[NHL] Hockey Needs Relegation

Slate's Nate DiMeo explains why the NHL needs English Premiership-style relegation: [www.slate.com]

Awesomely funny. And frighteningly, maybe not so far off the mark.

(Ob. ECACH content: photo of Yann Danis at top of article.)

Amusing. Would be entertaining. Good luck slipping that into the next CBA

After the complete collapse of the union two years ago, I honestly think that owners can get whatever they want the next time around. Of course, relegation is something that half of the teams in the league would hate, so it won't happen.

Relegation makes zero sense because the AHL teams are all affiliated with NHL teams and carry the players. So if the Wolfpack get called up to the NHL, the Rangers would just pull all of their players out of the team so they didn't have to compete with them. This doesn't even get in to the issues of arena size etc.

Jacob '06
Relegation makes zero sense because the AHL teams are all affiliated with NHL teams and carry the players. So if the Wolfpack get called up to the NHL, the Rangers would just pull all of their players out of the team so they didn't have to compete with them. This doesn't even get in to the issues of arena size etc.

In order to implement a relegation scheme the AHL would need to drop affiliation agreements with NHL clubs. (The article does acknowledge this in passing.) The NHL could decide to do this unilaterally (subject to any contractual obligations in the affiliation agreements). The question then is whether an unaffiliated AHL league could be financially successful. On this I'm skeptical even with a reduced NHL. The NHL clubs would presumably still form development agreements with the ECHL so the AHL would stuck in between with limited talent and the quality of play would suffer.

This is the worst idea I've ever heard.

You think fans in Rochester are willing to pay big league bucks just to watch the NHL play?

Sure they sold out the Sabres vs. Devils in 2003 because it was Brian Gionta's homecoming and the Devils were the defending champs, but the following season when the Sabres tried to play the Lightning in Rochester, they couldn't draw over 10,000. And the Lightning were the defending champs (sorry Ari) and their coach, John Tortorella, coached the Amerks to the 1996 Calder Cup Championship.

Fans from small league markets who are used to paying $10-15 to see hockey won't stand for paying the rates owners need to sustain the league and the market. Soccer's popularity in Europe doesn't translate to Hockey's in North America.

I like the last two for the panel to choose the initial teams, although those of our younger members might not get the joke.

KeithK

Jacob '06
Relegation makes zero sense because the AHL teams are all affiliated with NHL teams and carry the players. So if the Wolfpack get called up to the NHL, the Rangers would just pull all of their players out of the team so they didn't have to compete with them. This doesn't even get in to the issues of arena size etc.

In order to implement a relegation scheme the AHL would need to drop affiliation agreements with NHL clubs. (The article does acknowledge this in passing.) The NHL could decide to do this unilaterally (subject to any contractual obligations in the affiliation agreements). The question then is whether an unaffiliated AHL league could be financially successful. On this I'm skeptical even with a reduced NHL. The NHL clubs would presumably still form development agreements with the ECHL so the AHL would stuck in between with limited talent and the quality of play would suffer.

NHL teams could still agree to loan players under contract to AHL teams on a year by year basis.

Over/under on number of days until someone on USCHO suggests promotion and relegation between Hockey East and the ECAC?

What it comes down to is the only AHL franchises which might have a chance of being promoted are those which have near-NHL caliber arenas and can pull in the corporate-box crowd that the big NHL teams pull in. That narrows it down to Philly, Toronto, Houston, Milwaukee, Chicago, and San Antonio and maybe Norfolk, Hartford, or Hamilton. The rest of the AHL ain't moving up to the NHL.

I like the idea of getting rid of some teams, but relegation won't fly.

I agree, but have you ever been to Copps Coliseum, RICOH Coliseum or Norfolk Scope? They make the Carrier Dome look like a palace. Just because they can hold 15,000 (Scope holds 8800 for hockey) doesn't make them NHL quality. Copps doesn't have any luxury boxes, or really enough parking for that matter. Hartford definitely considering the Whalers played at the Civic Center. Houston, Milwaukee, Chicago, San Antonio, Philly all play in big league arenas, or in the case of the Phantom what was a big league arena.

Lake Erie Monsters play at the Quicken Loans arena, which would work considering the Cav's play there. I like the Knickerbocker Arena (Times Union Center).

But look at teams like Syracuse, Binghamton, Lowell, Portland, Providence, Springfield, and Worcester who play in arenas half as nice as Lynah.

More than half the teams don't even have video replay capabilities, the ice isn't of high enough quality, the benches don't have space between them, the boards aren't big enough, and the locker rooms suck.

I can't even imagine what a Flyer player might do in a game if he was pissed off about something like that.

amerks127
Hartford definitely considering the Whalers played at the Civic Center.

The HCC isn't today's NHL quality (and I say this as a long lost Whalers fan). A big point in trying to keep them was the need for a brand new arena with luxury boxes (HCC has sky boxes), because 'the Mall' wasn't cutting it anymore, and that was 10 years ago.

You could get away with it for a couple years I guess, but its not up to snuff to support the capacity of revenue generating features you'd need to have a successful NHL team over any modest period of time.

Agreed with Amerks127 and DeltaOne81. This is why I used the term "near-NHL caliber" although I didn't realize the SCOPE was so small.

I know the Spectrum isn't as up to date as modern arenas, too. When the Phantoms play their important games, they're at the Wacko. The Wings no longer play at the Spectrum either. It's pretty much there for concerts, the Kixx, and a bunch of Phantoms games.

Not to mention that the two Philly teams are both owned by Comcast. Conflict of interest anyone?

amerks127
But look at teams like Syracuse, Binghamton, Lowell, Portland, Providence, Springfield, and Worcester who play in arenas just barely nicer than Lynah.

let's not lose our heads now. They may be bigger, they may have a few more ammenities, but none of these arenas are nicer than Lynah.

Edited for your approval.

excelent.