2024-2025 NHL Thread

[shortkut]

So big you only need one

Mammoth in size

 

[Ad Infinitum]

They're going to go with mammoth and make plushies and stuffed animals.

 

[MC74]

Leafs are in the running for Scott Laughton. Please no, the asking price set by the Flyers is too high to justify it.

According to Elliotte Friedman on the 32 Thoughts Podcast, the Flyers are looking for at least a first-round pick for Laughton. That seems like a high price, but Friedman outlined that there is already a history of Briere and the Flyers getting high draft picks in trades.

"Someone pointed out to me that last year Daniel Briere would not trade Sean Walker until he got a first-round pick," Friedman said. "People said 'Briere is crazy, he won't get a first-round pick.' Eventually, he did from Colorado."

 

[Crystal]

Leafs are in the running for Scott Laughton. Please no, the asking price set by the Flyers is too high to justify it.

Don't do it!

 

[MC74]

Don't do it!

We do need a 3C, but what Briere is asking for Laughton is a hard pass. Let someone else be foolish enough to make that move.

 

[Crystal]

We do need a 3C, but what Briere is asking for Laughton is a hard pass. Let someone else be foolish enough to make that move.

Yep, find someone else for a decent price!

 

[MC74]

Oh no. Fraser Minten & Nikita Grebenkin were healthy scratches for the Marlies today. Speculation going around that will be part of the package to acquire Laughton.

FFS, Treliving.

 

[Crystal]

Oh no. Fraser Minten & Nikita Grebenkin were healthy scratches for the Marlies today. Speculation going around that will be part of the package to acquire Laughton.

FFS, Treliving.

NO NO NO

 

[Jon]

We do need a 3C, but what Briere is asking for Laughton is a hard pass. Let someone else be foolish enough to make that move.

But... the Leafs are usually the team that get fleeced!

 

[MC74]

But... the Leafs are usually the team that get fleeced!

Don't remind me. -___-

 

[MC74]

 

[Crystal]

Lot of effort for a team that'll be in Canada just a few short years later

 

[MC74]

Arizona's taking steps towards coming back as well. Meetings were held around Christmas according to a report from last month.

Arizona Coyotes Take Step Towards NHL Return

It's been less than one season since the Arizona Coyotes organization left town to become the Utah Hockey Club. NHL hockey in the desert is now left to just the

www.si.com

 

[MC74]

No way Bettman was letting the Coyotes move without assurances to bring them back. This move will actually work out for him though, because now Arizona gets to return with a clean slate, debt-free.

 

[Jon]

So... what teams are moving there?

 

[MC74]

So... what teams are moving there?

Expansion. NHL potentially expanding to 36 teams.

 

[Jon]

Expansion. NHL potentially expanding to 36 teams.

Oh dear god please no.

 

[MC74]

Oh dear god please no.

That was part of the deal when Arizona moved to Utah. They got to keep the Coyotes name, and had assurances they could return under the right conditions.

The expansion has been a topic for a bit. Houston was among one of the cities rumored, but since the plan would be to expand to 36 to even up all the divisions, this would present an opportunity for both Arizona & Atlanta, who both have been making moves to bring hockey back. The NHL seems to be on board with it, unfortunately.

 

[MC74]

Sportsnet saying there's discussions between Dallas & Chicago for a Seth Jones trade. Don't you fucking dare, Nill!

 

[Crystal]

Sportsnet saying there's discussions between Dallas & Chicago for a Seth Jones trade. Don't you fucking dare, Nill!

No! No no no!

 

[MC74]

Dallas isn't the only team interested apparently. Other teams talked about were Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Buffalo, though I don't see how Toronto could make that possible. More likely Dallas or Edmonton is my guess.

 

[Crystal]

Dallas isn't the only team interested apparently. Other teams talked about were Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, and Buffalo, though I don't see how Toronto could make that possible. More likely Dallas or Edmonton is my guess.

Please send him anywhere but Dallas.

 

[MC74]

Please send him anywhere but Dallas.

Anywhere but Dallas or Toronto.

 

[Jon]

If he can still shoot, send him to Boston for a bag of peanuts and the dead body of Andrew Peeke.

 

[MC74]

If he can still shoot, send him to Boston for a bag of peanuts and the dead body of Andrew Peeke.

 

[Jon]

Seth Jones at least USED to be good. Andrew Peeke never has been so why they wasted any capital on him and then brought him back instead of giving someone like Wotherspoon more time is beyond me.

 

[MC74]

NHL working to get the framework in place for an Arizona expansion franchise. Never have I seen a sports league so hell-bent on trying to make the sport work in a market where it just isn't going to work. Good grief!

 

[Jon]

NHL working to get the framework in place for an Arizona expansion franchise. Never have I seen a sports league so hell-bent on trying to make the sport work in a market where it just isn't going to work. Good grief!

View attachment 27081

Like... the ink isn't even dry from the Coyotes moving out and they want to push another franchise there instead of... I DUNNO HARTFORD OR QUEBEC!?

 

[MC74]

Like... the ink isn't even dry from the Coyotes moving out and they want to push another franchise there instead of... I DUNNO HARTFORD OR QUEBEC!?

Quebec City won't be getting one. Bettman shot that down hard.

 

[Jon]

I know, but I can dream of the days of the Whalers and Nordiques, can't I?

 

[MC74]

I know, but I can dream of the days of the Whalers and Nordiques, can't I?

