NHL and ice-hockey all around the world in 2050

[alko]

Lets look to the future.

How will be NHL in 2050? On parity with KHL? How many teams? Will there be an Europe Division? Still with salary cap? ...

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[bobholly39]

After the Zombies rise in 2037 there wont be any more hockey.

 

[Lshap]

If you want to look ahead, first look backwards. What's changed in the last 30 years? Minor stylistic changes in goaltending, plus new ideas in coaching and systems. Naturally, equipment is lighter and better. The league has increased by 10 teams. But the game is fundamentally the same now as it was then. Moving forward 30 years, I don't see any seismic shifts happening. A few more teams -- maybe 36? --, inevitable rule changes along the way, and improvements in monitoring technology. But hockey will remain the hockey we know.

Quick thoughts:

• I doubt the NHL ever expands overseas. Even if travel time improves exponentially, we're still stuck with 8-12 hour time zone differences, which would never work for players throughout a regular season, nor for audiences who wouldn't be able to watch live. And what about wildly different ticket prices and crowd sizes? Huge can of worms.

• However... I could see an annual series between the NHL champ and the champion of a European league. The Continental Cup? (Edit: Just checked -- that name is already used in curling). I could see a shortened NHL season balanced by an expanded international competition starting after the Stanley Cup is won in late May.

• Because of the increased international crossover, NHL coaches and GMs are hired from all across the globe. The quaint notion of only hiring hometown boys is over.

• Technology won't change players, but it probably will change the way the game is officiated. Chips in pucks, sensors within red and blue lines, and the goal line. Plus in equipment.

• Players themselves will have better health 'supplements' (legal, but manufactured), which will make for somewhat faster, stronger performances. Better medical/surgical treatments means longer careers -- more players in their 40s?

 

[tony d]

I wonder if we will have robots playing hockey in 2050, they seem to be doing other jobs, why not hockey?

73,000th post!

 

[WarriorOfGandhi]

Mitch Marner still hasn't signed a contract with the Toronto Maple Leafs

 

[StoneHands]

Roughly half of the NHLs franchises will either fold or have to relocate to the midwest or mountain region due to climate change. That alone should delay the process of trying to expand to Europe.

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

This season's RFA's kids will be holding out... rumored to be looking for 5 years 38 mill per year deals

 

[tarheelhockey]

The St. Mucus Ooze will defeat the Bruiser Bots with a last-minute exploding puck trick, to win their first Mutant League title.

 

[Butch 19]

Roughly half of the NHLs franchises will either fold or have to relocate to the midwest or mountain region due to climate change. That alone should delay the process of trying to expand to Europe.

You're aware the NHL is already playing in Las Vegas, right?

Today it will be (only) 106 degrees.

 

[Burke the Legend]

• However... I could see an annual series between the NHL champ and the champion of a European league. The Continental Cup? (Edit: Just checked -- that name is already used in curling). I could see a shortened NHL season balanced by an expanded international competition starting after the Stanley Cup is won in late May.

It should be the last place teams in the NHL having to do this as punishment for being so bad, not the champs.

 

[Hockey4Lyfe]

Until these other countries catch up economy wise and support, the NHL most competitive league will always reside in the United States. No one wants to pay for scraps when they can play against the best in the world and get paid an insane amount for it.

I guess the KHL will always be the red headed step child to the NHL.

I don’t see there being a European division ever. With hockey games every other night for most teams, the logistics and traveling behind having to travel to the US for games would be outrageous.

 

[stepdad gaary]

im not convinced that we'll have professional sports in 30 years. Or the infrastructure needed to maintain those, really.

 

[StoneHands]

You're aware the NHL is already playing in Las Vegas, right?

Today it will be (only) 106 degrees.

Yes, I'm well aware though I'm not sure what your point is.

 

[djpatm]

Holographic arena shows for away games.

Now teams make money on both home and away games. It'll revolutionize sports.

 

[Butch 19]

Yes, I'm well aware though I'm not sure what your point is.

You brought up climate change....?

What part of climate change are you talking about that may impact the NHL in 30 years?

 

[nucks88]

After the Zombies rise in 2037 there wont be any more hockey.

They may take up the game....whole new meaning to “face-offs” though...

 

[HisIceness]

In 2050 there will be NHL franchises in Jackson MS, Little Rock, Birmingham, Atlanta, Jacksonville FL, New Orleans, Houston, and Lexington KY. The Hurricanes will be relocated to Myrtle Beach. These teams along with St. Louis (who will represent Mizzou) and Nashville (representing Vanderbilt) will make up the SEC Division. All games will be played outdoors in 80k+ stadiums, the women will wear cocktail and sundresses, the men will wear bow ties and khakis, and the tailgates will be complete with tents, BBQ, liquor, and plates full of deviled eggs, just like it is now in the SEC.

 

[StoneHands]

You brought up climate change....?

What part of climate change are you talking about that may impact the NHL in 30 years?

Well to start, climate change isn't a problem because people can't survive in temperatures a few degrees higher than they're used to. As you pointed out, people live in Vegas and all over places like Arizona where the temperatures are often over 110 degrees so if temperatures in places like New York are 100+ in the summer, most people will be fine. Air conditioning is still going to be around in 30 years. What we do not have at the moment is the technology to make a stadium float so any franchises located anywhere near a coastline or major river could be completely under water due to climate change. Teams like Florida, Tampa Bay, NYR, NYI, and Philadelphia, for example are so close to oceans or major rivers that in 50 years they could be under water which would force them to either go brankrupt or move to the midwest.

 

[GoCaps2004]

Optimistic to think that people will know what ice is in 2050

 

[ManwithNoIdentity]

I wonder if we will have robots playing hockey in 2050, they seem to be doing other jobs, why not hockey?

73,000th post!

Robots on ice skates? Sounds awesome

 

[Windy River]

What we do not have at the moment is the technology to make a stadium float so any franchises located anywhere near a coastline or major river could be completely under water due to climate change. Teams like Florida, Tampa Bay, NYR, NYI, and Philadelphia, for example are so close to oceans or major rivers that in 50 years they could be under water which would force them to either go brankrupt or move to the midwest.

This is your official, on record, prediction?

 

[StoneHands]

This is your official, on record, prediction?

Yes. I look forward to the tag in 2050.

 

[aufheben]

We’re not even gonna have ice in 2050.

Well to start, climate change isn't a problem because people can't survive in temperatures a few degrees higher than they're used to. As you pointed out, people live in Vegas and all over places like Arizona where the temperatures are often over 110 degrees so if temperatures in places like New York are 100+ in the summer, most people will be fine. Air conditioning is still going to be around in 30 years. What we do not have at the moment is the technology to make a stadium float so any franchises located anywhere near a coastline or major river could be completely under water due to climate change. Teams like Florida, Tampa Bay, NYR, NYI, and Philadelphia, for example are so close to oceans or major rivers that in 50 years they could be under water which would force them to either go brankrupt or move to the midwest.

110F in Las Vegas feels like 95F. 100F in the Tri-State feels like 200F.

 

[Kamiccolo]

After playing Boston in the first round for the 32nd year in a row.

Hey we took them to game 7 32 times. Show some respect.

 

[CallArnoldSlick]

Roughly half of the NHLs franchises will either fold or have to relocate to the midwest or mountain region due to climate change. That alone should delay the process of trying to expand to Europe.

Atlantic Division is replaced with the Atlantis Division for all the underwater cities. Instead of hockey they play blitzball from Final Fantasy 10.