that's a conspiracy theory lol
team in TO.. leafs against
team in hamilton.. leafs and sabres against
do you really think the owners would protect MLSE over Buffalo ?
c'mon the leafs make obscene profits... the 2 biggest vulture owners would love for the Leafs to be knocked around a bit. Not that the Leafs are at risk of losing a dime anyways...
Team in TO - Leafs against
Team in Hamilton - Leafs far less against, Sabres mildly annoyed
Buffalo will be fine. They sold 13,000 tickets to a scrimmage....I can't imagine many Canadians attended that. Probably some, but not many.
It would be similar to talk of a second Chicago team...but then there is interest in Milwaukee. The Hawks, I'd assume, would choose Milwaukee if it was going to be one or the other. And the rest of the league would respect that.
IF another team is going into the GTHA....the NHL has voted and decided that. Leafs would prefer it be in Hamilton, I am sure of it, so there isn't much doubt in my mind the bulk of the league would take the position that you're already putting a team where MLSE doesn't want one (if it has an impact on them or not) so if it's Mississauga or Hamilton the NHL doesn't really care, they get the same benefit out of either. When MLSE lobbies for Hamilton instead of Missy....what point is there for the 29 other teams to not agree?
All things being equal.....if the league wanted a second team in Chicago or a team in Milwaukee...you think the 29 other owners would force it to be in Chicago instead of Milwaukee?
Anaheim is to LA
Milwaukee is to Chicago
Hamilton is to Toronto
New Jersey is to New York
When is the last time a league put a team right in the same city as an existing franchise? They've put them close....but not in the same city.
Hamilton is all the same benefits as Toronto 2, but less of a problem (arena-wise...which is the BIG issue) to MLSE. All the same benefits...less issues for MLSE. Why shove a Missy/Vaughan team down their throats?
And....the Sabres are fine. Very few people....VERY FEW...that live in Canada and have Sabres season tickets are going to swap allegiances. Buffalo is likely closer to them....they've grown up going to Sabres games...they are Sabres fans. There would be the rivalry bonus to both clubs.
There is not enough extra benefit (if any) to a team right on MLSE's front porch compared to down the road in Hamilton. So I don't see why the majority (or 2/3rds) of the league would force a team onto MLSE's front porch.