My Opinion/Solution
MY OPINION:
The nhl has to have a presence in europe to ensure its long term reputation as the worlds best league. The argument a prev. poster made regading how euro clubs should work harder to keep "there" talent is exactly what the russians are doing and is the reason why the nhl needs to get over there. The Russian federation would like nothing more than to keep all Russian players in Russia. Sweden looks like they may start to push to draw older players back ie. Mats Sundin's contract offer by Djurgårdens IF. These developments are not good news for the NHL. I have heard all the reasons why a euro expansion will not work or will work, travel, interst by fans, tv and reluctance by NA players to play there.
MY SOLUTION:
The National Hockey League creates a minor professional league (elite league/AHL calbre) in six european cities "NHL-EURO SIX" six to draw on original six, expansion six motifs. Cities will be from countrys outside of the super six (7) chosen based on population, economy, interest and history. They will play a 40 game season 8x ea. At the end of the regular season co-host with iihf a champions league season of another 40 game vs top club teams from super six 4 x ea. then have nhl style playoff for a cup "rbk" cup.
POTENTIAL CITIES
LONDON, PARIS, MILAN, AMSTERDAM, COPENHAGEN and VIENNA
POPULATION
Rank Metro area name Country Pop. of metro area Pop.of municipality
2 London * U.K 12,629,020 7,517,700
4 Paris * France 11,633,822 2,142,800
6 Milan * Italy 7,421,228 1,308,500
7 Randstad * Netherlands 6,620,133 1,209,419
30 Copenhagen * Denmark 1,978,667 501,158
35 Wien (Vienna) * Austria 1,850,000 1,550,123
By creating a euro elite league the Nhl establishes a presence, builds new markets ( talent base) for less $ then Nhl salaries, competes with top euro club teams and maybe in events such as the spengler cup. Also this does not step on the toes the euro leagues as teams are in markets with small or struggling domestic leagues. NHL eurosix will compete with european teams at there level, in there kind of format ie maintaining the domestic league rivalries, small market teams being able to earn a spot etc. This would strengthens nhl iihf relations. Hopefully european interest in a champions league series would be such that a decent tv deal could be worked out ( in twelve countries) and with a NHL involvement perhaps NA tv could be reached for aditional $$. NHL network could certainly air games instead of just running the same highlights over and over, maybe a lesser sports network would be interested ie the score. Don't forget broadband games.
Big potenial pleases everybody involved I think. Your thoughts?