanes
  • Craigory - Craig Rivet
  • Full Monty - Steve Montador
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  • Little Foot - Drew Stafford
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  • Oscar - Anne's cat and STH's unofficial mascot
  • Parsley - Jimmy Bonneau
  • Sir Christopher - Chris Butler
  • Sissy - Jaroslav Spacek
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