You're not the only one. These are markets that are actually deserving of a second chance. They can try all they want with Atlanta & Arizona, but the market is not there. It's not going to work.

 

[Ad Infinitum]

If they want another southern market they should try Texas again.

 

[MC74]

The more that comes out about this 36-team expansion, the more clear it becomes how much of a farce this is. NHL's trying to use this to bring Atlanta & Arizona back into the fold.

If they want another southern market they should try Texas again.

Honestly, that's where the Coyotes should've moved. Personally, I'm against expansion. There's more than enough teams in the NHL as is.

 

[Jon]

The more that comes out about this 36-team expansion, the more clear it becomes how much of a farce this is. NHL's trying to use this to bring Atlanta & Arizona back into the fold.


Honestly, that's where the Coyotes should've moved. Personally, I'm against expansion. There's more than enough teams in the NHL as is.

They're going to do to those two teams what they did to the Panthers aren't they. And unlikeable southern team that can't pull attendance and they are going to rig shit for them to win...

 

[MC74]

They're going to do to those two teams what they did to the Panthers aren't they. And unlikeable southern team that can't pull attendance and they are going to rig shit for them to win...

Well, unless those two can pull a miracle out of their asses like Vegas did, good look getting butts in seats.

 

[MC74]

And I'll tell you something else, @Jon. This is another example of how fucking hypocritical this league is. All that talk about wanting to grow the game and here they are putting their self-interests ahead of other cities that are more deserving of hosting an NHL team.

 

[Jon]

And I'll tell you something else, @Jon. This is another example of how fucking hypocritical this league is. All that talk about wanting to grow the game and here they are putting their self-interests ahead of other cities that are more deserving of hosting an NHL team.

That's just it. They're going after markets and not realizing that success isn't the ONLY reason asses go in seats. Die hard fans are. Arizona and Atlanta aren't going to be good. They have also been there, done that. They won't get fans (or merch) that they think they will. But Quebec? They'll sell out and love that team no matter what. I know Hartford had attendance issues in the 90s and that's why they moved to Carolina. But those fans were some of the most intense I've ever seen.

 

[MC74]

That's just it. They're going after markets and not realizing that success isn't the ONLY reason asses go in seats. Die hard fans are. Arizona and Atlanta aren't going to be good. They have also been there, done that. They won't get fans (or merch) that they think they will. But Quebec? They'll sell out and love that team no matter what. I know Hartford had attendance issues in the 90s and that's why they moved to Carolina. But those fans were some of the most intense I've ever seen.

Want an example of that theory being true? Look no further than the success Winnipeg's return. They're not the biggest market, but they have a passionate & dedicated fanbase. Those are die hard fans who will support their team no matter what. These are the markets you have to tap into, not places where the marketability is solely determined by how successful a team is. This is the issue with teams like the Panthers. Fair weather fans who only support the team when they're successful, but nowhere to be found when the team isn't.

 

[Jon]

Want an example of that theory being true? Look no further than the success Winnipeg's return. They're not the biggest market, but they have a passionate & dedicated fanbase. Those are die hard fans who will support their team no matter what. These are the markets you have to tap into, not places where the marketability is solely determined by how successful a team is. This is the issue with teams like the Panthers. Fair weather fans who only support the team when they're successful, but nowhere to be found when the team isn't.

We see it much the same in Minnesota. They were devastated when the North Stars moved to Dallas. They got the Wild, they haven't been good, but the fans in Minnesota are friggin rabid. It's hockey town up there.

I'm just not sure why you want to be the first of the 4 major north American sports leagues to expand beyond 32 teams (when you pay your players the least BY FAR) and still don't understand that passion is going to trump market 10/10 times.

 

[MC74]

We see it much the same in Minnesota. They were devastated when the North Stars moved to Dallas. They got the Wild, they haven't been good, but the fans in Minnesota are friggin rabid. It's hockey town up there.

Hockey is part of the culture in markets like these. The fans grew up with it, they embrace the sport, and you know they're going to be invested in it. Teams like Minnesota & Winnipeg have been through their fair share of trials & tribulations, but even so, the fans still harbor a deep connection with the team. You're still going to have fans invested enough to fill seats, the sport is going to be prominently featured on media outlets and talked about in circles. The community is there, and there will always be tons of support, which the same cannot be said for fair weather markets.

 

[Jon]

Hockey is part of the culture in markets like these. The fans grew up with it, they embrace the sport, and you know they're going to be invested in it. Teams like Minnesota & Winnipeg have been through their fair share of trials & tribulations, but even so, the fans still harbor a deep connection with the team. You're still going to have fans invested enough to fill seats, the sport is going to be prominently featured on media outlets and talked about in circles. The community is there, and there will always be tons of support, which the same cannot be said for fair weather markets.

Fucking well said!

 

[MC74]

This is fucking ridiculous.

 

[MC74]

Won't even give an actual hockey hotbed like Quebec City the time of day, but are more than happy to focus on bringing hockey back to Arizona.

You don't have the groundwork laid for an arena FFS, but you know who does have one? Quebec City, and they had a new one built for the last decade now!

 

[Jon]

Won't even give an actual hockey hotbed like Quebec City the time of day, but are more than happy to focus on bringing hockey back to Arizona.

You don't have the groundwork laid for an arena FFS, but you know who does have one? Quebec City, and they had a new one built for the last decade now!

I hate Bettman....

 

[MC74]

I hate Bettman....

The sooner he retires, the better.