In terms of financial, bottom line planning as part of what we assume is a strict 'dollars and cents' business plan, I agree. However, I think we're missing the mark if we assume that this monied 'bottom line' is the sole factor determining the NHL's business plan in the case of franchise relocation - or expansion. The NHL might be a business, but what type of business is it and what is its purpose? Is it simply a money making one through entertaining the public with organized sport? That's part of it. That's the niche business and what the majority of those identified with the 'face of the business' see.
Yet, within this is a more encompassing purpose the NHL is serving, which is not simply entertaining the public through sport and making money - but population management, itself. Managing the 'herd', in other words. Money and the bottom line, while important on some tiers of the overall business, are not the primary, motivating factors on other levels of the NHL's decision making and forecasting side of the business. I'd even argue that making money isn't the primary concern of the NHL's business plan.
I don't think we can really begin to understand what decisions get made or are likely to be made until we know how they are made and what factors are part of that process. Again, I think these other 'extra-financial' factors - and there are certainly others, too - are playing a big role in what's happening with this franchise.
