Its time to move some of those southern franchises...
At least one(the Cains) if not two(the Panthers) should move up to Canada now...
The US dollar is worth less than the Canadian dollar right now(and possibly for the forseeable future under this administration) which makes it a perfect time to move franchises up there, as they will have the ability to make their money streatch a bit further than in the US(that is, if they have canadian based ownership). Quebec or Winny should get a franchise back.
It would be one way the NHL could resell itself to Canada after this lockout...
What better way to give back to Canadians than to give them another franchise?
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Back to the main topic... Its actually seeming that some of the expansion teams were starting to work out pre-lockout...
Minny and the CBJ were doing quite well before the lockout. The Wild had made the playoffs once, and done well. Minny is a hockey hotbed. The CBJ might have challenged for a playoff spot this year. I don't really worry too much about post lockout blues here... but it will show in some way or another..
Tampa, well they just won the cup. They are/were a team LOADED with talent and were set to defend their cup and possibly repeat! If that did not get the people of Tampa's attention, I don't know what would have.... Now, the memory of that glorious cup run will have faded and the effort forgotten..
The Cains and Panthers might actually gain from a lockout. Both are looking at a core of young talent who they hope to bring their teams back from the dead. One year older are they, but will there be anyone to watch?
Atlanta looked like it was about ready to turn the corner this season. I actually had them going to the ECF. Now, their two best players are overseas. Heatly got hurt..again.. but seems to be OK.... They finally had gotten a good coach in Hartley who will have this team winning in no time.... and Winning is contagous....I mean.. its not like the people of Atlanta won't turn to a Good Thrashers team over a BAD Hawks team and a post season flubber of the Braves....We will see if they manage to turn the corner...
IMO, with the exeption of the Panthers and Cains, the other expantion franchises are setting up to be just fine...